Following Glasgow Council agreeing to postpone the final decision on the Public Entertainment Licence, which could see arts venues under severe threat, the Edinburgh arts scene has vowed to bandy together to fight the new legislation, which comes into force across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities on April 1st 2012.

Artists from across all genres, including musicians, have spoken out. Tommy Perman of FOUND, who won a BAFTA for their innovative Cybrathon project, stated that ‘Artists and musicians need time and space to develop, but imposing a licence fee on events will stifle creativity.’

A public meeting has been announced:
at Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, on March 1st from 7pm-9pm

The panel will include – Chloe Dear (independent producer, Morvern Cunningham (Leith Late), Neil Mulholland (Edinburgh College of Art), Rob Munn (City of Edinburgh Council), and Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith MSP). Nicola Sturgeon MSP has been invited, yet to confirm her attendance.

A petition has, as you might imagine, been established, and there’s also a Facebook group.