SNP finance minister hires artist-in-residence with public cash

The SNP’s public finance minister is using taxpayers’ cash to hire an “artist-in-residence” she hopes will create paintings, sculptures or music to represent her political opinions. Hannah Mary Goodlad, who won a seismic victory in May when she took the Shetland Holyrood seat to end decades of Lib Dem domination over the islands, said she wanted to move “beyond traditional expectations” with the job. Most commented 1 Tiger kills man who ‘jumped’ into pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park 787 comments However, opponents claimed it amounted to a waste of public money at a time when many of her constituents were struggling to make ends meet. The £11,000 job is expected to last four months, with the cost coming from the MSP’s budget for hiring constituency staff. Top stories 1 Starbucks ‘explores takeover’ of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business A job advertisement for a full-time artist to join her team in Lerwick calls for applications from Shetland-based creators “of any discipline, including but not limited to visual art, textiles and music”. The successful applicant would help to “deliver projects exploring policy areas of priority to the MSP through your own artistic practice” and “support the MSP’s engagement with local schools and community groups”. Advertisement Goodlad victory in May’s election came after she ran what was widely seen as an impressive campaign that relied heavily on innovative communications. She said on Monday that her creative approach and willingness to depart from “the status quo” had helped her gain the seat and that she would maintain that approach. Top stories 1 Trump attacks Europe over Russian oil amid diesel deal row Europe 2 ‘I went from high-flyer to house husband. Here’s how I beat my shame’ Family Finances 3 Budget 2026 predictions: when is it and what could change? Economics 4 Retirement isn’t a cliff edge. It’s a window and you need to plan for that Pensions After the election, she was immediately appointed public finance minister in John Swinney’s government. She said: “The arts, our language and culture are important to me as Shetland’s MSP. A vital role of an MSP is to communicate effectively and inclusively with constituents. There are many ways in which to fulfil that role beyond traditional expectations.” However, opponents said hiring a taxpayer-funded artist was a needless extravagance. Max Bannerman, a Reform MSP, said that she was “barely in the job” and was “already finding creative ways to splurge public money”. He added: “The minister in charge of Scotland’s finances wants £11,000 of taxpayers’ cash to paint over SNP failure with propaganda art. Advertisement “She should scrap the advert and deal with the gaping £5bn black hole at the heart of Scotland’s finances instead.” Scotland newsletter Your weekend briefing from the Scotland edition of The Times and The Sunday Times. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Scotland newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Scotland newsletter Explore our newsletters Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Tory MSP, said the move showed the SNP was “completely out of touch”. He added: “Shetland families are being hammered by rising fuel bills and the cost of living, yet an SNP MSP thinks an £11,000 artist-in-residence is a good use of public money. “Residents will rightly question why their hard-earned cash is being spent on this when so many are struggling to make ends meet.” On the Scottish parliament’s website, the job is listed as a “creative comms and constituency engagement assistant”. However, on her own social media channels, Goodlad described the job as an “artist in residence”. Advertisement The annual salary is advertised as £33,000, though the position is only fixed-term, lasting for four months between next month and February next year. Goodland is also hiring a part-time staffer, for 14 hours per week, to translate her communications materials into the Shaetlan language .