CREATIVE Scotland has been forced into an embarrassing climb down over controversial decisions that left a number of groups, including the country’s only disability-led arts organisation, fearing for their future.

Two weeks ago, when the national arts funding body unveiled details of the 116 organisations in Scotland who would share £99 million of regular funding over the next three years, there were some notable omissions.

Companies like Birds of Paradise, Lung Ha and Janice Parker Projects who work with disabled people all lost out. So too did dance company Plan B, the Ayr Gaiety Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

The Emmy award-nominated classical musical group, the Dunedin Consort, were also cut adrift. They warned the loss could cause them to reassess their future. But it was the decision to slash the money going to groups like Catherine Wheels and Visible Fictions, who make work for children, in what is supposed to be Scotland’s Year of Young People, that caused most embarrassment.

Yesterday, Creative Scotland partially climbed down, announcing that, after a reconsideration of the initial applications at an emergency meeting of the board, it would restore funding to Birds of Paradise, Catherine Wheels, the Dunedin Consort, Lung Ha and Visible Fictions.

They also reversed a cut to theatre company Stellar Quines, which is returned to a standstill grant.

It’s cost Creative Scotland an extra £2.6m, which, the quango says, will be taken from “targeted funds”, which are used to “support specific activities and development needs in an art form, specialism, or place”.

The arts body also promised a “review of current funding models and processes, in collaboration with the sectors we support, to gather further feedback and ideas that will help improve the way that we fund in the future”.

Ben Thomson, interim chair of Creative Scotland, apologised: “Funding decisions of the scale and importance of Regular Funding are always extremely challenging.

“We have listened to the extensive and constructive feedback we received from many individuals and organisations working across the arts and culture in Scotland.

“We have reviewed our budget for Regular Funding and, within the limits of the alternative funds available to us, we have been able to re-allocate £2.6m over three years, allowing us to include five further arts producing organisations in the network. We have also reaffirmed our commitment to other funding, which will include touring; equalities, diversity and inclusion; and new support for artist led work.

“However, I also appreciate that, even now, these decisions do not address all of the issues currently being raised by individual applicants. I am sorry that, in this process, some will be disappointed by our decisions.

“Everyone at Creative Scotland is committed to working positively and collaboratively with those involved in arts and culture in Scotland, whether in the Regular Funding network or not, providing support to build on the success of a thriving sector.”

There is no change to the decisions regarding the 116 organisations receiving RFO money announced in January. The proposed Touring Fund is to continue but will be “revisited”.

Last week two board members, Ruth Wishart and Maggie Kinloch, resigned over the stooshie.

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop had criticised the organisation, saying they had perhaps not handled the situation as well as they could have done.