AFTER MONTHS of frustration over the sluggish delivery of Scotland's new arts body, at least 70 of the country's main artistic organisations are planning to unite in a "cultural alliance" in an attempt to move the troubled process forward.

With issues over Creative Scotland's budget, location, and funding system all still to be resolved, arts organisations have declared they want to move beyond "policy speak" and no longer want to be "passive recipients of information and consultation".

They say instead they would rather positively engage with the government and the Creative Scotland transition team.

"We are collectively taking the initiative," said Donald Smith, director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre. "It is not a girning session. It is not a revolt.

"It is saying, Let's get together and try and get this thing sorted.' None of us, not the government, the cultural sector or Scotland, can afford another year like what we've been through.

"We have to make a fresh start and get it working, especially as we enter a recession."

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 10 in Edinburgh. Organisers said the government need to take the alliance seriously.

"There is a sense that collectively we have been on the sideline of this discussion," said Smith. "But to get this right you need us involved. We want to get this right. Let's work together. Let's have that real communication and shared design and planning."

2008 has been Creative Scotland's annus horribilis. In June the bill intended to create the new body by merging the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen unexpectedly fell in parliament due to doubts over its financial plan and lack of clarity over its remit.

Instead, it has been formed as a limited company until it passes through parliament again as part of John Swinney's Public Services Reform Bill.

Creative Scotland has also been plagued with controversy over how much the merger will cost, with estimates spiralling into the millions, and revelations it spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on consultants.

The Sunday Herald can also reveal £234,000 of public money was spent on the transition project in the 2007/2008 financial year.

Since the bill's defeat in Holyrood many within the arts community have complained about a lack of communication from both the government and the transition team, leading to uncertainty and low morale in the sector.

The alliance is the idea of Jan-Bert van der Berg, director of Artlink, an Edinburgh-based arts charity. Frustrated after a meeting last month where arts organisations were presented with a three-page document of discussion topics around Creative Scotland, he contacted the 48 foundation-funded organisations - groups that are on longer-term SAC grants.

This has since widened out into a "cultural alliance", cutting across disciplines including literature, film, theatre, and the visual arts.

According to Van der Berg, at least 70 organisations have replied, "from Shetland down", and at least 50 are expected to attend Wednesday's meeting. He added that creating a powerful arts lobby is now necessary after the turmoil of the past year.

"I think the government have been waiting for it," she said. "Part of me thinks this is the responsibility of arts organisations to have that clear and independent voice that isn't tied up in other kinds of political and bureaucratic structures. It has been missing.

"There have been people who throughout this process have been incredibly articulate, but they have normally been individuals rather than a group of people."

The government and the Creative Scotland transition team welcomed the idea of the cultural alliance with a degree of caution.

A spokeswoman from the Creative Scotland Transition Project pointed to its recent engagement with the sector.

She said: "At recent meetings with a range of artistic organisations, there were open and frank discussions around the future development of Creative Scotland.

"We collated and circulated this feedback to those attending, and it will also be considered by the joint board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, as well as the new board of the limited company.

"We welcome further constructive contributions from the wider sector."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "We very much welcome the willingness of those within the sector to contribute and work with us to the benefit of arts and culture in Scotland."