Scotland's national art funding is at a stand still or has been cut in the new Scottish budget.

The main arts funders, Creative Scotland, and a group of other funds for arts such as the festival Expo Fund, have had their money reduced from £52.6m to £52.1m in 17/18.

A more detailed breakdown of funding for Creative Scotland shows that the body had a reduction of 0.31%, or £100,000, leading to a small drop in revenue from £32.212m to £32.112m.

Fiona Hyslop, the culture secretary, said: "Our continued investment in the arts and culture through Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, the three national collections and the five national performing companies will help ensure that Scotland's unique culture reaches a wide audience at home and abroad.

"Scotland's rich culture is not only valuable in its own right, but the Scottish Government believe participating in creative activities can lead to a broad range of positive personal, social and economic benefits.

"I am committed to delivering arts for all, and to giving every young person the opportunity to access and engage with our spectacular arts sector. "Youth arts has obvious merit but it also helps tackle inequalities and make Scotland a stronger, fairer and more inclusive society."

She added: "This is a strong budget for our Culture sector, particularly set against the backdrop of the UK Government’s failure to bring an end to austerity and a real terms cut to Scotland’s day to day budget."

The funding for the five national performing companies - the National Theatre of Scotland, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra - stays the same at £22.9m.

Cultural Collections spending - the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Museums of Scotland and the National Library - is down £78.6m to £77m.

Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “It remains a challenge to balance budgets against a background of record numbers of visitors to our Galleries as well as the increasing costs of protecting and caring for our world-class collections.

"However, we are pleased that Scottish Government continues to recognise the importance of the national art collections for culture, well-being and for economic growth in this country and we welcome their continued support for the principle of free admission as a means to promote wider access.”

The Scottish Government says that despite this drop, the funds "continue to ensure free access to their core collections.

"We will provide capital funding for these National Collections, recognising current progress with multi-year projects."

It added: "We have protected Creative Scotland’s 17-18 grant in aid as far as possible for the culture, screen and creative industries organisations it supports."

A Creative Scotland spokeswoman said: “Following the Scottish Government's Draft Budget announcement today, we are pleased to say that Creative Scotland’s discretionary Grant in Aid budget for 2017/18 remains broadly the same as in 2016/17.

“Our Board will meet next week to respond to this budget announcement and agree our high level budget for 2017/18.

"As always, we continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland are confident, connected and thriving.”

Gavin Reid, chief executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: "The SCO fully understands the challenges the Scottish Government faces in achieving its funding ambitions.

"We are therefore very pleased that they continue to recognise the value of arts and culture across society, and have been able to protect the current levels of funding to the national companies.

"We will carefully consider the longer-term impact of this announcement, but we remain entirely committed to our current extensive programme of work both in concert halls and also crucially in schools, community centres, care homes and hospitals throughout Scotland.”

A statement from the National Theatre of Scotland: “We will consider the impact of standstill on the company’s operations and look forward to continuing our work with the Scottish Government to ensure the success and growth of the National Theatre of Scotland for all Scotland’s theatre-makers and audiences.