Dozens of spoof pages set up to mock the decision to give the artist money

Aims to find how 'career, social life, family' affected by staying in one place

Ellie Harrison, 36, has been given money by Creative Scotland for 'project'

London-born academic Ellie Harrison has been given £15,000 by Creative Scotland to live in Glasgow for a year - a city she lives in anyway

The Scottish Government has angered taxpayers after agreeing to pay a Glasgow-based academic £15,000 for an 'art project' in which she lives in the city for a year.

Several spoof pages have been set up following the revelation London-born Ellie Harrison has been given the cash by Creative Scotland for her performance piece 'The Glasgow Effect' - even though she lives in the city anyway.

Residents used the pages to express their anger at the decision, which means the 36-year-old will only leave Glasgow if she falls unwell or a close relative dies.

Robbie Seath set up a website called '15k better spent in Glasgow' and posted a link on Harrison's Facebook page with the message: 'This was my "art project" this evening.'

Examples on his list included '10,000 Jagerbombs in The Cathouse', 'an actual art project' and '60,000 packs of Tesco Saver noodles'.

Meanwhile, Ryan Currie created an online poll called: 'What do you think of The Glasgow Effect?' with 73 options for people to express their opinion.

Leading the poll on Tuesday morning, with 5,138 votes, was 'pretentious s***e and a waste of money'.

And Scottish rapper Loki wrote a blog called: "Do you want to get paid to sit on Tumblr in your pants for a year? Apply now.'

Miss Harrison, who is a lecturer in contemporary art practices at Dundee University, will be given 12 months off work to allow her to complete her venture, which has been funded by the National Lottery.

She describes herself as an 'artist and activist' who specialises in performance art criticising the 'absurd consequences of our capitalist system, particularly climate change'

The lecturer has labelled the 'experiment' as one which will 'challenge the demand-to-travel placed upon the "successful" artist'.

Several spoof pages have been set up following the revelation the London-born artist has been given the cash by Creative Scotland including this page '15k better spent in Glasgow'

Residents used the pages - including this poll on Facebook - to express their anger and bemusement at the decision

One man took to Twitter to suggest the decision is typical of a 'drunk guy climbing on your back and coning you', perhaps in a reference to revellers' fondness for sticking a traffic cone on the statue of the Iron Duke in the city's Royal Exchange Square

The project aims to find out how 'your career, social life, family ties, carbon footprint and mental health [will] be affected' by not being able to leave one city, she said.

She will report her findings as she attempts to 'increase her sense of belonging' by investing 'all her ideas, time and energy within the city'.

Others labelled the exercise, which began on January 1, unfair to artists and the thousands of families surviving off foodback hand-outs.

Commenting on the project's Facebook page, Kenny Leckie wrote: 'I know literally hundreds of people (including me) who've been creating art of all descriptions in Glasgow for years and funding it from our day jobs or from hosting fundraisers.

'Doesn't this disrespect everyone who doesn't have that luxury of being funded to create art and who lives here because they can't afford to move away?'

The 36-year-old will now only leave Glasgow (pictured) if she falls unwell or a close relative dies, and will report her findings as she attempts to 'increase her sense of belonging' by investing 'all her ideas, time and energy within the city'

Laura Walsh commented: 'I haven't left Glasgow in nearly four years living on benefits and raising a child at the same time can do that to you. There have even been times I couldn't even afford the bus to travel to the next town.

'My life is not your art to concept nor do I need you getting £15k to try to.'

And David Kirkland said: 'I haven't had a holiday for two years, I feel like Da Vinci.'

Originally from London, she moved to Glasgow in 2008 to study at the city's School of Art and is now a lecturer in contemporary art practices at Dundee University's Duncan of Jordanstone College.

Her most recent work is a vending machine which gives out a packet of crisps when the recession is mentioned on the BBC's online newsfeed.

Miss Harrison promises to keep a blog of her experiences but, as of last night, there had been no updates to the project website.

Eben Wilson, director of the campaign group Taxpayer Scotland, blasted the decision to support the project.

Many Glaswegians have reacted to the decision to fund the 'project' with dismay - voicing their concerns that public money would be 'wasted' on forcing an artist to live in the city when thousands of families surviving off foodbank hand-outs could not even contemplate leaving

He said: 'This is what happens when the state decides what art is. Glasgow is one of the most exciting cities in the world, full of character and life.

'And yet the intervention of a quango has managed to celebrate this with one of the dullest and un-daring projects ever conceived. It feels like a committee attempting to have a sense of humour.

'When the public sees its taxes wasted on such silly projects so devoid of ambition and adventure, it only encourages a jaundiced view of art and what it can achieve, which is a shame considering the genuine talent that exists within Scotland.'

This is what happens when the state decides what art is Eben Wilson, director of the campaign group Taxpayer Scotland

Creative Scotland awarded Miss Harrison £15,000 last October for the project, which, at that stage, was titled Think Global, Act Local.

The quango has been mired in controversy since its creation in 2010.

Funded by the taxpayer and the National Lottery, it has a budget of £81 million to distribute to the arts north of the Border.

In 2014, it decided to cut regular funding to Scottish Youth Theatre which sparked a storm of criticism, meanwhile, the £110,000 salary of chief executive Janet Archer has also come under scrutiny.

A spokesman said: 'Ellie's project met the criteria for Open Project Funding to develop her practice and we await the outcome with interest.'

Miss Harrison was last night unavailable for comment.