The arts have a long history of success within the criminal justice system in Scotland. The work of numerous individual artists and arts organisations – from the special unit at Barlinnie, the readers in residence programme to the recent Inspiring Change initiative – have done a great deal to demonstrate the effectiveness of the arts in justice settings.
From 2011-2013, Professor David McGillivray and Professor Gayle McPherson led a consortium that conducted an impact evaluation of Scotland’s London 2012 Cultural Programme for Creative Scotland.
The Scottish Project was a Legacy Trust UK (LTUK) four-year programme designed to celebrate the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to create a lasting legacy. It was the Scottish contribution to LTUK’s 12 regional programmes developed to ensure that communities across the UK benefited from the Olympics, Paralympics and Cultural Olympiad. Creative Scotland managed the programme and added an additional £1.5m funding.
Phase Two involved more in depth study through consultation with over 200 artists (through the peer to peer networks), as well as employers/commissioners, cultural organisations, HE and FE institutions and other bodies, to define the skills and support needed in detail.
During 2010 to 2012 Creative Scotland commissioned a pilot project to establish new programmes of work that engaged older people. Three projects were supported over the two year period in Edinburgh, West Lothian and Glasgow. In order to assess the impact of the pilot projects and highlight the experiences of those who took part, an evaluation team comprising of Lucy Mason (arts consultant and producer), Nicholas Bone (theatre and film producer) and Kevin Cameron (filmmaker) was commissioned to produce a detailed project report and accompanying short film.
This study, conducted by Lucy Mason, examines ways in which Creative Scotland might best enable producing support for Scotland’s independent performing artists.
In support of the ArtWorks Scotland programme, Creative Scotland contracted Consillium Research and Consultancy to undertake research that focuses on the skills, knowledge and qualities that artists need to deliver high quality engagement in participatory settings.
Scotland accounts for almost 15% of the UK’s total craft businesses (3,350 from a UK total of 23,000), working predominantly in jewellery, textiles and ceramics. Craft in an Age of Change examines the place of contemporary craft at the beginning of the 21st century. This survey of over 2,000 makers, retailers, educators, writers and curators is the first of its kind to be conducted simultaneously in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Creative Scotland seeks to develop policies that will enhance the economic contribution of the arts and creative industries. We commissioned a scoping study to review existing impact studies, scope the extent and quality of available data and recommend an approach for conducting a Scotland-wide economic impact study (EIS).
