Published: 10 Aug 2016
Today, Wednesday 10 August 2016, we publish our Arts Strategy setting out priorities and policy direction for our work to support the arts sector in Scotland.
The Arts Strategy complements those previously published for Screen and the Creative Industries and reflects the ambition set out in Creative Scotland’s 10 Year Plan, Unlocking Potential, Embracing Ambition.
Art and culture sit at the heart of who we are as a nation.- Leonie Bell, Director of Arts and Engagement
Leonie Bell, Director of Arts and Engagement at Creative Scotland, said:
“The Arts Strategy sets out how Creative Scotland’s work supports artists and the arts to flourish, by developing a shared understanding of their reach, relevance and contribution to social, cultural end economic life in Scotland.
“This is a living document designed to stimulate debate and challenge and we will use this strategy to help us become more progressive in how we, as a nation support artists and the arts.
“Artists, cultural producers and arts organisations are a central part of a healthy, innovative, and dynamic society. Art and culture sit at the heart of who we are as a nation, should be valued in and of themselves and I’m pleased that we are publishing the Arts Strategy at a time when artists from all over the world are gathering in Edinburgh for the summer Festivals.
“The strategy places value on the contribution artists make to our society and our communities. It calls for greater commitment to paying artists fairly for their work to enable them to sustain their careers.
“The strategy sets out how we will work with the cultural sector in Scotland to put art and artists at the heart of society in Scotland.”
On the publication of the strategy, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs said:
“I welcome the publication of Creative Scotland’s Arts Strategy with its strong identification of the strengths and opportunities for arts in Scotland but with a sense of realism of the challenges facing individual artists and what can and should be done to support them.
“We have a vibrant, confident arts scene in Scotland but we need to do more to ensure that artists and also young people in wider community can realise more fully their potential.
“Refreshing Creative Scotland’s overall approach in relation to the arts in terms of funding; development; advocacy and influence is welcome.”
The Arts Strategy has been shaped by Creative Scotland’s sector reviews for dance, literature and publishing, music, theatre, visual arts, creative learning and equalities, diversity and inclusion. The strategy has also drawn on existing research reports and approaches that have contributed to the development of the arts across the UK over the last 70 years.
The Strategy sets out a range of commitments for Creative Scotland’s work to support the arts in Scotland including:
Read the full strategy document at https://www.creativescotland.com/resources/our-publications/plans-and-strategy-documents/arts-strategy-2016-17
The Strategy embraces a full range of practice across literature, visual art and craft, music, dance, theatre and interdisciplinary arts.
The Strategy is the third of three sector strategies to be produced by Creative Scotland, and complements previously published strategies for Screen and the Creative Industries.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We do this through funding, development, advocacy and influence and we distribute funding from the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. We want Scotland to be a country where excellence and experimentation across the arts, screen and creative industries is recognised and valued; everyone can access and enjoy artistic and creative experiences; places and quality of life are transformed through imagination, ambition and an understanding of the potential of creativity; ideas are brought to life by a diverse, skilled and connected leadership and workforce; Scotland is a distinctive creative nation connected to the world.
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Kenneth Fowler, Director of Communications
Tel: 07970 557 960
E-mail: Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com
