Developing a Culture Strategy for Scotland

As part of the Programme for Scotland 2016 to 2017, the Scottish Government have committed to creating a culture strategy for Scotland based on the principles of access, equity and excellence. This strategy is being created in collaboration with artists, cultural organisations and communities across the country.

The strategy will position culture as having intrinsic value and contributing both directly and indirectly to the health, wealth and success of our nation. Defining Scotland as a diverse and distinct society with creativity and innovation at its heart. It will create an overarching framework to support the long-term development of culture in Scotland.

Engagement

The views and experiences of all those working across Scotland’s cultural sector, as well as anyone with an interest in culture, are crucial to developing the culture strategy for Scotland.

CABN’s Creative Leader, Mary Morrison was amongst those invited to attend the launch event on 26 June  at Glasgow Women’s Library.  Participants discussed what was meant by culture today and shared their ideas about the role and vision for culture in Scotland in the future.   Mary said ‘It was good to take part in the initial conversations around the Culture Strategy for Scotland, with a room full of individual practitioners and representatives from a very diverse range of organisations. The conversation was spirited, and there were some clear messages coming out around the value of culture within society as a whole, and how that needs to be nurtured and supported. We look forward to hosting a conversation locally very soon.’

You can find out more about the event in Glasgow on the website (see below for link).

Online Discussion Forum

An online discussion forum has been launched to support the development of a Culture Strategy for Scotland. The forum will run in parallel to the programme of events being developed.

The forum will provide a dedicated digital channel for engagement so that anyone who cannot attend an event but who wants to, can share their ideas about the future of culture in Scotland online.

To join in the debate and/or to add your ideas please visit the website (you will need to register as a user to take part).

The deadline for contributing to the discussion forum is 5.00pm, Thursday 30 November 2017.  You can also contribute to the conversation on social media using the hashtag #scotlandscultureconveration.

Further events

The Scottish Government are engaging with people across Scotland, through a range of events and online channels, to determine the scope and shape of the strategy.  Public events have been scheduled in Dundee, Inverness and Galashiels.

Galashiels Event:

In partnership with Live Borders, a Cultural Conversation will take place on Wednesday 27 September (12.30pm – 2.30pm) at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels.  For more on the Scottish Borders event please visit the website.

 

Contact

To find out more about the culture strategy and how to get involved, you can email culturestrategy@gov.scot or contact a member of the strategy team:

• Leonie Bell, Head of National Culture Strategy: 0131 244 7965
• Donna Stewart, Senior Policy Manager: 0131 244 7682
• Sarah Simpson, Policy Officer: 0131 244 0305

Please visit the Scottish Government website for events, updates and more information.

 

FEATURED IMAGE:   From breakout discussion at Reimagining Place Symposium (CABN) 2015 (Copyright Kevin Greenfield Photography)