Creative Scotland Bill

‘The Creative Scotland transition project is naturally disappointed at recent events. There’s a lot of goodwill toward a new organisation that supports the skills and knowledge of our talented people and organisations. We recognise the Scottish Government remains fully committed to the establishment of Creative Scotland and we’ll work with them to find a constructive and positive way forward.’

The most recent announcement concerning the Creative Scotland Bill explains the way forward following the most recent meeting of the Joint Board.

23rd June 2008

First Minister opens White Space

On Tuesday 27th May 2008 Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond officially opened White Space (the University of Abertay Dundee’s unique knowledge environment) where our project team is based.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond sampling some of Abertay University’s leading-edge digital technology with students and Abertay’s Principal, Professor Bernard King.

Abertay’s Principal, Professor Bernard King, and Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, exchange pleasantries.

29th May 2008

Scotland named “European Region of the Future” by fDi Magazine

The Creative Scotland Transition Team was excited to note that Scotland has been named “European Region of the Future” by the Financial Times’ fDi (foreign direct investment) Magazine.

Further details can be found on the Scotland Development International (SDI) website and on the fDi website.

15th May 2008

Evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning, and Culture Committee (ELLC)

The ELLC will this morning take evidence on the general principles of the Creative Scotland Bill at Stage 1 from members of Scottish Enterprise; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; and COSLA.

The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture (Linda Fabiani MSP); Deputy Director of the Culture and Gaelic Division (Heather Jack); and Head of Creative Scotland and Broadcasting Team (Greig Chalmers) will then give evidence.

Archived footage of proceedings can be viewed on the Holyrood TV website.

14th May 2008

Jute, Jam and Genius!

The Creative Scotland Transition Project was interested in the article which appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on the 11th May, entitled “Jute, Jam and Genius!”.  The Transition Project team agrees with the sentiments of the article and wishes Dundee every success on Friday.

12th May 2008

Creative Scotland Bill: Evidence to Parliament

On 30th April 2008 the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee (ELLC) heard evidence in response to the Creative Scotland Bill from the Chairman of the Joint Board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, Transition Project Director and the Chief Executives of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.

The archived footage of proceedings can be accessed from the Holyrood TV website.

The evidence presented to the ELLC can be downloaded in PDF format here - CS Bill evidence to ELLC Committee (49.2kb PDF).

In The Times (29th April 2008) there was an article relating to the Committee meeting entitled “Leaders of creative arts body face MSPs”.

30th April 2008

Article in the Herald

The Herald featured an article relating to Scotland’s Screen Industry and the transition to Creative Scotland entitled “Scottish cultural cinema hubs to receive £1m boost” on April 10th.

10th April 2008

Creative Clusters 2008, Glasgow

From 17th to 20th November 2008 Glasgow will host the Creative Clusters conference - this will be the first time that the event has come to Scotland. The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) website includes a fascinating piece that sets the conference in context and raises several questions that will be focal points not only for the conference, but ultimately for Creative Scotland too.

8th April 2008

Shetland’s Creative Economy

The Shetland News featured an article entitled “Creative sector could be top performer” on April 8th. The article relates to a study carried out by EKOS into the economic potential of Shetland’s creative industries, which, according to the report, supplement the island’s economy by £25 million a year.

8th April 2008

New Skills Development Agency for Scotland

On April 1st Scotland acquired a new skills body - Skills Development Scotland (SDS) - aimed at driving forward real, positive and sustained change in Scotland’s skills performance.  Willy Roe (Chair) remarked upon the pivotal role SDS will play in increasing sustainable economic growth.  Change and innovation were cited as key themes to future success, both of which form the foundations of the Creative Scotland Transition Project.

7th April 2008

Creative Nation, Cultural Summit - Podcasts

Creative Scotland features this week on the international news page of IFACCA’s (International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies) website.  The Scottish Arts Council has recently released audio recordings of speakers’ presentations at the recent “Scotland: Creative Nation Cultural Summit” - at which was discussed and debated issues that are and will be of great importance to Creative Scotland.  Follow the link above to access podcasts of the summit.

3rd April 2008

Scotland’s Creative Industries

Scotland’s creative industries were mentioned by the First Minister in his address to Harvard University on 31st March as part of the Scotland Week celebrations. The speech; “Free to Prosper: Creating the Celtic Lion Economy” also highlighted the strong ties between Scotland and the USA, Scotland’s strong educational system, and domestic and international business growth - all issues central to the Creative Scotland Transition Project agenda.

2nd April 2008

Scottish Broadcasting Commission Interim Report

Established by the First Minister, the Scottish Broadcasting Commission (SBC) has been tasked with conducting an independent investigation into the current state of television production and broadcasting in Scotland. The Commission’s “Interim Report on Culture” was released on March 26th and is of relevance to Creative Scotland.  We are considering the implications of the report.

31st March 2008

Article in the Sunday Herald

The Sunday Herald featured an article about Creative Scotland entitled “New arts body embraces computer games” on March 30th.

31st March 2008

Creative Scotland Bill in parliament

On Thursday 13th March the Scottish Government introduced the Creative Scotland Bill, an act of the Scottish Parliament to establish Creative Scotland:

“An act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision establishing a body to be known as Creative Scotland and to confer on it functions in relation to the arts and culture and to the application of creative skills; and for connected purposes”

(Creative Scotland Bill, Scottish Government, March 2008)

We hope the Bill will secure Royal Assent early next year, so that Creative Scotland can be established formally during 2009.

See the bill documentation page on the Scottish Parliament website for more information.

13th March 2008

Public Support for the Creative Industries - Scotland’s Creative Economy

Last month the Creative Economy Programme was published by the UK government.

The Creative Scotland Transition Project is working with partners Scottish Enterprise Network and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to look at how a Creative Economy programme for Scotland might develop.

John Knell on behalf of the Creative Scotland Transition Team will be working with the key partners to begin to develop a shared understanding of the role and position of the creative economy in Scotland, and the key issues in ensuring its future growth.

10th March 2008

Article in the Herald

The Herald featured an article about Creative Scotland entitled New body will change how arts are funded in Scotland on February 26th.

26th February 2008

Creative Scotland Transition Project Team to be based in Dundee

The Transition Project Team will have a base in White Space at Abertay University Dundee. Anne Bonnar, Transition Director of Creative Scotland said:

“We wanted our project team to have a base somewhere which was outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh, where Scottish Screen and Scottish Arts Council are based. Dundee’s cultural ecology includes a diversity of artists, entrepreneurs, innovators and educators which reflects many aspects of the Creative Scotland community.

“White Space offers a contemporary creative environment where members of Scotland’s creative community can work with us to shape Creative Scotland.”

The Transition Project Team will be moving to Dundee over the next few weeks and is expected to be there for several months.

Professor Bernard King, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Creative Scotland have chosen to base their transitional team in the White Space facility at Abertay. The philosophy of White Space is focussed on creative, interdisciplinary solutions and responding to future demands. What better home for a team that will forge an appropriate future for Scotland’s creative and cultural communities?”

Professor Paul Harris, Professor of Screen Media at Abertay, said:

“Over the past few years, the University has been working together with its partners in consolidating a regional cultural provision with the implementation of a complementary Cultural Strategy and through the appointment of a full-time Cultural Projects Officer, and along with colleagues I am looking forward to supporting this project in every way I can.”

21st December 2007

The Transition Project

Anne Bonnar has been appointed as Transition Director by the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen to design the new agency, Creative Scotland.

This will include developing and shaping the role of Creative Scotland, designing the new organisation and creating a plan for transition.

There are several phases in our plan which aims to have the new organisation up and running as soon as the Creative Scotland Act is passed by the Scottish Parliament in early 2009.

The first phase is to identify the nature of Creative Scotland - its purpose, its activities and its communities.

Over the next few months we will be thinking about the best way to support our creative community and to contribute towards a successful Scotland. The process will include conversations with leaders in and around the creative community in Scotland and internationally. We will also reflect on intelligence about succesful creative and cultural development in other countries.

20th December 2007