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The Scottish Government announced plans to establish a new cultural development body, Creative Scotland, to advise, support and invest in the arts and creative industries across Scotland.
Below are listed segments of information relating to the Transition Project, please browse at your leisure;
The Creative Scotland Transition Team welcomes the publication of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission’s final report, Platform for Success. We fully endorse the view that, “Broadcasting is important to the economic, cultural and democratic health of the nation.” The Commission has clearly demonstrated the interconnectivity and interdependence across the economic, cultural and democratic imperatives of the broadcasting system in Scotland. We welcome the aspirations in the report for more high quality creative content produced in Scotland. The report’s key recommendations chime very closely with Creative Scotland’s emerging thinking, particularly the role that Creative Scotland can play in ensuring that the broadcasters, production companies, economic development bodies, skills agencies and further and higher education work collaboratively in delivering what is required to ensure a thriving creative content sector. We look forward to working closely with these and other partners, including Government, in developing appropriate responses to the Commission’s recommendations and to seeing Scotland’s broadcasting sector significantly develop and grow, benefiting audiences, talent and businesses.
9th September 2008
On 3 September the Scottish Government announced its plans to establish Creative Scotland without further delay. Creative Scotland will begin life as a limited company, allowing a new board of directors and chief executive to take forward the final phase of transition. The arrangements for establishing Creative Scotland will also undergo further Parliamentary scrutiny through the Public Services Reform Bill, enshrining the arms’ length principle in legislation. It is expected that the new board of directors and chief executive will be in place by April 2009, with the organisation maturing into a statutory body by February 2010.
The Scottish Government’s announcement is here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/09/03115220
The Joint Board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen retain responsibility for the Transition Project until the new company is able to take over the final phase of transition.This new route provides a clear way forward for the transition project. We will work with the Scottish Government to establish clear milestones for the process. We will shortly announce details of some of our proposed programme of work, including:
8th September 2008
‘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
The Transition Project’s Director, Anne Bonnar, was invited by Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, to convene a short life Working Group to consider the most effective method of establishing a support structure across Scotland for the nation’s creative industries. The final copy of the Creative Industries Working Group (CIWG) Report can be accessed here;
CIWG Report to Minister Fabiani (160KB PDF)
14th June 2008
These are exciting and challenging times for culture in Scotland. Transition, transformation and renewal abound in our creative life. Evidence of the fecundity of that life remains as super-abundant as ever, in every sphere of creative activity. In the context of the possible creative horizons lying ahead, Dr Richard Holloway, Chairman of the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, has contributed an essay entitled ‘Creative Disloyalty’. The essay is a wide ranging philosophical exploration of the paradoxical relationship between the Artist and the State and the nature of creativity, and can be downloaded here;
Creative Disloyalty (71KB PDF)
An abridged version of the essay appeared in The Herald newspaper on 9th May 2008, and is available to download here;
14th June 2008
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
The ELLC took 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 Chalmer) gave evidence.
Archived footage of proceedings can be viewed on the Holyrood TV website.
14th May 2008
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
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
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 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
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
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 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 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
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
The Sunday Herald featured an article about Creative Scotland entitled “New arts body embraces computer games” on March 30th.
31st March 2008
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
Downloads relating to the Creative Scotland Bill in the Scottish Parliament:
The Minister’s news release (100KB PDF)
Creative Scotland Bill (150KB PDF)
13th March 2008
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
Some key facts about Scotland’s creative economy:
Scotland’s Creative Economy (350KB PDF)
10th March 2008
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
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
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
The Creative Scotland Transition Project is 49% complete.
Have a look at the Timeline page to find out about the key dates in the Transition Project.
Transition Project Team
White Space
University of Abertay Dundee
Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG
E-mail:
info[at]transition.creativescotland.org.uk
Tel:
0845 372 2220
