This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scots urged to give the arts a try
27/03/2002
Scots people were today urged to champion the role of
the arts in tackling disadvantage and promoting equal
opportunities.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mike Watson
also urged those who believe that the arts is not for them
to put aside their misconceptions and give it a try.
Speaking during the Scottish Arts Council's
Arts For All Conference, Mike Watson said:
"The Scottish Executive has a priority to advance social
justice across Scotland. I want to see local arts and
cultural initiatives meeting locally expressed demands,
assisting local employment and building self-confidence.
The benefits for psychological and physical well-being can,
quite literally, be life-changing.
"My plea today to anyone who has not given arts a chance
is simply this … if you long for a change in your life, why
not try it? 'Not for me' attitudes can be the biggest
barrier in taking part in the arts.
"Providing access to the arts for all is about wising
up, not dumbing down. There should be no compromise between
quality and access. All of our communities have a right to
the best quality arts activity that is possible. That is a
challenge not only for the 'mainstream' arts organisations
but also for those working in the communities
themselves.
"I commit myself to act as a champion of the role of
arts in social inclusion. I am convinced the arts are
making a real difference to communities across the country
and want to see that increased."
Mike Watson also announced to conference delegates that
the
Scottish Arts Council intends to launch a
website to disseminate best practice in arts and social
inclusion. The website
artsforallscotland.org.uk will include testimonials
from people who have benefited from arts projects, on-line
debates and project news. The £8,000 site will be on-line
by May.
The
Arts For All Conference was held in the St
Francis Centre, the Gorbals, and attended by over 200
delegates.
It aimed to:
- Share understanding of the role of the arts in
tackling exclusion
- Share learning, within the sector, from recent
practice, including approaches to evaluation
- Create new networking opportunities
Delegates - drawn from local authorities, arts projects
and universities - heard individual testimonies from people
who have participated in arts programmes, attended
workshops and seminars, and enjoyed performances by
community groups.
The Scottish Executive's
National Cultural Strategy has as one of its key priorities "to maximise the
social benefit of culture."