This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Independent Commission to review culture
22/04/2004
An independent commission will review all existing
cultural provision in Scotland over the next 12 months, the
Parliament heard today.
It will make recommendations on the development of arts
and culture , aiming to promote much wider access ,
excellence and building on the nation 's reputation for
creativity.
Culture Minister Frank McAveety told MSPs that the
review was a "once in a generation opportunity" to look
seriously and with maturity at the place and provision of
culture in Scotland.
He said:
"Today is the start of a new era for Scotland's culture.
On St Andrew's Day last year, the First Minister set out a
vision of every citizen securing the right to access and
excellence in our diverse culture, and the right to pursue
the means of fulfilling whatever talents might be within
them .We have given careful thought to how we can make the
vision a reality."
Cultural Policy
Statement
The Commission will be chaired by James Boyle, presently
chair of the Scottish Arts Council, who will resign that
post to undertake the review.
Mr McAveety said:
"James is highly respected by the cultural community and
I have been very impressed by the initiative and leadership
he has brought to the Arts Council.
"An external Commission, drawn from the wider community,
will be best placed to listen to the cultural sector and
understand what it tells them. I expect the Commission's
members to be highly experienced people who understand
Scotland's rich and complex cultural landscape.
"The Commission will be able to look beyond, and
confront, stereotypical notions of culture - and employ
innovative and radical thinking , particularly in develop
ing new ways of getting people involved."
Mr McAveety said he was looking forward to receiving
21st century solutions for a sector whose governance has
developed over many decades and now needed to be brought up
to date.
"Our future support for culture must make sure the
sector is working at its most effective and harness all
available resources to deliver best value, directing the
maximum possible level of resources to cultural activity
and unleashing the innate creativity of people throughout
Scotland.
"The creativity of Scots - from the classroom to the
boardroom - is the edge we need in a competitive world. Our
duty as an Executive is to create the conditions that allow
that creativity to flourish.
"I want us to work towards more equitable cultural
provision for people in Scotland regardless of where they
live, how old they are, or how much money they have. I
believe a basic shift may be required in our cultural,
political and administrative agencies to change the way
they approach and deliver what they do."
The Commission will sit for 12 months, starting on June
1, 2004, and will then make recommendations to Scottish
Ministers. An interim report is expected in October.