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Creative Scotland Bill
13/03/2008
A Bill to establish a new body to support Scottish arts and culture has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said that the Creative Scotland Bill is a significant step towards the amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen to form the cultural development body, Creative Scotland.
Ms Fabiani said:
"Scotland's diverse and vibrant cultural life is a defining feature of our successful and confident nation. We are currently experiencing a cultural renaissance and this Government is committed to putting culture at the heart of our plans to develop Scotland's overall prosperity.
"The establishment of Creative Scotland will cultivate and support the best of Scottish arts and culture and maximise the potential of Scotland's creative sector. The Bill outlines that Creative Scotland and artists themselves will have the freedom and power to determine their own creative direction - a firm sign from this Government that we will not interfere in artistic decisions.
"Creative Scotland will have a vital role in promoting artistic excellence. It will help our artists, practitioners and creative businesses to rise to new levels of aspiration, ambition and achievement and it will be a ready source of advice and advocacy and a partner to support that aim.
"Scotland's national identity is rooted in passion for innovation and new ideas. I look forward to Creative Scotland giving fresh impetus to this national flair for originality, and the future cultural life of our country. I am confident it will encourage new ways of thinking and new ways of working and will support the talent that is so prevalent here in Scotland.
"Scotland's culture also plays its part in developing international relationships - I believe there is a role for cultural diplomacy in persuading people to live, learn, visit, work, do business and invest in Scotland. Creative Scotland will take this forward, working with our world-class artists and creative leaders, and those responsible for promoting Scotland abroad.
Richard Holloway, Chairman, Joint Board Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen said:
"The publishing of the Creative Scotland Bill is an exciting moment in the life of Scotland. The institutions and organisations responsible for furthering the creative life of Scotland have been under almost constant review for five years. Now we have a positive new direction to follow. I believe that Creative Scotland will help our nation release the huge power of its already famous creativity, so that the spiritual and economic life of our people will flourish with renewed vigour."
Chris Young, producer of Seachd - the Inaccessible Pinnacle and Festival, commented:
"I am hugely enthusiastic about what Creative Scotland can do for film in Scotland and for Scottish films internationally. As a recipient of investment from Scottish Screen, both for Seachd as well as other projects in development, I recognise the importance of such support to the screen industry in Scotland and our wider culture. I hope that Creative Scotland will build on the good work by both Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council."
Kenneth Murray, Chief Executive, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said:
"Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the publication of the Creative Scotland Bill and recognises the important role Creative Scotland will have in supporting all aspects of Scotland's creative talent, including the Gaelic arts and culture. We look forward to involving Creative Scotland in our work to deliver the National Plan for Gaelic."
The Creative Scotland Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on March 12, 2008.
The Creative Scotland Bill will give the new Creative Scotland body functions to:
- Promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and culture
- Identify, support and develop talent and excellence in the arts and culture
- Realise the value and benefits of arts and culture
- Support activities which involve the application of creative skills to the development of products and processes
The Bill will also abolish the Scottish Arts Council established by Royal Charter, and Scottish Screen will be dissolved at the same time.
An-diugh thuirt Ministear a' Chultair, Linda Fabiani, gun toireadh stèidheachadh Alba Chruthachail àrach agus taic don chuid as fheàrr de ealain agus chultar na h-Alba agus gun cuireadh e cruthachas aig teis-meadhain beatha na dùthcha.
Dh'ainmich am Ministear gun deach Bile Alba Chruthachail a thoirt a-steach do Phàrlamaid na h-Alba air 12 Màrt, 2008. Is e ceum cudromach a tha anns a' Bhile gu ruige amalachadh Chomhairle Ealain na h-Alba agus Sgrìon na h-Alba gus a' bhuidheann leasachadh chultarail, Alba Chruthachail, a chur air bhonn.
Thuirt a' Bhean-uasal Fabiani:
"Tha beatha chultarail iomadach agus bheòthail na h-Alba na chomharradh air an dùthaich shoirbheachail agus mhisneachail a tha againn. Tha ùrachadh cultarail a' dol air adhart an-dràsta agus tha dealas aig an Riaghaltas seo gus cultar a chur aig cridhe nam planaichean againn gus soirbheachas iomlan na h-Alba a leasachadh.
"Bheir stèidheachadh Alba Chruthachail àrach agus taic don chuid as fheàrr de ealain agus chultar na h-Alba agus nì e am feum as fheàrr de earrann chruthachail na h-Alba. Tha am Bile a' mìneachadh gum bi saorsa is cumhachd aig Alba Chruthachail agus an luchd-ealain fhèin gus an iùl chruthachail aca fhèin a roghnachadh - comharradh cinnteach bhon Riaghaltas seo nach tèid sinn an sàs ann an co-dhùnaidhean a thaobh ealain.
"Bidh dreuchd dheatamach aig Alba Chruthachail ann a bhith a' brosnachadh sàr-mhathais ealanta. Cuidichidh i an luchd-ealain, an luchd-cleachdaidh agus nan gnothachasan cruthachail againn gus ìrean ùra de dhùilean, mhiannan agus choileanaidhean a ruigsinn, agus bidh e na thobar deiseil airson comhairle agus tagradh agus na chom-pàirtiche gus taic a thoirt don amas sin.
"Tha dearbh-aithne nàiseanta na h-Alba freumhaichte ann am mòr-mheas airson innleachdas agus beachdan ùra. Tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri Alba Chruthachail a bhith a' toirt spionnadh ùr don tàlant nàiseanta airson tùsalachd, agus beatha chultarail na dùthcha againn san àm ri teachd. Tha mi misneachail gum brosnaich seo dòighean smaoineachaidh is obrach ùr agus gun toir e taic don tàlant a tha cho pailt an seo ann an Alba.
"Tha dreuchd aig cultar na h-Alba cuideachd ann a bhith a' leasachadh dhàimhean eadar-nàiseanta - tha mi a' creidsinn gu bheil dreuchd ann airson dioplòmasaidh cultarail ann a bhith a' brosnachadh dhaoine gus fuireach, ionnsachadh, tadhal agus obrachadh ann an Alba agus gus gnothachas agus tasgadh a dhèanamh ann. Bheir Alba Chruthachail seo air adhart, ag obair leis an luchd-ealain is na ceannardan cruthachail againn a tha aig sàr-ìre am measg sluagh an t-saoghail, agus iadsan a tha an urra ri bhith ag àrdachadh cliù na h-Alba thall-thairis.
Thuirt Richard Holloway, Cathraiche, Co-bhòrd Chomhairle Ealain na h-Alba agus Sgrìon na h-Alba:
"Is e àm beòthail ann am beatha na h-Alba a tha ann am foillseachadh Bile Alba Chruthachail. Tha na comainn agus na buidhnean a tha an urra ri bhith ag adhartachadh beatha chultarail na h-Alba air a bhith fo sgrùdadh, cha mhòr leantainneach, airson còig bliadhna. A-nis tha slighe mhath ùr againn ri leantainn. Tha mi a' creidsinn gun cuidich Alba Chruthachail an dùthaich againn gus an cumhachd cruthachail aice, a tha ainmeil mar-thà, a sgaoileadh gus an tig fàs ùr air beatha spioradail agus eaconamach an t-sluaigh againn."
Thuirt Chris Young, riochdaire Seachd - the Inaccessible Pinnacle agus Festival:
"Tha misneachd mhòr agam anns na dh'fhaodas Alba Chruthachail a dhèanamh airson fiolm ann an Alba agus fiolmaichean Albannach gu eadar-nàiseanta. Mar neach a tha air tasgadh fhaotainn bho Sgrìon na h-Alba, an dà chuid airson Seachd agus airson phròiseactan eile a thathar a' leasachadh, tha mi ag aithneachadh cho cudromach 's a tha taic leithid seo do ghnìomhachas an sgrìon ann an Alba, agus an don chultar againn san fharsaingeachd. Tha mi an dòchas gun tog Alba Chruthachail air an obair mhath a tha Sgrìon na h-Alba agus Comhairle Ealain na h-Alba air a dhèanamh."
Thuirt Coinneach Moireach, Àrd-stiùiriche Bòrd na Gàidhlig:
"Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig a' cur fàilte air foillseachadh Bile Alba Chruthachail agus ag aithneachadh na dreuchd cudromaiche
a bhios aig Alba Chruthachail ann a bhith a' toirt taic do dhiofar earrannan de thàlant cruthachail na h-Alba, a' gabhail a-steach ealain agus cultar na Gàidhlig. Tha sinn a' coimhead air adhart ri bhith a' com-pàirteachadh Alba Chruthachail san obair againn gus Plana Nàiseanta a lìbhrigeadh airson na Gàidhlig."