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Investing in a Creative Scotland
18/06/2008
An additional £5 million to set up a Creative Scotland Innovation Fund was announced today as the Creative Scotland Bill was discussed in the Parliament.
Creative Scotland is proposed as the national development body for the arts and culture, working with partners to support the creative industries.
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"Creative Scotland will represent our strong ambitions for cultural excellence. I want Scotland to be recognised as Europe's most creative nation - one that attracts and retains talent, where the arts and our creative community is supported and celebrated - and their contribution to the economy maximised.
"This Innovation Fund will nurture and celebrate new streams of talent. It will inspire people from various walks of life to unlock and unleash their creativity. And it will play its role in building a wealthier Scotland.
"It is because of our successes to date and our ambition for the future that I believe the time is right for this Bill. To take our achievements further we need a development body fit for the 21st century."
Scotland's creative enterprises now support 60,000 jobs, contributing over £4 billion to the Scottish economy. Ms Fabiani outlined Creative Scotland's role in supporting this industry.
She said:
"Creative Scotland will offer specialised advice and information services for creative enterprises. In order to do this, I have confirmed today that the resources devoted to this purpose by Scottish Enterprise will, from the beginning of the next financial year, transfer to Creative Scotland."
Creative Scotland will add to the range of funding sources available to artists and creative practitioners. As well as grants, it will develop a wider portfolio of funding methods, including loans and other investments.
Creative Scotland will be the national development body for the arts and culture, working with partners to support the creative industries.
The Government proposes four roles for the new body:
- It will promote an increasingly wide understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts and culture
- It will identify, support and develop talent and excellence in the arts and culture
- It will seek to realise all the benefits of the arts and culture
- It will work with partners to support the creative industries
Creative Scotland will inherit the £50 million grant in aid of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.
£5 million has been committed to the Creative Scotland Innovation Fund - £2.5 million in 2009-10 and £2.5m in 2010-11.
The Creative Scotland transition team is working now on new ideas to support artists and stimulate creativity, and will develop proposals for the Innovation Fund.
The resources of £100,000 that Scottish Enterprise currently devote to support for the Cultural Enterprise Office will, from 2009-10, transfer to Creative Scotland.