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Set up of Creative Scotland
03/09/2008
A strong, responsible and innovative body for Scotland's creative sector is a step closer today as Culture Minister Linda Fabiani confirmed there will be no further delay to establishing Creative Scotland.
Creative Scotland will begin life as a company limited by guarantee, 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.
Following First Minister Alex Salmond's statement to Parliament on the Government's programme, Ms Fabiani said:
"I am 100 per cent committed to establishing Creative Scotland to bring benefit to our arts and cultural sector as soon as possible. The Scottish Parliament has unanimously endorsed the principles of Creative Scotland, even though that bill did not pass in June.
"That is why I will not compromise on either the timetable or the integrity and values of Creative Scotland. That is why we will pursue the company route to provide quick, decisive progress while also securing Parliamentary involvement to produce a strong, statutory body endorsed by all.
"This approach has been used before and ensures no further delay. The new board and chief executive will build on the work achieved to date, finalise the organisation's remit and manage the transition.
"I believe that Parliament must have its proper role and powers of scrutiny and we are ensuring this happens through the Public Services Reform Bill. I also believe it is vital for the organisation to have its arms' length principle enshrined in legislation - this is rightly valued by the arts community.
"The amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen and their transformation into Creative Scotland is also in line with our commitment to reduce the size and simplify the organisational landscape of public services in Scotland.
"Scotland deserves an energetic and strategic cultural development body that is fit for the 21st century and I am determined that Creative Scotland delivers this and more to our artistic and cultural community."
Stuart Cosgrove, Director of Nations and Regions at Channel 4 said:
"Creative Scotland is a bold initiative which aspires to provide Scotland with a single dedicated organisation capable of driving vision and organisational support in an era where creativity is vital to Scotland's cultural self-confidence and international reputation. It is a big task but to shrink from it would be a missed opportunity."
Jackie McKenzie, Director of Innovation Programmes in Scotland said:
"NESTA sees many benefits in establishing Creative Scotland. We have worked closely with the transition team and with the Scottish Arts Council through our Starter for 6 Programme, an enterprise development programme which provides business-skills training, coaching and grants to budding entrepreneurs in science, technology and creative sectors across Scotland."
Ewan Brown, Vice Chair, Edinburgh International Festival said:
"Creative Scotland is an essential complement to what has already been successfully put in place for funding the national arts companies. It is vital that the transition now happens quickly; hopefully everything will be in place by Spring 2009.
"The new organisation provides a wonderful opportunity to build on the undoubted strength of Scotland's creative talent and to further develop our reputation for quality and excellence internationally. It will also promote that strength here in Scotland to ensure that our young talent receives the support and education it needs to thrive."
The existing Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen will now concentrate on overseeing the work of the two organisations. The bodies will continue to function until the time when the staff and assets of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen transfer to the new company.
The Scottish Government is working towards April 2009 for the new board of directors and chief executive to be in place along with a strong corporate plan for Creative Scotland.
Creative Scotland will be the national development body for the arts and culture, working in partnership with other organisations 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.
The Scottish Government announced an extra £5 million in June - £2.5 million in 2009/10 and £2.5 million in 2010/11 - to support an Innovation fund for the new organisation.