Listen
Promoting creative talent
05/02/2009
Key public agencies have formally joined forces to support Scotland's creative industries, a key sector for Scotland's economy.
Publishing a framework document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of key support organisations - Creative Scotland, the enterprise agencies and local authorities - Culture Minister Linda Fabiani today reiterated the importance of working together to provide complementary services that will maximise economic growth.
Ms Fabiani said:
"Creative industries are a key sector for Scotland's economy, making an important contribution to our prosperity and growth. In 2006 they generated turnover of £5.1 billion and supported over 60,000 jobs - it's vital to build on that.
"We must ensure that creative entrepreneurs get the level, quality and flexibility of specialist support they need. Government leads in setting the strategic direction, but effective support to creative industries can only be delivered in partnership. No organisation can fulfil its role in isolation, each will be required as part of its remit to work with others ensuring a cohesive and co-ordinated approach.
"This agreement means everyone is clear about their role. Now the framework is in place, we will be driving forward the detailed work to ensure it is implemented.
"Let me be clear, art for art's sake is vital to our diverse cultural landscape as is creative enterprise and Creative Scotland will of course continue to support artists and creative talent across Scotland. Today's agreement is about opening doors for those creative ideas that have sound business cases and real potential for growth.
"This Government wants Scotland to be recognised as one of the world's most creative nations and providing this level of specialist support to our creative entrepreneurs will turn that vision into reality."
Chair of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd, Ewan Brown said:
"I am delighted that for Creative Industries, where Creative Scotland will have principally an advisory, advocacy and brokering role, there is a desire by Scotland's agencies and local authorities to find new ways of working together for the benefit of the arts in Scotland.
"I look forward, under the Scottish Government's leadership, to working with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and COSLA over the next few weeks to convert this framework document into coordinated and effective arrangements that will benefit the sector."
COSLA Spokesperson for Community Well-Being and Safety, Cllr Harry McGuigan said:
"Local authorities are one of the biggest investors in Scotland's creative sector, and have the primary role in supporting the creative and cultural sector at the local level. As an example, local authorities provide support for venues, galleries and theatres; screen location services and a whole host of other invaluable resources vital to the development vibrant, creative industries in Scotland.
"We will now be developing work to identify the processes and arrangements which will guarantee a successful creative economy and I look forward to working with all the partners to take forward this imporant piece of work which will help to promote Scotland as one of the world's great creative nations."
Incoming chairman for Scottish Enterprise, Crawford Gillies said:
"I warmly welcome the direction and clarity in roles for developing and supporting Scotland's vibrant creative industries.
"Scottish Enterprise's remit is to work with businesses and industry sectors with the best growth potential. Our work with digital media and software companies helps them to capitalise on the opportunities presented by wireless, broadband and mobile technologies. Similarly, our work in other key industries has an impact on other creative sector business growth. For example, crafts businesses benefit from our Tourism activities, design companies from our Textiles support and architects from our Construction activities.
"We will continue to evolve our existing partnerships with Business Gateway and Creative Scotland, ensuring creative industry companies can be fully supported at each stage of business development."
Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, William Roe said:
"The Highlands and Islands possess an extraordinary number of talented individuals with ambitious ideas which cross-cut creative disciplines. They will benefit enormously from the support that Creative Scotland can give them. HIE looks forward to working with this new agency, and with the other partners to the agreement, to ensure that our creative industries achieve their full artistic and economic potential."
Overview of the roles and responsibilities:
- Creative Scotland will inherit the functions, responsibilities and resources of Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council and develop them using its sector specific knowledge, skills and experience. It will also lead co-ordination activity in developing the creative industry sector. It will provide research, intelligence, support and advocacy across the 13 creative industries.
- The Enterprise agencies' role will be to maximise the economic potential of businesses within creative industries. With the Scottish Government, and Creative Scotland, the enterprise agencies will look at which areas of the 13 creative industries offer the greatest potential for economic growth and to see what else can be done to grow those sectors.
- Local authorities have an important role in supporting creative industries in their local areas and have governance responsibility for the Business Gateway.
- The Business Gateway's role will be to provide generic business advice and signpost to other sources of specialised support and advice.
The organisations will not operate in isolation and will liaise regularly to ensure the right linkages and a joined up approach for the creative entrepreneur.
The creative industries sector is made up of 13 distinct industries - advertising, architecture, art and antiques, crafts, design, designer fashion, film, interactive leisure software, music, performing arts, publishing, software and computer services and TV and radio.
Turnover in the sector was £5.1 billion in 2006 and it supports over 60,000 jobs. The Government Economic Strategy indentified the sector as one where Scotland has a comparative advantage that can be built upon to increase productivity and growth.