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Implementation of the National Cultural Strategy: Draft Guidance for Scottish Local Authorities
Executive Summary
A. This guidance invites local authorities to recognise the over-arching nature of cultural issues for local authority provision, and to do so in a systematic way. It gives points and illustrations of good practice to be adopted by all Scottish local authorities. It is intended to provide a comprehensive approach, rather than one which authorities use selectively.
B. The guidance is advisory; it therefore is not prescriptive. It is addressed to both councillors and officers, whose different roles are discussed.
C. There are 12 key advisory points which form this good practice.
Each authority should:
recognise and embrace the broad definition of culture and cultural provision outlined in Scotland's National Cultural Strategy
develop cultural policies and strategies/plans
relate these policies and strategies/plans to the National Cultural Strategy and appropriate policies in cultural (e.g.
Sport 21) and other (e.g. social justice) fields
make full use of relevant powers in legislation to promote cultural provision
recognise that cultural provision features in 9 key areas of local authority activity (
see Table A )
recognise that these 9 activity areas do not always correspond to political or management structures, and the implications of this for developing and co-ordinating policy and practice
evaluate its effectiveness in each of the 9 areas
recognise that cultural activities have both an intrinsic and an 'instrumental' value
consider how well the authority's particular organisation and management arrangements support the development of its cultural policy and practice
make full use of community planning and appropriate forms of partnership, to maximise opportunities for developing cultural provision and advancing community well-being
ensure that resources for cultural provision are applied in ways that are consistent with Best Value
gather and use appropriate information and research to assess and develop the impact of cultural policy and practice, at both authority-wide level and also at the level of the 9 activity areas
D. Authorities are invited to take these actions, and the others discussed in Parts 1-6 of the guidance -
in making their own decisions about what is appropriate for their own circumstances
in the context of the Scottish Executive's National Cultural Strategy
while taking account of other Executive guidance, and the guidance issued by other bodies with a cultural role.
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