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Scotland's National Cultural Strategy Annual Report 2003

NEW DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR SCOTLAND -

SCRAN (Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network) now has hundreds of additional value added packages for teaching a wide range of curriculum-based subjects, and for lifelong learning. These take the form of images, video, audio files, CD-ROMs, Websites, Pathfinders and Resource Packs. New features include:

• "Resources for Learning in Scotland", completed in August 2003 - a major addition in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland and 100 other contributors. Over 107,000 new digital assets were added to this service in a 2-year, 4 million project funded by New Opportunities Fund (website:www.rls.org.uk);

• "Starters" for younger pupils, with 'age appropriate' text and graphics for direct access by that audience;

• "Albums", a popular tool which allows users to build their own collections of materials from SCRAN.

SCRAN's outreach programme provides training in the use of cultural and heritage materials to schools, colleges, universities, libraries and the wider community. Images, video material and audio files are available, for example, to support the teaching of English using Scottish poets reading their own works. A public service is free and all SCRAN's existing users can access the value added features and cross-search with its existing digital library. This means Scotland has a world-class searchable online library with over 300,000 digital assets on culture, history and heritage contributing to our national reputation for excellence in creative industries. Website:www.SCRAN.ac.uk

"SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION SERVICES, INCLUDING
THE PRODUCTION OF DIGITAL AND OTHER EDUCATION RESOURCES"

"INCREASE ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS BY MEANS OF ICT"

• SPONSORSHIP PROMOTING CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING

Clydesdale Bank Art for All,
photo courtesy of Arts & Business Scotland

>> ACTION SINCE NOVEMBER 2002

INVESTING IN CREATIVE CAREERS -

seeking a project to underline its commitment to youth development in disadvantaged communities, the Clydesdale Bank worked with the Glasgow School of Art and Arts & Business to develop "Clydesdale Bank Art for All", a programme to raise aspirations among 13-14 year-old pupils from disadvantaged communities in the west of Scotland. By using a common visual language, the project aims to instill in the young people confidence in their ability to carve out creative careers. The programme will run for a further 2 years involving over 5,000 young people. And there will be art classes at the Art School for Clydesdale Bank staff members and their children.

NEW PARTNERS FOR DISTILLERY STAFF -

William Grant & Son, distillers of Glenfiddich whisky, building on success in 2002 with New Partners funding from Arts & Business, invited a further 8 European artists to reside at their Dufftown Distillery.

"ARTSWORK" -

this innovative and award-winning programme, now in its third year, engages young people and stimulates their creative and cognitive energies. The programme is led by Cumbernauld Theatre and ScottishPower Learning. It uses arts and other creative industry practices to connect young people with skills and abilities that allow them to develop, raise their ambitions and support greater communication with the world of work and their community. Horned & Hooved was the culmination of this year's ArtsWork project - a multi-media and interactive installation.

ScottishPower and Cumbernauld Theatre Artswork project
Horned & Hooved

BANK OF SCOTLAND CHILDREN'S INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL 2003 -

in its 14th year, this event in Edinburgh enjoyed its most international programme ever with award-winning theatre companies from Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland joining 4 theatre companies from Scotland. The Festival attracts about 14,000 people from May to June - principally school and family groups. The programme offers live theatre performances created especially for an audience of children from nursery age to secondary school age.

In 2003 Imaginate, a national arts agency funded by the Scottish Arts Council, promoting and developing performing arts for children in Scotland, produced its most extensive Scottish tour of international theatre for children to date. 5 international theatre companies selected from the Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival toured to 15 venues in Scotland.

"We are delighted that this year even more young people across Scotland will have the opportunity to experience first hand the Children's International Theatre Festival. Increasing access to the arts is one of the key aims of our sponsorship programme." - Ray Macfarlane, Head of Group Community Relations, Bank of Scotland.

"Many of our children enjoyed live theatre performances for the first time. Wonderful. A unique experience for them" - teacher at participating school.

Scottish Power and Cumbernauld Theatre Group project

"MIDNIGHT LEAGUE" - A NATIONAL 5 A-SIDE TOURNAMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 16 -

this event was launched in February 2003 with funding of over 60,000 by the Bank of Scotland to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble by providing focused activity once a week between 10 pm and midnight. The scheme involved over 600 young people nationwide, and culminated in a national final held in the Summer.

Ray Macfarlane, Head of Community Relations,
Bank of Scotland and "Midnight League" participants

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