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Scotland's National Cultural Strategy Annual Report 2003

PART 3 WIDENING OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPROVING THE NATION'S HEALTH

East Lothian Handmade Textile project

"REALISING CULTURE'S POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO PROMOTING INCLUSION, AND ENHANCING PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE"

Do we believe that participation in culture adds enjoyment to life, increases self-belief, equips people with important life skills, and improves well-being and health? The Executive does. That is why this Part of the report celebrates a large number of projects and commitments over the past year which have increased participation, encouraged new audiences and generally promoted inclusion through cultural and physical activity.

The Executive's 2002 Budget set targets to increase participation in activities supported by the national cultural agencies. The development of audiences needs to be important to managers and providers at all cultural venues. New research is disproving the myth that by attending to audiences' programming wishes, curators end up 'dumbing down' or diluting the quality of work they promote. Quite the reverse is true. Instead, effective partnerships with audiences lead to exciting challenges and a range of surprising and challenging proposals.

Research, evaluation and feedback are highly important in examining the barriers to participation. An encouraging range of initiatives for audience development is mentioned.

The impressive initiatives happening right across the country - only a fraction of which can be reported here - are testimony to the key role of local authorities in delivering cultural provision. Meanwhile the national agencies are proactively looking for ways to work with the Community Planning Partnerships. The voluntary sector also makes an important contribution to the delivery of arts, heritage and sport - this extends opportunities and is very rewarding for those taking part. Only by working together can we achieve the best value and maximum cultural impact Scotland deserves.

"CELEBRATE SCOTLAND'S CULTURAL HERITAGE IN ITS FULL DIVERSITY"

I believe it is important to raise the profile of arts and culture and their contribution to good health. The benefits of culture and sport for physical health and welfare are already well known, and will be further promoted through the implementation of the Physical Activity Strategy. The Executive is also keenly aware of the benefits for mental welfare and seeks to promote these. The 'feel good' factor created by participation in culture builds confidence and a positive outlook which helps people cope better with the problems of daily life. The fact that the arts are employed within healthcare and clinical settings provides its own testimony. Those who take part in initiatives clearly recognise the benefits.

Again this year sees an impressive account of just some of the projects through which culture is making its strong positive impact felt upon the nation's health and well-being. Many organisations in Scotland are developing expertise in this area, and the Scottish Arts Council actively encourages and supports projects involving collaboration between professional artists and health specialists.

I look forward to more such partnerships adding quality to health treatments and to people's lives.

Mary Mulligan, MSP, Deputy Minister for Communities

• SUPPORTING INCREASED PARTICIPATION AND ENJOYMENT OF CULTURE IN SCOTLAND

Crafts event, Historic Scotland

>> ACTION SINCE NOVEMBER 2002

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT STEPS UP A GEAR -

a draft Audience Development Strategy 2003-2006 was sent to a broad range of Scottish arts organisations for consultation in April by the Scottish Arts Council. It outlines strategic priorities and is also a guide to how available funds and resources will be allocated over the next 3 years. Following consultation, the strategy will be finalised and published by late 2003.

The Scottish Arts Council is also undertaking a major new research project in 2003-04 to collect and analyse information on arts audiences across Scotland and to inform approaches to audience development.

ARCHIVE LIVE -

launched by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in October 2003, Archive Live is a major step forward in making the riches of the Scottish Screen Archive much more publicly accessible.

• The Archive, which is now 27 years old, rescues, preserves and catalogues Scotland's screen heritage and has examples of film from as far back as 1896.

• It reflects the social history of Scotland in the first century of film and records the achievements of our filmmakers. With new technology, more of the collection is becoming available to view.

• Preserving current film output will add to the archive collection with copies of all the publicly funded production in Scotland supported by the Scottish Screen Lottery Fund.

"DOORS OPEN DAY" -

Historic Scotland continues to encourage access to the historic environment by its support for the Doors Open Day initiative. During weekends in September a wide range of building types, most of which are not normally open to the public, open their doors for a day free of charge. This is a special opportunity to see some of Scotland's architectural interiors. The initiative is organised by the Scottish Civic Trust, which received Historic Scotland funding of 55,700 towards the initiative in 2003.

Over 200,000 people, visiting 633 buildings, participated in 2002, making it one of the largest participative events in the country. In 2003, over 700 buildings opened through Doors Open Day.

GATEWAY TO CULTURE -

the "Gateway Weekend" initiative in August 2003 gave young people a unique opportunity to experience the Edinburgh International Festival with special free performances featuring world-leading artists, companies and directors. The young audiences were treated to performances including: the Festival's major production of Chekhov's "The Seagull"; a full performance of the Festival's Opening Concert at the Usher Hall; Culberg Ballet; " Götterdämmerung" by Scottish Opera and " The Last Night of Mankind" by Argentinean theatre company, El Periferico De Objetos.

The Gateway Weekend initiative is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council Festivals Youth Development Fund, The Robertson Trust and the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund. Over 3,100 young people attended.

GETTING 'FAMILY FRIENDLY' -

the body " Imaginate", which aims to develop and promote the performing arts for children and young people in Scotland, is funded by the Scottish Arts Council to run the " Family Friendly Initiative". It aims to improve children and families' access and participation in arts activities by encouraging Scottish art venues to become more child and family friendly.

To promote good practice, a conference was held at "macrobert", University of Stirling, in November 2003, with speakers from Scotland and the UK.

"PROMOTE ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BY COMPANIES WITH NATIONAL ROLES"

HANDMADE CRAFTS RESIDENCIES AT PRESTONGRANGE -

since 2001, a working group set up by East Lothian Council has progressed development options for the Prestongrange Museum site at Prestonpans. To assist with the plans, 3 craft makers were engaged for an 8 week residency at Prestongrange Museum. Funded by the Scottish Arts Council's Lottery programme for Access and Participation, and managed in partnership between the Council's Arts and Museum Services, the programme aimed to improve access to craft activity in East Lothian through engagement with makers. " Handmade", an exhibition of work responding to the site's rich industrial heritage by Scottish craft makers in residence since April, ran from July to August 2003.

East Lothian Handmade Ceramics

COMMUNITY THEME -

a string quartet from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra got into the community in a big way taking two concerts to North Edinburgh Arts Centre and a local primary school earlier this year. Part of an ongoing series of SCO concerts at community venues in north and south Edinburgh, the project took music by Janacek and Dvorak into settings not normally used for classical music. Audiences were offered special discounts for full SCO concerts.

East Lothian Handmade Ceramics Group

>> ACTION TO FOLLOW

OVERHAUL OF NATIONAL MUSEUMS' DISPLAYS -

the National Museums of Scotland are developing a new Masterplan for the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, which received 760,000 visits in 2002-03. This will focus on attracting a larger and more diverse audience, through new enlivened displays, spaces for learning and events, special exhibitions, digital communication, and much improved physical access and facilities such as shops and cafes. The Masterplan will be launched in June 2004.

Mosaics project, Scottish Borders

"THE WORLD ON YOUR STREET" -

this is a large-scale community and education project taking place in 2003-04 that will work with a number of local and national partners. Co-partnered by the Usher Hall and BBC Radio 3, the project received 20,000 from the Scottish Arts Council. It will have an audience development remit and act as a catalyst for new partnerships between minority ethnic cultural groups and the Hall.

"PROGRESSIVELY IMPROVE ACCESS TO ... COLLECTIONS FOR ALL GROUPS"

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