"Our devolved government should have the courage and the faith to back human imagination, our innate creativity, as the most potent force for individual change and social vision"

"I believe we should make the development of our creative drive the next major enterprise for our society. Arts for all can be a reality, a democratic right and an achievement of the 21st century"

"I believe this has the potential to be a new civic exercise on a par with health, housing and education – the commitment to providing and valuing creative expression for all"

First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP; St Andrew’s day 2003.