Foreword

I am proud to introduce Scotland's first National Cultural Strategy. Each of us living and working in Scotland makes a contribution to our culture, whether as participant, creator or audience. It belongs to us all. I am confident that Scotland's cultural life is in good shape. The achievements of many Scottish creators in so many so diverse fields never cease to fill me with awe. I am delighted by the increasing international recognition of the quality of many of our cultural activities and I believe that as Scots we uniquely value and cherish our heritage.

A vigorous and diverse cultural life is at the heart of the Executive's aspirations for Scotland. It is through engagement with culture in its widest sense that people are enabled and communities strengthened. Our approach to culture is therefore inclusive and diverse. To succeed in the 21st Century, Scotland needs to foster the creativity and ingenuity of all its people. I therefore wish to ensure that we reflect the potential of the cultural dimension in all our policy development. Our National Cultural Strategy provides a framework for the achievement of that objective.

Donald Dewar, MSP
The First Minister

I launched the consultation on the National Cultural Strategy in August 1999. The consultation has stimulated a vigorous debate throughout Scotland; we organised a number of public meetings and received over 300 formal responses.

Creating our Future: Minding our Past has taken full account of that debate and the many positive suggestions and proposals that have come forward. I am very grateful to all those who participated so enthusiastically in that debate and thereby have ensured that the strategy is both comprehensive and practical. I look forward to continuing to work with them in implementing the strategy.

The strategy is a framework of action which will underpin the development of Scotland's cultural life over the next 4 years. It is driven by the Executive's vision of Scotland, confident in its cultural identity and its contribution in the 21st century but, proud and knowledgeable of its heritage. Our definition of culture is broad and our approach inclusive. Everyone can contribute; everyone can benefit. Culture belongs to everyone and it can release potentials in all groups in society. Culture is for the old and for the young and it can bring the generations and communities together. I therefore have the simple but radical objective to place culture at the heart of all the Executive does. We will seek to build on the best of what we are already achieving. Widening opportunities, promoting education, developing and celebrating excellence, and focusing public support effectively are the key themes.

The strategy provides a general framework but it also makes some specific commitments which I believe will add significantly to Scotland's cultural life. In particular, the development of a national theatre, new initiatives to promote excellence in the traditional arts and a focus on realising the potential of the creative industries should excite everyone. My pledge to examine with minority groups how to reflect their contribution will also add greatly to the dynamism and diversity of Scotland's culture. Our culture is central to how Scotland is perceived abroad and I wish to seize the potentials of cultural tourism.

The development of the Cultural Strategy has been a stimulating and invigorating experience for me. But I know that the work only starts now. To achieve our vision, we will rely on the contributions of many partners, individuals and organisations, and I look forward greatly to working with them.
I shall regularly bring together the relevant people to review progress in implementing the strategy and to identify further opportunities for working together to ensure that Scotland's cultural life continues to prosper.

Rhona Brankin MSP,
Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport