Fresh start at Creative Scotland

“Today is the beginning of a new phase for Creative Scotland” according to Chief Executive Janet Archer, who has announced the launch of a ten-year plan setting out a vision for the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland. The plan, ‘Unlocking Potential, Embracing Ambition’, is described as having “effectively been crowd sourced” from a consultation exercise involving 1,000 people from across the creative sector in Scotland, and has been created following widespread unrest about the direction Creative Scotland was taking in 2012, which resulted in the resignation of its Chief Executive and a pledge by the Board to change. In recognition of earlier criticism, Archer said “…we have worked hard to make sure we have the right people, knowledge and expertise to deliver the plan” and noted “it is vital that we work in partnership with people and organisations across Scotland” to deliver the vision."

The plan defines Creative Scotland’s purpose as being “an intelligent funder of the arts, screen and creative industries, to be a national and international advocate on their behalf and to positively influence attitudes, behaviours and policies”. It is based around five ambitions that form a framework for the next ten years, together with a series of priorities for the next three years which aim to bring greater clarity about the work of Creative Scotland and its funding approach. Four connecting themes run throughout: supporting digital development; operating in an environmentally sustainable way; increasing opportunities for people of all ages to learn; and putting equality and diversity at the heart of all activity.

The publication of the plan coincides with the announcement of a new approach to funding, with three routes available. Organisations currently receiving Creative Scotland funding who are seeking a minimum of £150,000 over three years will be eligible to apply to a £90m Regular Funding Programme, while Open Project funding will be available for individuals and organisations to deliver time-limited projects. There will also be a small number of “targeted programmes aimed at delivering shared goals with partners”, including Lottery-funded strategic initiatives and programmes with ring-fenced funding from the Scottish government, such as the Youth Art Hubs announced earlier this week. Budgets for these will be published in May.

Creative Scotland will be holding a series of open Information Sessions across the country to explain more about its new plan and funding approach.