News – International drive for Scotlands arts

A three-year programme to increase the number and impact of Scotlands international arts projects and provide Scottish-based artists, promoters and organisations with an international context to work within, has been unveiled in a new International Arts Strategy launched last week by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and British Council Scotland. The Strategy aims to establish Scotland as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the arts, and provide sufficient international exposure for Scottish artists for them to be happy to base themselves in Scotland and not move away. It revolves around seven core aims, which include the achievement of recognition for the arts as a core part of the promotion of Scotland in education, business and tourism, and the development of international networks, markets and sales.

The implementation of the strategy will see SAC move away from a mainly reactive position to taking a proactive role in the development of international projects, championing those that meet its long-term strategic aims. It will also consider investing in long-term relationships with developing countries where education and cultural exchange are priorities. An action plan through to 2007/08 stipulates key elements of the implementation, which will be supported by a £300,000 budget. The development of advocacy work and support for showcases, key festivals and fairs are central to the plan. A shared British Council/ SAC evaluation and monitoring system will be developed for capturing practical information relating to international projects. A number of areas of development have been targeted to achieve the aims of the strategy, and a range of work will be supported, including collaborative projects by organisations involved in international working and the initiation of delegate visits to and from Scotland. SAC and British Council Scotland have worked together on several international arts projects in recent years including the Scottish presence at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and 2005, the biennial Bookcase at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and the establishment and support for Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections.