Johnny Gailey wonders if Creative Scotland has it in itself to ‘grasp the thistle’, a year after its implosion and a year before the independence referendum.
A lot can happen in a year. But then again, not a lot can happen also. One year after the implosion of Creative Scotland, and one year before the independence referendum, the arts agency finds itself in a peculiar place – a slowing of step prior to some thing vertiginous, perhaps? Something is stirring, although from last week’s latest round of Open Sessions aimed at the sector, it is difficult to say exactly what. The question remains, does Creative Scotland have it in itself to grasp the thistle?
In the last round of Open Sessions in the spring, a narrative gradually emerged from the speakers across the country – from sectoral bloodletting into a fairly clear (albeit jumbled) analysis of what happened at the agency during its formative years, the various wrong turns and, more importantly, the what could be’s. And in fact Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Minister for Culture, responded with a rousing, decisive, adroit speech at Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery in May, outlining the Scottish Government’s staunch support for the arts.
So expectations were high going into the latest Open Sessions, which started in Glasgow last Friday. With a new CEO, Janet Archer, in place, the sessions were a first opportunity for the arts sector to hear how things were progressing at Waverly Gate. Archer started proceedings by reiterating her credentials as a practionner, following by reading Don Paterson’s poem, We, the Scottish People. Lofty, but how does a public agency translate these ideals into action?
A lot can happen in a year. But then again, not a lot can happen also. One year after the implosion of Creative Scotland, and one year before the independence referendum, the arts agency finds itself in a peculiar place – a slowing of step prior to some thing vertiginous, perhaps? Something is stirring, although from last week’s latest round of Open Sessions aimed at the sector, it is difficult to say exactly what. The question remains, does Creative Scotland have it in itself to grasp the thistle?
In the last round of Open Sessions in the spring, a narrative gradually emerged from the speakers across the country – from sectoral bloodletting into a fairly clear (albeit jumbled) analysis of what happened at the agency during its formative years, the various wrong turns and, more importantly, the what could be’s. And in fact Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Minister for Culture, responded with a rousing, decisive, adroit speech at Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery in May, outlining the Scottish Government’s staunch support for the arts.
So expectations were high going into the latest Open Sessions, which started in Glasgow last Friday. With a new CEO, Janet Archer, in place, the sessions were a first opportunity for the arts sector to hear how things were progressing at Waverly Gate. Archer started proceedings by reiterating her credentials as a practionner, following by reading Don Paterson’s poem, We, the Scottish People. Lofty, but how does a public agency translate these ideals into action?