Creative Scotland to be questioned by MSPs

22.11.2013

The health of the arts and culture sector in Scotland is to be examined by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee when it takes evidence from the Chief Executive of Creative Scotland as well as four of Scotland’s leading artists on Tuesday 26 November.

In October 2012, 100 Scottish artists wrote an open letter to Creative Scotland which outlined concerns that the body charged with supporting and nurturing the creative industry in Scotland was failing to provide this support.

One year on, the Committee will be taking evidence from a number of artists, including Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead, and playwright and director, David Grieg, who both signed the 2012 letter, to see whether performance has improved and what more needs to change. The Committee will then hear from Creative Scotland’s Chief Executive, Janet Archer.

Committee Convener, Stewart Maxwell MSP said:

“Scotland can be rightly proud of its strong arts and culture sector which is surely one of our most successful exports. The past year has seen a great deal of change and our Committee want to know that these changes are having a positive impact on artists working in Scotland.”

Other artists giving evidence are Gillian Berrie, who has produced films such as My Name is Joe, Ratcatcher and Red Road, and Judith Doherty, Chief Executive and Co-Artistic Director of Edinburgh-based Grid Iron theatre company.

Background

In September 2012, the Committee took evidence from the then Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, Andrew Dixon. Also giving evidence at that meeting were artist Matt Baker, Gwilym Gibbons, Director, Shetland Arts Development Agency and Francis McKee, Director of the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

Tuesday’s Committee meeting can be watched on the Scottish Parliament’s website at:

Parliament TV