Scottish public bodies have signed an agreement on how they will support the creative industries sector of the Scottish economy.
Scotland's Creative Industries Partnership brings together the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Scottish Enterprise in an agreement forged by the short-life working group established by Culture Minister Michael Russell.
Mr Russell, who co-chaired the creative industries working group with COSLA's Cllr Harry McGuigan, said:
"This agreement cements vital partnerships and ensures there is no wrong door for artists and creative practitioners seeking support. It secures a seamless journey right from the first point of contact.
"With a creative industries sector that supports 60,000 jobs and contributes five billion pounds to our economy, Scotland has the potential to be one of the world's most creative nations - one that attracts, develops and retains talent, where the arts and the creative industries are valued and supported, and where their full economic potential is realised.
"Practitioners have been right at the centre of developing this shared vision; where they belong and will remain as Creative Scotland emerges and we begin to see the agreement in action.
"This shared commitment will see our creative industries flourish and prosper as viable businesses. But let me be clear that Creative Scotland will also ardently champion artists that have no commercial aspirations, ensuring that 'art for arts sake' is given a new lease of life. We are in a very strong position as we move towards the establishment of Creative Scotland which will be a cultural agency for artists and creators of all kinds to be proud of."
Councillor McGuigan said:
"On behalf of Local Government we look forward to working with Creative Scotland in order that it complements the existing role of local authorities as major investors in the creative sector through its co-ordinating role.
"We also welcome Creative Scotland's role in providing support and advice to the Business Gateway service delivered by local authorities to promote the highest quality of support to the creative industries.
"The work plans outlined in today's report demonstrate the commitment of all the key agencies to work together and provide business support that is practical, relevant and deliverable. Together this partnership approach with all the agencies will help Scotland become one of the world's greatest creative nations."
Today's agreement guarantees consistency and efficiency of support for Scottish-based creative practitioners no matter which body is their first point of contact. The agreement sets out the roles and responsibilities of those agencies involved and the practicalities of how they will ensure that practitioners have clear routes to the types of support they require.
Ewan Brown, Chair of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd, said:
"This partnership agreement signals and formalises a most exciting step forward in working with practitioners to the benefit of all involved in Scotland's creative industries, from film to fashion to software development.
"The working group has used what it has already learnt from listening to feedback from creative practitioners to put in place a single support structure, co-ordinated by Creative Scotland. But this process of listening, learning and co-operating must continue into the future to bring the partnership agreement to life. The agreement illustrates the building momentum as we move towards the establishment of Creative Scotland as an NDPB in the first half of next year."
Crawford Gillies, chairman of Scottish Enterprise, said:
"We recognise the importance of the creative industries to Scotland's economy and are committed to supporting the growth and development of this key sector. We welcome the publication of the new framework and look forward to working with our partners to take this forward."
William Roe, Chair of HIE, said:
"HIE continues to seek innovative ways to help creative people secure cultural and economic capital from their activities. We look forward to working with our partners and Creative Scotland to establish this as one of the most creative regions in the world."
Since the outline Framework Agreement was published in February, work has taken place to set out the practicalities of how it will be delivered with all agencies focused on cohesive and effective support for the sector. This builds on recent momentum with the final board member appointed to Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd and publication of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (PSR Bill).
Creative Scotland the statutory NDPB is expected to be formally established in the first half of 2010. The arrangements for establishing Creative Scotland as a statutory NDPB is undergoing further Parliamentary scrutiny through the Public Services Reform Bill (published May 29), enshrining the arms' length principle in legislation.
Reaction to the Creative Industries Partnership
Colin Macdonald, Studio Manager, Realtime Worlds, said:
"We're delighted to hear of the Government's continued recognition and support for Scotland's valued Creative Industries. Games in particular is a sector where Scotland has world-leading capability; from the larger studios having produced titles grossing billions of dollars, to the cumulative synergy of countless smaller outfits. And with the games sector growing at a pace outstripping most traditional industries, Scotland is ideally placed to punch above its weight in seizing a share of the new opportunities, but it requires the absolute commitment to co-ordinated support by the public agencies that this report advocates."
Jackie McKenzie, Head of Innovation Programmes in Scotland. said:
"Our role was to bring our knowledge and expertise to help this framework. NESTA believes that the document reflects the aspiration to provide a more cohesive and responsive way forward to support the creative industries in Scotland by engaging more directly with the practitioners."
Caroline MacLeod, The Ironworks, Inverness, said:
"In operating a successful venue, we need to work in partnership with a range of small businesses, a similar partnership across the public sector and private sector will help everyone."
Shaun Arnold, Director, goNORTH, said:
"We have always had a good relationship with the Scottish Arts Council, this agreement is a great way of ensuring our relationship will strengthen with Creative Scotland."
Jacqui Cullen, Scotland Country Manager for Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles, said:
"Skillfast-UK welcomes the Scottish Government's focus on the creative industries, and the role of this report in supporting a dynamic, diverse and expanding part of Scotland's economy. We will be delighted to work alongside Creative Scotland and partners to carry forward the creative industries skills agenda in Scotland."
Anne Bonnar, Independent consultant in the arts and creative industries, said:
"The Framework Agreement is a great step forward towards embedding a 360° system of support for Scotland's creative industries. The creative industries have economic, social and cultural value for Scotland and so it makes sense that public agencies work together across the spectrum to provide specialist support across the whole of the creative industries. All teams need a leader and the Agreement sets out the priority roles for Creative Scotland in leading the coordination of activity through providing intelligence, gathered through research and through strong networking across the 13 sectors and relevant partners. All this makes perfect sense."
Seona Reid, Director of Glasgow School of Art, said:
"The Framework Agreement is to be welcomed. It clarifies the public sector partnerships which will be necessary to realise the full potential of Scotland's creative industries. It emphasises the central role of Creative Scotland in providing overall co-ordination - and thus provides the creative industries with a long awaited national champion. It gives the creative practitioner a crucial voice in shaping policy and priorities. It recognises the distinctive characteristics of creative industries and the need to adapt existing approaches to meet their particular needs. This is a very positive step forward and when set alongside strategies to be developed by Creative Scotland's for support of arts and artists, will, I am sure, propel us towards realising our ambition for Scotland to be one of the world's most creative nations."
Brian Ó hEadhra, Anam Communications, said:
"In running a communications company, we know how important an effective partnership is, today's agreement will ensure all organisations come together for benefit of the sector."
Ronnie Gurr, Development Manager, Scottish Music Industry Association and Chairman, Burnsong, said:
"I strongly welcome the commitment to realistically and effectively engage with practitioners as well as the acceptance of the need for strategic investment in the sector."
Blair Jenkins, former Chair of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, said:
"It's great to see Creative Scotland taking shape and the emphasis on coordination across all the public agencies working to support the sector. I'm also very pleased that Creative Scotland will be leading the coordination."
John Stalker, Chief Executive, Festival City Theatres, Edinburgh, said:
"I welcome this as a step forward. We need to see how it works in practice but it has the potential to make a difference."