Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd has created an innovative package of projects to support Scotland's artists and practitioners during these tough economic times, Culture Minister Michael Russell said today.
The £5 million Innovation Fund - the first Creative Scotland branded initiative, announced last year - will bring to life new partnerships that cross traditional boundaries, supporting and sustaining the artistic and creative community during this economic downturn, by offering new ways of getting funds into the hands of artists and creative practitioners.
Today's package of projects approved from the Innovation Fund include:
£1.5 million for the Digital Media IP Fund - this will maximise the creative, cultural and commercial opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise (who have contributed £1.5 million match funding) and other investors
£1 million for The Creative Scotland 'Odd Fellows' Awards - an awards scheme which will bring together innovative and inspirational collaborations by two or more Scottish or Scottish-based artists from different sectors
£1 million for the Starter for Six (S46) - an enterprise support programme for start-up creative entrepreneurs across Scotland, extending a successful NESTA programme
£750,000 for The Creative Scotland Rural Innovation Fund - a fund to support innovative, cross-agency working in rural areas
£500,000 for the Creative Scotland Partners artists' residency fund - to provide additional innovative residencies for artists to work with communities in education, health and the environment. The Innovation Fund doubles the funding currently available from the Scottish Arts Council
An additional £250,000 for Own Art - an interest free credit scheme that encourages and makes it easier for people to buy original art and craft. This additional investment over the next two years will support a new strategy for galleries to develop online sales and promotion. There will also be new marketing campaigns that raise awareness of the accessibility of the Own Art scheme and the rewards of art collecting generally
Speaking at the first in a series of quarterly events to update the artistic community on progress to establish Creative Scotland, Mr Russell said:
"I have been very clear that the interests of artists and practitioners must be at the heart of everything Creative Scotland does. The Innovation Fund is an impressive package of projects that demonstrates the close working of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd, Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council. It supports some initiatives that are already up and running and new creative ideas and collaborations, illustrating how we see Creative Scotland working in future.
"The Scottish Government is determined to support and sustain Scotland's artistic community and economy now , during this economic downturn. This Fund does just that by offering new ways of getting funds into the hands of artists and creative practitioners.
"The Scottish Arts Council is also ensuring it maintains and increases direct support for the arts at a time of recession. It has prioritised just over £2 million of its core budget to benefit artists and arts organisations during the current financial year.
"For example, £1 million has been allocated to a risk and resilience programme to help organisations develop and adapt in the long term, while also providing practical support - whether a letter of comfort to the bank, or an advance of a grant - to organisations facing short term cash problems as a result of the recession.
"Creative Scotland is on track and strong progress has been made over the last few months - we have seen publication of Scotland's Creative Industries Partnership, the introduction of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill, and the appointments of Sheena MacDonald and Phil Cunningham to provide artistic input to the Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd board.
"There is a huge wealth of creative and artistic talent in Scotland and I am hugely ambitious for what the new body will be able to do for, and with, our diverse creative community. Creative Scotland will achieve a much more co-ordinated support for Scotland's creative talent."
Ewan Brown, Chair of Creative Scotland (2009) Ltd, said:
"The Innovation Fund package the Creative Scotland Board has come up with brings to life our ambition to form partnerships and cross traditional boundaries as well as providing support in difficult economic times.
"The first detailed announcement of projects funded from Creative Scotland, it will encourage and support Scotland's artists and creative entrepreneurs across a wide range of disciplines.
"The announcement of the Innovation Fund initiatives, along with the recent publication of Scotland's Creative Industries Partnership report, are evidence of building momentum as the transition to Creative Scotland, the NDPB, gathers pace."
Richard Holloway said:
"Creative Scotland is beginning to take shape, and today's detailed announcement of the Innovation funds shows how adapting and improving the best of the past is the right way to guarantee the future. The strength of these Innovation funds announced today is that they put money into the hands of those who can do most with it, the creative community; and we'll see further developments as the artists themselves work their alchemy with these new resources."
Creative Scotland the statutory NDPB is expected to be formally established in 2010 and will:
encourage and sustain artists and creators of all kinds
ensure that their work is accessible to all
ensure that as many people as possible can participate in creative activities and
extend and increase the wider benefits of arts and culture, including their contribution to the promotion and development of our unique national culture and its wider place in the international sphere
The arrangements for establishing Creative Scotland as a statutory NDPB are undergoing further Parliamentary scrutiny through the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (published May 29, 2009), enshrining the arm's length principle in legislation.
The focus of the Innovation Fund is:
Supporting Scotland's artists by funding new work, inspirational collaborations and residencies
Encouraging and supporting innovative working between public agencies and artists
Extending practical help to new creative entrepreneurs
Supporting and sustaining Scotland's artistic community and economy now , at this time of recession, by offering new ways of getting funds into the hands of artists and creative practitioners across a wide range of disciplines
The fund crosses this financial year and next - so ending in March 2011.
The Digital Media IP Fund financed by £1.5 million from Creative Scotland Ltd and £1.5 million from Scottish Enterprise will be managed by Scottish Screen. The Fund is now open for applications. More details of other Innovation Fund projects will be announced over the coming months.
The Minister was speaking to the artistic community at the Lyceum Theatre during the first in a series of quarterly events to provide an update on progress to establish Creative Scotland. Ewan Brown, Chair of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd and Richard Holloway, Chair of the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen also spoke at the event which was chaired by Ruth Wishart.