Revised Vision and Outcomes includes the new national indicator ‘increase cultural engagement’ and looks as follows:
(click on the picture to enlarge).
UK Arts Index launched
27 JanThe publication of the UK Arts Index by the National Campaign for the Arts gives us a good opportunity to look at two contrasting points of view: on one hand: can value of art be represented by a set of indicators, on the other: shouldn’t we treat art as priceless and hence beyond any economic rationalisation?
In his blog, Sam West acknowledges both points of view, however, he emphasises that being able to demonstrate the value of the arts is essential during this period of economic crisis, especially for organisations that lobby on behalf of the sector.
As an objective measure, the Index allows us to compare indicators for Scotland against other parts of the UK. The table below illustrates National Treasury, Lottery and Local Authorities funding across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:
Overall, the first ever Index shows healthy growth of the arts as a result of sustained funding and investment. And despite being a data-heavy report, it actually makes an interesting read as it presents the information in the political and geographical context.
On the other side of the spectrum is another blog we’ve been following: “Priceless?” written by Dr Claire Donovan at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This interactive blog takes a ‘cynical-sentimental’ approach to valuing culture, i.e. acknowledges that there is a need to account for spending public money, while at the same time doubting whether you can put a price tag on something as intangible as a cultural experience.
And what do you think? Which end of the spectrum are you at? Do you think that the UK Arts Index offers us the best possible way of measuring the arts?
New National Indicators – including one for culture!
15 DecOn 14th December, the Scottish Government has published the latest updates to the national indicators of progress, which feed into the National Performance Framework. There are 12 entirely new indicators, including one for culture: ”Increase cultural engagement’. This is certainly a positive step towards emphasising the importance of culture in Scottish civic life.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:
“I am delighted to launch the updated National Performance Framework. This refreshed framework reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the outcome based approach we set out in 2007″.
For the full list of new indicators, visit the Scottish Government’s website
Cuts to culture budget
22 SepThe Scottish Government yesterday published its Spending Review 20122 – 12 and Draft budget for 2012 – 13. Its review of spending highlights the successes of the arts, culture and creative industries. But the outlook for culture is challenging. Culture budgets have been cut and the proportion of the overall government budget allocated to culture is decreasing. Local authority budgets have also been cut.
The specific figures are:
Next year, 2012/13, there is a decrease in the culture budget of £5.4 m for next year which is 3.5%.
ref. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/358356/0121130.pdf
In real terms this is 5.9% or £9.1m.
Over the period of the spending review, which is 2011/12 to 2014/15, the culture budget decreases by £22m which is 14.2 % in real terms.
(Table 12.02 page 173)
These cuts are disproportionate to the overall cut in Government spending between 2011/12 and 14/15, and represent a worrying decline in expenditure on culture as a proportion of the overall Government budget from 0.55% in 2011/12 to 0.50% in 2014/15 (in 2010/11 the figure was 0.59%):
The Spending Review does contain some positive allocations of expenditure for culture, for capital expenditure on the V & A and Glasgow’s Concert Hall and Theatre Royal. It also commits to expenditure of £10m for the Youth Music Initiative and £.3m for Arts and Business and the Cultural Enterprise Office. Both of these funds are ringfenced within Creative Scotland.
There is continued funding for several initiatives including the National Performing Companies International Touring Fund and the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop’s summary of the budget highlights the good news.
So for Culture Counts, one of our three requests has been met, to maintain and develop incentives for growth through specific initiatives locally and nationally.
We are disappointed that the other two requests have not. We asked that the Scottish Government Maintain continued core investment for culture but core investment for culture is decreasing as a proportion of the overall government budget.
The case for our third request is strengthened by this budget, that Culture and creativity is specifically included in any national outcome structure, strengthening the framework for local authorities to support culture .
The lack of a specific outcome for culture in the Performance Framework means that culture is described in the Spending Review in terms of its contribution to other outcomes.
COSLA’s response to the cuts gives a flavour of the challenges culture will face:
“The hard nosed facts are that in reality Scottish local government is going to be 7% down over the period of this spending review.
“When you add in £1bn worth of demand on the vital services we provide that takes us to 15% down, and that can mean only one thing a significant reduction in local services and local spend, neither of which is good news for local economies throughout Scotland.”
While there is no requirement to provide for participation in culture locally through the outcome agreements, the arts and culture are significantly exposed.
additional info: Fiona Hyslop’s statement on culture budget.
Tags: COSLA, culture, Government Budget, Government Economic Strategy, The Government's Programme for Scotland
The Scottish Spending Review 2011 published today
21 SepThe review has been published today. The summary can be found here and Culture Counts’ response is coming up soon…
Creative Scotland’s achievements in its first year
14 SepYesterday Andrew Dixon, CEO of Creative Scotland met the Education and Culture Committee and gave good news about the creative sector in Scotland and the achievements of Creative Scotland in its first year:
• the business model works
• 87 per cent of its Foundation clients are satisfied
• the move to new offices at Waverley Gate has been transformational
• savings of £2m and ongoing savings of £1.5m which so far has been reinvested in the arts, film and television
• staff numbers down from a high of 155 combined Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen to 95 now
• new funds have been levered from Paul Hamlyn, Baring and McKendrick
In response to a question prompted by Culture Counts’ campaign for culture to be made an explicit outcome in the Scottish Government’s performance framework, Andrew Dixon stated that local authorities are THE most important partner for Creative Scotland.
Tags: Creative Scotland, culture
Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy: How the creative industries should be supported to achieve economic growth.
14 Sep“Faster sustainable economic growth is the key to unlocking Scotland’s potential and strengthening our greatest asset – the people of Scotland. It is the avenue through which we can deliver a better, more prosperous and fairer society.”
First Minister Alex Salmond in his introduction to the Government Economic Strategy
The Scottish Government published its Government Economic Strategy GES on 12 September. This describes a range of specific commitments to support its Purpose. That ‘Purpose’ is to make Scotland a more successful country, with opportunities for all to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. As well as specific commitments, the GES refers to the Scottish Government’s belief that Scotland requires greater fiscal autonomy than is currently the case under the current devolution arrangements. “ Under the current devolution arrangements, control of many of the key tax levers which could help us deliver the Purpose – such as corporation tax, fuel duties and national insurance – are reserved.” Specific commitments to digital growth, learning and skills, education, export and the third sector have relevance to the success of the arts, culture and creative industries.
Creative industries is one of the six growth sectors specified in the GES and that is where the specific references to arts, culture and creative industries are found. GES aims to create an environment in which the creative industries can deliver economic growth for Scotland. Fiona Hyslop states “The creative industries are worth more than £5 billion to Scotland, support over 60,000 jobs; and overall creative industry exports represent around 5% of Scotland’s total international exports. Scottish art, film, fashion, music and literature are well recognised as its design, IT and computer gaming industries. The sector has grown rapidly over the past 10 years and with appropriate support has potential to grow further, as was underlined in the creative industries strategy that I launched in March of this year.”
The specific commitment in GES is “Supporting a number of investment opportunities, through Creative Scotland, in our Creative Industries”. This is therefore dependent on future funding from the partners in the Scottish Creative Industries Partnership SCIP.
With its single Purpose, SG states that economic growth is the means by which all other aspects of Scottish life can be improved.
The GES states that prosperity will, amongst other things “stimulate higher government revenues and a virtuous cycle of re-investment in Scotland’s public services and… bring a culture of confidence, creativity and personal empowerment to Scotland”.
GES makes specific reference to The National Performance Framework (NPF) delivery of the Purpose and National Outcomes is monitored through tracking progress on the Purpose Targets and National Indicators on the Scotland Performs website. The NPF is a 10 year plan with a refreshment of the National Indicators set to be published in Autumn 2011 to “reflect lessons learned since 2007; provide a better measure of progress towards the National Outcomes; and, reflect current priorities. By taking this approach we will ensure we best reflect national well-being and success.”
Culture Counts asks that the Outcomes are refreshed to include explicit reference to culture. There is a danger that the benefits of participation in cultural activities will not be realised if the arts, culture and creative industries are measured only in terms of their contribution to economic growth.
Tags: culture, GES, Government Economic Strategy, The Government's Programme for Scotland
The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2011-2012. What does it mean for the arts, culture and creative industries?
12 SepThe Scottish Government’s Programme for 2011 -12 published on 7th September sets out the priorities for the year ahead and specifically the legislative programme. There is one cultural Bill, the National Library of Scotland Bill, designed to enable the NLS to update and develop its services and functions for the 21st century, responding to the changing needs of its customer and reform governance arrangements.
The Programme sets the scene not only for the specific legislative programmes planned but also for the forthcoming Spending Review. Culture does not appear in the overall vision or in the key commitments.
Markers are being set down for spending priorities all within the headings of making Scotland Wealthier and Fairer, Healthier, Safer and Stronger , Smarter, Greener and which will be measured on their ability to meet the 15 national outcomes. Culture is not specified as a national outcome and therefore a commitment to it is not explicitly required by public agencies or local authorities.
The absence of commitment to culture in the overall vision and key commitments, the lack of a national outcome referencing culture combined with a necessarily tough Spending Review may signal challenging times ahead. One of the three requests of Culture Counts is that culture and creativity is specifically included in any national outcome structure, strengthening the framework for local authorities to support culture. The need for this is more evident than ever.
The Programme contains references to culture and creative industries. It also makes many references to creativity, described in the Programme as a defining characteristic of the Scottish people. Creativity is cited both as an attribute which will achieve economic growth and cohesive communities, and as a system which will be encouraged.
“Scotland is a country rich in economic potential. Our people are creative, ambitious and resilient …Our vision is for a nation where the skills and creativity of all our people contribute to a growing and sustainable economy in our communities, villages, towns and cities.”
While its good to see the recognition of the power of creativity and culture in contributing towards economic success, there is a distinct lack of reference to the vital importance of participation in culture for the general and rounded success of Scotland.
The main references pertaining to arts, culture and creative industries relate to commitments already made by the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to specific initiatives, and we welcome the maintenance and development of incentives for growth through specific initiatives locally and nationally; and to the importance of the creative industries in the forthcoming Government Economic Strategy.
Other commitments in the programme should be welcomed including to Modern Apprentices, Next Generation Digital, measures to encourage an increased role for social enterprises.
So of the three Culture Counts requests, this Programme meets one.
Maintain and develop incentives for growth through specific initiatives locally and nationally.
We urge that the Scottish Government reviews its national outcomes to ensure that culture and creativity is specifically included in any national outcome structure, strengthening the framework for local authorities to support culture.
As for the third ask, to maintain continued core investment for culture, we will wait and see.
Further reading:
For an interesting take on the Programme, have a look at Anne Bonnar’s blog.
Click here for Specific___References to culture in the Programme.
Tags: Creative Scotland, culture, culture and funding, The Government's Programme for Scotland
Culture counts and the numbers are high!
12 SepThe Herald reports that the newly refurbished National Museum of Scotland has attracted over 500,000 people in the first six weeks of its reopening. That’s roughly the whole population of Edinburgh!
This makes August a record-breaking month in Edinburgh: there were 1.95mln tickets sold at the Fringe and it was also the best ever August for visitor numbers at Edinburgh Castle.
Can you add to this spectacular statistics? We’re waiting for your comments!
Tags: cultural attendance, culture stats, National Museum of Scotland
