On 27th August 2012, Culture Counts campaign sent out the following letter to all Scottish Local Authorities Councillors and Chief Executives. The letter was accompanied by a document (attached below) highlighting the benefits of culture and presenting our arguments why ‘culture counts’:
27 August 2012
Dear Councillor
At the beginning of 2011 key organisations in Scotland representing the arts, media, culture, heritage, creative industries and museums came together with a common aim of positively and progressively highlighting the value of arts, culture and creative industries. We believe that culture counts.
As well as contributing to our national wellbeing, culture defines the heritage, traditions and character of local areas, communities, families and individuals. It influences how people feel about living, working and investing locally and contributes to:
- strengthened community identity and pride
- positive health and wellbeing
- enhanced educational outcomes
- increased economic development
- increased self-esteem for individuals
- improved quality of life
Scotland’s Local Authorities play a major role in supporting this work both through direct investment in local groups and activity and through ownership and management of key local cultural assets such as libraries, archives, museums and theatres. These are challenging times for those making decisions on budgets and the enclosed document outlines in more detail the benefits of continued investment in culture.
Additionally, the Scottish Government has recently affirmed the importance of culture with the inclusion in the updated National Performance Framework of a new Indicator for Culture – Increase Cultural Engagement.
We believe that culture counts and ask you to ensure that its importance is reflected in the stated policies and objectives of local government. In recognition of the significant social and economic contribution made by the arts, culture and the creative industries to communities in Scotland we would encourage local government to:
- Implement strategies to increase cultural engagement meeting the new Indicator for Culture.
- Recognise and articulate in Single Outcome Agreements and Community Partnership Planning the full potential of culture’s contribution across a range of National Outcomes.
- Maintain core investment for culture.
- Maintain and develop any specific local initiatives to encourage growth.
Yours sincerely
Arts & Business Scotland, BECTU, Craft Scotland, Cultural Alliance, Culture Sparks, Equity, Federation of Scottish Theatre, Festivals Edinburgh, HI-Arts, Literature Forum for Scotland, Musicians Union, National Galleries of Scotland, National Library of Scotland, National Theatre of Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Promote YT, Regional Screen Scotland, Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Contemporary Art Network, Scottish Council on Archives, Scottish Games Network, Scottish Jazz Federation, Scottish Library and Information Council, Scottish Opera, The Audience Business, Traditional Music Forum, Voluntary Arts Scotland
Culture Counts are key bodies in Scotland’s arts, media, culture, heritage, cultural industries, libraries and museums sector who share the common aim of positively and progressively highlighting the value of arts, culture and the creative industries.
We believe that culture counts.
Attached: CULTURE COUNTS DOCUMENT
