As an important part of platforming the debate around arts funding across the UK, with kind permission we re-publish the editorial introduction to “Language is never neutral” from Variant‘s issue 42.
The forth and final Creative Scotland dialogue event was held at the impressively refurbished Briggait building on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow.
It’s just over a year ago now that a letter was signed by over 440 arts practitioners from all over Scotland, voicing concerns at the proposed creation of Creative Scotland, an amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, with an expanded remit covering the creative industries and other commercial activity that would previously have been covered by Scottish Enterprise.
From over 2,000 entries, 59 projects were shortlisted for Artists Taking the Lead. Artists get a
The Arts Council of Great Britain was established in 1946. After cutbacks under Conservative governments in the 1980s the organisation was devolved between England, Scotland and Wales in 1994. Following a confusing series of twists and turns over cultural policy […]
The Scottish Artists Union is the leading representative body for visual and applied artists north of the border. We continue to monitor the formation of the new agency Creative Scotland, set to replace the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen […]
The relationship between the collective Ganghut and Scottish Sculpture Workshop (SSW) began with a residency and subsequent events, and has now developed into construction of a semi-permanent project space.
Independent curator Jeni Walwin looks at issues relating to selling work and examines a number of different ways that artists can engage with the art world on a commercial basis.
The latest arts policy and funding developments.
Changes announced in November to the draft bill to establish Creative Scotland means that like its predecessors Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, it will enjoy complete autonomy when providing financial and other support to those working in the creative […]
Scotland’s largest gathering of artists, arts organisations and delegates from the cultural sector will converge on Edinburgh next year for a three-day cultural summit.
New appointments and farewells.
Guyan Porter talks about the socio-economic dynamics of art markets and deconstructs notions of the art market in the UK.
Radical changes in funding arrangements are due at the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) following last year’s strategic review.
As a follow-up to his article in March a-n Magazine Terry Anderson, President of the Scottish Artists Union presents his case for a re-appraisal of the proposed Culture (Scotland) Bill.
The Scottish Arts Council has appointed 13Strand to undertake a feasibility study to review the existing development and support structure for live art practices in Scotland.
A £3m investment to Scottish studio development organisation Wasps is designed to make them self-supporting in five years, and no longer dependent on arts revenue funding. A new partnership with the Scottish Arts Council will transform Wasps into one of […]
Evaluation of Scottish Arts Council’s interest free loan scheme Own Art has revealed that Scotland’s contemporary arts market is thriving.
The Visiting Arts Artist to Artist International Scheme 2006 provides the opportunity for an artist from overseas to spend a week in the UK with a UK-based artist, enabling an exchange of ideas and information and the strengthening of relationships and networks.
The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has agreed that from April 2007 it will change the way it offers support to the arts in Scotland in its role as a development and funding body, with organisations receiving either ‘foundation’ or ‘flexible’ funding.
Following the recent questioning of the relationship between Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in the light of the publication of the ACE Peer Review at the end of 2005 (see Comment in February a-n Magazine), challenges have been presented to the Scottish and Welsh arts councils that threaten to undermine their continued ‘arm’s length’ relationship with the Government.
The recommendations of the Scottish Cultural Commission, published in June, have been roundly rejected in a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
Leigh French, co-editor of Variant, reports on the context and outcomes of The Cultural Commission. “Everything can be measured, and what can be measured can be managed.” McKinseys consultants “The very act of observing alters the reality being observed.” Heisenberg […]
The PARTNERS initiative established in Scotland in May has a budget of £1.4m to enable artists to take their work into communities. The purpose of this new fund is to support artist residencies lasting from three months to two years. […]
Following on the tail of proposals in Scotland and Wales that would drastically curtail the powers of the arts councils there comes news of a review in Northern Ireland. Under threat is the UK’s ‘arm’s length’ principle of arts funding […]
