Seeking the Vision - 12 December 2003

[Chris Fremantle]

Personal Notes from 'Seeking the Vision' Centre for Cultural Policy Research , University of Glasgow 12 December 2003 Introduced by Adrienne Scullion, Centre for Cultural Policy Research Presentations by: Bryan Beattie, Expert Adviser on Cultural Issues to Frank McAveety, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Scottish Parliament, Stuart Cosgrove, Director, Nations and Regions, Channel 4. This seminar was organised as part of the development of a new Cultural Strategy. Jack McConnell gave a speech devoted to raising the ambition for culture in Scotland on St. Andrews Day. This seminar was organised to provide an opportunity to engage with the vision outlined. We can expect a consultation document either just before or just after Christmas with three months for discussion. The publication of a new strategy would follow by the middle of 2004. Legislation, if required, would follow. A number of key issues were highlighted or came up - the position of the artist within the vision; the concept of 'cultural rights'; the importance of Scotland within the context of television production, and the issue of legislation. Further issues raised but not fully developed were the importance of growing the definition of culture beyond the arts to include for instance archaeology; and the importance of developing the rural arts agenda beyond touring issues. One of the large dichotomies in the debate was around excellence. This was clearly defined in two different ways within the audience - one professional and one voluntary or socially engaged. This division is perhaps more interesting than the one Jack McConnell focused on: excellence and access. The dichotomy between definitions of excellence needs to be explored more clearly. Concerns were raised that the vision outlined by McConnell was so directed at positioning culture at the heart of society and political life that the artist was left out or worse written in to the equation! Artists not only create art and engage audiences; they also perform counter-cultural roles. In fact the assumption that planning can result in 'arts for all' can only really be applied to the public sector - individual creative practitioners and voluntary organisations, unless they seek support from the public purse, are independent of this agenda. Jack McConnell introduced the idea of cultural rights in his St Andrews Day speech. Bryan Beattie further developed this in the seminar. He asked whether this was (according to my notes): The right to access - to a museum or to a writer in a school. A right to a certain immediacy of access such as Sport 21 which says that 70% of the population should be within 20 miles of certain standards of facilities. A right to see three national companies at local venues Rights to school visits to theatres and museums (creating a significant beneficial impact on those resources according to Beattie). The question, later raised, was whether this is the form of rights that would be appropriate or useful in the first place. Should these rights be taken up as a requirement, or should it be incumbent on the arts to attract the audience. In which case does the development of a concept of rights actually change the situation. An alternative might come from Stuart Cosgrove's presentation: he told us that Channel 4's core values are to "do it first", to "make trouble" and to "inspire change". What if these were the form of rights developed? These are certainly values which would support a modernising agenda for the country. Stuart Cosgrove contextualised the significance of Scotland's contribution to Channel 4's output. Channel 4 has recently undertaken some form of exercise developing an imaginative agenda for branding Scotland. The following were offered: Where modernity meets history? MTV awards in Edinburgh, Pringle Where legend and myth still live: Loch Ness monster, seers, castles Rational social justice: charity giving, separate legal system, opposing Dungavel Small nation Big ideas: Enlightenment, industrial revolution, Diaspora It would be interesting to extend this idea. The question of the future of institutions such as the Scottish Arts Council was raised, but clearly put to one side by Beattie in favour of an approach which started with first principles and derived structures from principles tested in consultation. It would appear that the development of the next National Cultural Strategy is intended to push forward an agenda in which the arts are brought into the heart of public policy to serve the development of a creative and inclusive society. The requirement for legislation, noted in Jack McConnell's speech was elucidated slightly. Three areas of focus were suggested: Restructuring of the charters of national institutions such as the Scottish Arts Council, if necessary. Enshrining 'Cultural Rights' probably following clear UNESCO guidance. Defining the concept of 'adequacy' and, by implication, clarify expectations of local government. Chris Fremantle Cultural Historian, Curator and Project Manager mob. 07714 203016 www.chris.fremantle.org  [EMAIL PROTECTED]