Stability at the heart of plans for Scotland

Creative Scotland is to clarify funding arrangements, reduce activity that could be perceived as self-promoting and establish an annual conference as part of a range of measures to address concerns raised by the sector and build on the strengths of its work in support of creativity in Scotland. Its ‘Action Plan for Change’ outlines the actions that will be taken to implement the seven commitments made by the board in December of last year, which included putting artists, cultural practitioners and organisations first. More organisations will receive stable, multi-year funding, and the perceived hierarchy in the current system of Foundation, Flexibly Funded and Annual Organisations will be eliminated. A new funding stream is being created for individual artists and creative practitioners, for whom a series of bursaries will be created to allow them to take time out to develop their practice. This will be decided through a peer review process. Communications and transparency will be improved by establishing an annual ‘State of the Nation’ Conference, as well as running open sessions and a series of consultation forums to inform Creative Scotland’s strategy, while all funding guidance, forms and literature will be rewritten to ensure greater clarity. The funding body intends to keep the public updated monthly with how plans are progressing.

http://www.creativescotland.com/news/creative-scotland-action-plan-for-change-07032013