Transition plans take shape in Scotland

Creative Scotland has revealed details of its ‘Annual Plan’, spelling out how it will work towards the broad ambitions laid down in its ten-year plan. This is a transition year for the funding body, which is working towards a new funding model and has announced that all new large capital awards will be put on hold as part of a process of “rebalancing our focus between revenue and capital spend”.

The funding structure is being simplified to comprise three main strands: regular, open and targeted. Targeted Funds – which used to be known as ‘managed funds’ and attracted criticism for being more like commissions than grants – will still be worth almost as much (£30m) as core grants to Foundation Organisations, Annual Clients and Programme Organisations (£32m). But the number of targeted funds has been reduced and more will close this year, assures Chief Executive Janet Archer, “as part of our policy of making as large a proportion of our funding as possible available for open application”. Just over £3m is allocated to the ‘New Open project fund’, which will be granting funds from October onwards.

As part of its drive for transparency and clarity a ‘Framework for Artistic Assessment’ will be developed in the coming year. This will aim to provide “a robust, fair and transparent base for discussions about artistic quality and audience engagement, and over time a broader evidence base to inform and shape our funding decisions”. Other priorities include reviews of the visual arts and literature sectors, a wider ‘Equalities Review’, new strategies for film, the creative industries and an ‘International Strategy’ that will look at what activities Creative Scotland is able to support and how it can increase opportunities for the sector internationally. A ‘National Youth Arts Advisory Group’ will be established and there are plans for a new digital platform to connect and showcase the work of young people engaged in arts activity. 

Next week a series of “companion pieces” that have been produced with sector representatives will be published, to “draw together our thinking and sector ambitions for different artforms and specialisms across the arts, screen and creative industries”.