Scottish Arts Council
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Arts Council is a Scottish
public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts
in Scotland
. Most of the Council's funding comes from the Scottish Government but it also distributes National Lottery
funds received via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
.
The Scottish Arts Council was formed in 1994 following a restructuring of the Arts Council of Great Britain
, but had existed as an autonomous body since a royal charter
of 1967.
The Council funds all the major areas of the arts, maintaining balance between the many diverse communities of Scotland. In addition, it funds cultural groups and events affiliated with immigrant communities and minorities in Scotland. It is the sponsor of two book awards:
In January 2006 it was announced that the Scottish Executive
would assume direct responsibility for the main national arts companies (Scottish Opera
, Scottish Ballet
, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
) and that the Arts Council was to be replaced by a new body to be called Creative Scotland
. This change was made in response to the report issued by the Cultural Commission chaired by James Boyle
. Creative Scotland is intended to take over the functions of the Scottish Arts Council in 2010.
Also in 2006 in response to repeated requests through the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
to disclose the basis of funding decisions, the Scottish Arts Council committed to increasing transparency and knowledge about its decision making. To support this, the Council published the outcomes of its strategic review on its website, which detailed the development of its policy, alongside assessments of organisations (individual artists’ grants were not considered as part of the Council’s review).
The Scottish Arts Council is based in Edinburgh
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts
The arts
The arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Most of the Council's funding comes from the Scottish Government but it also distributes National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
funds received via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
.
The Scottish Arts Council was formed in 1994 following a restructuring of the Arts Council of Great Britain
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
, but had existed as an autonomous body since a royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
of 1967.
The Council funds all the major areas of the arts, maintaining balance between the many diverse communities of Scotland. In addition, it funds cultural groups and events affiliated with immigrant communities and minorities in Scotland. It is the sponsor of two book awards:
- The Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year Award (worth £5,000);
- The Scottish Arts Council Children's Book of the Year Award (worth £10,000).
In January 2006 it was announced that the Scottish Executive
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
would assume direct responsibility for the main national arts companies (Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
, Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
) and that the Arts Council was to be replaced by a new body to be called Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is a development body for arts and cultural industries in Scotland. It inherited the functions of Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council on 1 July 2010, and has an additional remit for the Creative Industries...
. This change was made in response to the report issued by the Cultural Commission chaired by James Boyle
James Boyle (broadcasting)
James Boyle is one of the leading public figures in the British arts world with a long track record in broadcasting in particular. His take-no-prisoners style has earned him numerous plaudits, but also resulted in controversy, most famously at BBC Radio 4....
. Creative Scotland is intended to take over the functions of the Scottish Arts Council in 2010.
Also in 2006 in response to repeated requests through the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
The Freedom of Information Act 2002 was an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed in 2002. It covers public bodies over which the Scottish Parliament has jurisdiction, fulfilling a similar purpose to the UK-level Freedom of Information Act 2000...
to disclose the basis of funding decisions, the Scottish Arts Council committed to increasing transparency and knowledge about its decision making. To support this, the Council published the outcomes of its strategic review on its website, which detailed the development of its policy, alongside assessments of organisations (individual artists’ grants were not considered as part of the Council’s review).
The Scottish Arts Council is based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
See also
- Scottish Publishers AssociationScottish Publishers AssociationThe Scottish Publishers Association , established in 1973 as the Scottish General Publishers Association with the support of the Scottish Arts Council, was the trade association of nearly 80 publishing companies in Scotland...
- Craigmillar Festival SocietyCraigmillar Festival SocietyThe Craigmillar Festival Society was a Community Arts organisation that existed in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, Scotland from 1962 to 2002. It is regarded as important contributor to the Community Arts Movement...
- Community artCommunity artCommunity Art could be loosely defined as a way of creating art in which professional artists collaborate more or less intensively with people who don't normally actively engage in the arts. Community arts, also sometimes known as "dialogical art", "community-engaged" or "community-based art,"...
- Arts Council EnglandArts Council EnglandArts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
- Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern IrelandThe Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
- Arts Council of WalesArts Council of WalesThe Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales.Established by Royal Charter in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council , when it merged with the three Welsh regional arts associations...