Culture

"From Burns in the 18th century, to T in the Park today, Scotland’s cultural life is world-renowned. The talent of Scottish artists continues to shape the world around us But it is perhaps the most difficult period in our recent history to argue the case for investment in art and culture. But Labour believes that culture matters.

"Scottish Labour believes that we need strong leadership in this area more than ever as we pass through the difficult times. Not only has the accessibility of arts, music and culture defined our nation’s heritage and culture, it has enhanced the quality of our lives. Scotland has a strong and proud track record as a nation of creative talent and we must capitalise on this potential to become world leaders in the creative industries.

"Scotland’s capacity for creative innovation is our ticket to economic growth. Investment in the creativity of our people is an investment in our future prosperity. And the vanguards of our heritage – from the Mining Museum in East Lothian to the National Museums and Galleries throughout Scotland – are key to  boosting our tourism industry and attracting increasing numbers of visitors to Scotland.

"Our approach will be rigorous, from widening access to music tuition for our youngest citizens, to providing support for the creative industries at the highest level. We will nurture the creativity of Scotland to benefit all of our people."

- Iain Gray, Scottish Labour Leader

Our promises to Scotland

• Deliver new jobs in the cultural sector by investing in the creative industries, with a Scottish Film Champion to promote collaboration between drama and film and drive forward new thinking as a first step
• Deliver Scotland’s first joined-up music policy, ensuring that music is central to the school curriculum and delivering a new musical instrument fund for schools
• Modernise library services to expand the provision of superfast broadband and e-book lending
• Promote the widest possible access to the arts, by working to protect free admission to galleries and museums
• Protect the international development budget and deliver support for development education

Growing our creative industries

The arts sector will be critical in creating the economic growth that will lift Scotland out of tough times. That is why Scottish Labour’s cultural policy will give priority to investment in the creative industries, devising a strategy for international promotion and delivering the new, skilled jobs that will be the fuel of Scotland’s economic recovery.

We will do all we can to develop Dundee as a hub for high-quality design, supporting the emergent and successful games industry in the city and the V&A project. Scottish Labour will establish a Music Investment Fund, modelled in discussion with the music industry, Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to support the growth of small and medium businesses in the music sector.

We also want to use the creative industries to encourage inward investment in Scotland. In particular, we will explore the best ways to support our film industry. We will appoint a Scottish Film Champion, to promote greater collaboration between drama and film production in Scotland, to attract fresh investment and to drive forward new thinking.


Nurturing Scotland’s musical talent

Investing in the skills of our young people is central to Scottish Labour’s vision for Scotland. Their skills are the foundation on which our future prosperity rests and their creative talents are no exception. It is our ambition to give all children - no matter their background – the opportunity to access music tuition and musical instruments.

We will continue the Youth Music Initiative, ensuring that all children in P5 and P6 have access to music tuition. We will also establish a Musical Instrument Fund, to give assistance to those families who need it to access a musical instrument for their children’s tuition.

Scottish Labour also aims to carry out a National Music Audit, to identify variations in music provision at local authority level and build on the best practice of already-successful programmes across Scotland. Scottish music is recognised world-wide for contemporary, classical and traditional music. Our policy will address how to support excellence in music.


Culture matters

Scottish Labour will work to ensure that every person, no matter their background, can become involved in cultural activity.

We remain committed to free admissions to our museums and galleries and will work with local authorities to ensure the continuation of this policy, including creating better access to art collections of national significance.

We will build on the success of the National Theatre’s £10 season, working with theatres and sponsors to provide reduced-rate tickets for theatre performances across Scotland. We will also consider the feasibility of establishing a National Youth Companies Unit in Creative Scotland and will review how incentives for philanthropic support for the arts can be strengthened.

Scottish Labour will explore the best way to support young artists and Scottish art graduates early in their professional careers, so that they can continue to work in Scotland and use their talents to enrich our local communities. Similarly, we will support community arts, recognising that they are a vital component of developing strong communities. We will also give public institutions a new right to borrow works of art from the national collection, so that more people can benefit from our national heritage.

We know that libraries are at the heart of many communities and we understand why people feel so passionate about protecting them during difficult economic times. Scottish Labour recognises that libraries are a key way of achieving digital inclusion in Scotland and will do all we can to protect local services. We want to widen access to books and will prioritise the modernisation of library services, expanding the provision of superfast broadband, delivering free wi-fi for workers on the move and enhancing opportunities for e-book lending. We will also protect mobile libraries in rural areas. We will work with Glasgow City Council to secure funding for the Glasgow Women’s Library, as it moves to become the Women’s Library of Scotland.


Improving our communities

Over the last thirteen years Scotland’s towns and cities have made great strides in recovering from the damage of the 1980s. Even as spending on capital projects becomes more constrained in the years ahead, Scottish Labour will continue to promote excellence in design and architecture, helping to foster civic pride and build world-class places in which people want to live and work.

Our aim is to ensure the very best standards of architecture and building design are met, in school-building projects and all new government-funded building programmes. We will seek to strengthen the skills and capacity of local authorities to promote good design, and ensure that quality and excellence are at the heart of the planning system.


Scotland’s languages

Scottish Labour is proud to celebrate the diversity of Scotland’s many languages, including Gaelic, British Sign Language (BSL) and the many languages spoken by those new to our country.

We will support opportunities for learning Gaelic, including removing the obstacles to Gaelic education and increasing the number of Gaelic medium teachers where there is strong parental demand.  We will encourage Gaelic broadcasting, Gaelic arts and increased visibility for the Gaelic language in Scotland. We will support the work of the Gaelic college in Skye, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and will encourage new learners of the language, along with supporting those native speakers from the traditional Gaelic heartlands and beyond.

Scottish Labour recognises that there is a shortage of BSL interpreters in Scotland. We have an ambition to increase support for those learning and using BSL.


A sporting Scotland

Participating in sporting activity uncovers talent and develops skills that are vital to our nation’s future success, including nurturing confidence, teamwork and drive.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offer an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our nation to the world. But the Games also offer a unique opportunity to showcase sport to Scotland’s young people. Scottish Labour will work with partners to ensure that the Commonwealth Games are as accessible as possible to Scotland’s younger generation and will introduce Commonwealth  Legacy Schools, to ensure that the legacy of the Games is an investment in Scotland’s future talent.

Protecting the integrity of Scotland’s professional sport is vital. We will work with governing authorities to ensure that professional clubs are accountable to their stakeholders, run transparently and on sound financial principles, with greater involvement in our local communities and enhanced supporter representation. Scottish Labour will continue and enhance support for Supporters Direct, to give football fans a say in our national game.

We will continue to support Scotland’s University of Sport at Stirling beyond 2011, to ensure our athletes have access to the support they need to become sporting champions and to promote a nation-wide culture of sport and physical activity. Scottish Labour will also consult on bringing forward a Sport Bill within the lifetime of the next parliament, which will safeguard and improve the provision of opportunities for sport, leisure and physical activity for all people in Scotland.


An outward looking Scotland

Scottish Labour understands the worries of those facing economic uncertainty in Scotland. But we must not forget those around the world who face even harder times. Scotland’s innovative partnership with Malawi has been a huge success, engaging more than 85,000 Scots and Scottish Labour wants to continue this focus.

That is why we will protect Scotland’s investment in overseas development and will continue to work with Malawi and our partners in sub-Saharan Africa to support their development needs. Scottish Labour also recognises the excellent work that has been carried out by Development Education Centres across Scotland. We will support their programme of work by ensuring that 3 per cent of the development budget is used to support development education, in line with EU guidance. We will also ensure that Scotland continues to play its part in responding to emergency situations around the world.

We know that fair trade is a model way to empower people, both in countries in the global South and in our own nation. Scottish Labour is committed to a Fair Trade Scotland and will encourage towns, cities, schools and universities to aim for fair trade status.