| MSP Marlyn Glen, list member for northeast Scotland, has written to Finance and Public Service Reform Minister Tom McCabe urging him to consider relocating the cultural body or its successors to Dundee.
Mervyn Rolfe, chief executive of Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce, has thrown his weight behind the MSP. He has long called for the relocation of more civil service jobs to Dundee.
A Cultural Commission report, published last week, recommended that two new authorities replace the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.
“A decision on the future location of the Scottish Arts Council, currently in Edinburgh, was set aside until the report of the Cultural Commission on the future of the arts in Scotland was published,” said Ms Glen.
“Their report was made public a few weeks ago, and one of its recommendations was the replacement of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen with two new bodies to oversee artistic policy in Scotland, Culture Scotland and Culture Fund.
“Whether or not these recommendations are approved by the Scottish Parliament, I would advocate that either the Scottish Arts Council or its successors in the form of Culture Scotland and Culture Fund, be located in Dundee.”
Mr Rolfe said the city has a strong case, based on a string of artistic achievements and its “cultural renaissance”.
“There is the cultural building of the DCA, the Space dance theatre, the world-renowned reputation of the Rep and a string of very, very significant achievements on the artistic scene.”
Ms Glen pointed out that Dundee had the second highest per head local authority spending on cultural services in the country.
“The city already has a flourishing artistic sector, and 29 out of 32 organisations contacted by the Cultural Commission said the city’s artistic creativity had had a positive impact on the quality of life for people living in Dundee,” she said.
“Further evidence of the continuing rising success of the arts in Dundee is the statement by the Cultural Commission that a cultural enterprise office is to open in the city.
“It will offer business support, access to training, and assistance in searching for financial support in the cultural sector.
“The Commission also produced one surprising and welcome statistic for Dundee.
“Spending on local government culture and related services per head in the city is £53 per head.
“That is below Glasgow’s £96 per head, but ahead of Edinburgh’s £41 per head and Aberdeen’s £47.
“The city is an ideal place to be at the future centre of the organisation of the arts in Scotland.” |
