As the Minister responsible for culture in Scotland is replaced, the government
has given
an indication Creative Scotland's work with "creative industries" is regarded as
separate
from support of the arts.

First Minister Alex Salmond reshuffled his junior Ministerial team yesterday,
inviting three
to resign. Among them was Linda Fabiani who had held the post of Minister for
Europe,
External Affairs & Culture since the new government was formed in May of 2007.

She is replaced by Mike Russell, former Environment Minister, and his brief is
expanded to
include the Constitution. This means Mr Russell will work closely with the
First Minister
on their submission to the Calman Commission this month and, in the year ahead,
the
government's strategy on independence and ultimate referendum.

The SAU has always maintained that the Arts & Culture should be a ministerial
brief in its
own right. Since the Scottish Parliament's establishment in 1999 all the
post-holders have
been given additional matters, such as sport and latterly foreign affairs. In
the year when
the way in which government supports the arts is to be massively reformed with
the
advent of Creative Scotland, it would seem a cause for concern that the Minister
responsible should also be given what is undoubtedly the central project of this
administration.

On the 5th of February 2009 the Scottish Government made its latest announcement
about the future work of Creative Scotland, publishing SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT. The document sets
out the multi-agency framework agreement involving the Scottish Government,
Creative
Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Local Authorities
and the
Business Gateway, detailing roles and responsibilities and seeking to answer
some the
questions that have been hanging over this aspect of Creative Scotland's role.

Significantly, Creative Scotland's role in relation to the Creative Industries
will be to
provide "research, intelligence, support and advocacy" and to lead co-ordination
activity in
developing the creative industry sector.

Creative Scotland will also inherit the functions, responsibilities and
resources of Scottish
Screen and the Scottish Arts Council and we have been informed that a further
announcement will be forthcoming in relation to this more substantial- and, for
artists,
crucial- element of the Creative Scotland remit

The Scottish Artists Union welcomes both the announcement and the framework
document as they belatedly put forward for debate and discussion some
much-needed
information about the planned workings of Creative Scotland. There remain some
unanswered questions, but we trust our recent meeting with former Culture
Minister Linda
Fabiani and chair of Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd Ewan Brown was the beginning of
a
constructive dialogue that will last throughout the coming year.

We welcome Mike Russell into his new role and hope we will have the chance to
meet with
him very soon. In the meantime his predecessor's statement of the 5th is worth
repeating:
"Let me be clear, art for art's sake is vital to our diverse cultural landscape
as is creative
enterprise and Creative Scotland will of course continue to support artists and
creative
talent across Scotland."
That statement can be read in full here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/02/05125752