Culture in Communities

Background

Scotland is a culturally rich nation, and it’s important that cultural activities are taking place and enjoyed in local communities right across Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Culture Strategy recognises the importance of taking a ‘place-based’ approach to culture. This means giving people a greater say in shaping the cultural life of their local communities. This could be through community choirs, book clubs and theatre groups, live music, or festivals and galas. The Strategy also identifies the role that a place-based approach to culture can play in developing communities.

The Committee wants to know more about what is happening in our local communities. What works well? And what barriers are there to putting on or taking part in cultural activities?

Through its inquiry, the Committee wants to understand—

• How do national and local layers of government, along with the third sector, complement each other to ensure that communities have opportunities to take part in cultural activities?

• How is unmet cultural need determined? And who decides this?

• What does good ‘place-based’ cultural policy look like in practice?

We want to hear your views about how things are working in your local area. 

Your views

The call for views opened on 17 February 2023 and closed on 7 April 2023.

You can read the submissions received here. 

The Committee also received the following submissions:

Bòrd na Gàidhlig (276KB, pdf) posted 14 April 2023

Creative Lives (additional information) (226KB, pdf) posted 14 April 2023

Federation of Scottish Theatre  (189KB, pdf) posted 18 April 2023

Fèisean nan Gàidheal (208KB, pdf) posted 14 April 2023

Historic Environment Scotland  (213KB, pdf) posted 14 April 2023

Mwamba  (130KB, pdf) posted 18 April 2023