| Allan Wilson:
As I am aware
of the pressures on time, I will try to restrict my speech as much as I
can to the time available.
Picasso said:
"Art washes
away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
Today's debate
has been anything but dry or dusty; in fact, it has been highly cultured.
Some members
would like to see more action, more rapid implementation and even more
funding devoted to the arts in Scotland than the £3.5 million extra
I announced today. My colleagues made many of those comments, and I understand
their concerns, but the report sets out a raft of actions that have already
been taken or are at the planning stage. I make no apologies for the fact
that there is still work to do. Much has been done but there is more to
do.
The strategy
sets out a framework extending over four years. We have just completed
year one. I therefore say to colleagues such as Frank McAveety and Pauline
McNeill, who have sounded notes of impatience, that they would do well
to remember the words of Horace:
"To have begun
is half the job".
We have made
a start on incorporating contemporary music into our strategy and I look
forward to developing that work with colleagues.
The arts have
fared well in recent funding settlements. The 2000 spending review was
a record for the arts and sport. There will always be winners and losers,
but what matters is the fact that the available funding is not allocated
arbitrarily. The Scottish Arts Council will look carefully at all applications
for funding that are made to it against the framework of the national cultural
strategy and, where it is possible, true excellence will be rewarded.
I say to Mike
Russell and his colleagues that it is no mistake that the strategy is couched
in general terms. Culture is not a single project or even a set of projects.
It was the objective of the strategy to get away from that perception.
Many aspects of Scottish life are contributing in some way to this agenda,
and people and organisations are investing in all those areas.
I welcome the
fact that Murdo Fraser does not support what I said earlier—that is a bonus.
I say to Brian Monteith that money is not everything. When Thor Hansen
opined that culture is something that cannot be bought and cannot be imported
or produced at will, he meant that culture is not a commodity, but something
organic that evolves from a nation's traditions and its experience of daily
living. That is absolutely right.
Michael Russell:
The minister says that culture is not something
that can be reported. How does that square with 36 pages of graphs and
details of the report in the document? Have we just wasted the past hour
and a half just as the minister has wasted the past year?
The Deputy Presiding
Officer: Before the minister responds, I ask
for order in the chamber. The background noise is becoming fairly loud.
Allan Wilson:
The quotation, with which Mike Russell is
obviously not familiar, says that culture is something that cannot be imported—not
reported.
It is equally
important that resources that are devoted to culture are channelled correctly.
Fiona McLeod mentioned the reduction in the budget of the National Library
of Scotland, as reported. That reduction reflects the end of a period of
capital building spend. Running costs for the library are actually on the
increase. However, I share her concern. We must recognise the fact that
the science library and the business service are not the only providers
in Scotland, but are part of a wider network.
Fiona McLeod:
rose—
Allan Wilson:
I am sorry, but I have very little time. I
shall meet the director of the National Library of Scotland next week to
develop our plans.
I also look
to the social inclusion partnerships to exploit the regenerative potential
when planning their local strategies. Culture should not be an optional
extra in social inclusion partnership areas; it is too important for that.
In response to requests from colleagues, I shall visit more social inclusion
partnership projects over the coming year to see exactly how the arts and
sport are helping to tackle exclusion and disadvantage.
If I have been
disappointed by anything in the debate—with the honourable exception of
the previous speech—it has been the lack of reference to the key role of
local authorities. We are working with the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities to explore the potential contribution that local authorities
can make. We cannot over-stress how critical that contribution will be.
I plan to meet local authorities to continue to discuss it.
Several members
mentioned Scottish Ballet. I have full confidence that the board of Scottish
Ballet, in discussion with the Scottish Arts Council, will make the correct
decisions for the future of the company. Ballet in Scotland is enjoying
a resurgence. The Scottish Arts Council is developing an integrated dance
strategy and audiences for dance are on the increase and showing real and
growing interest in contemporary programmes. There are also excellent training
facilities and new initiatives are to be found throughout the country,
including Dance Base in Edinburgh, Scottish Dance Theatre at Dundee Rep,
the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at Dundee College, New Moves
in Glasgow and City Moves in Aberdeen. I am heartened to learn of dance
companies extending outreach programmes to our schools and I look forward
to Scottish Ballet continuing to make a contribution to the cultural life
of Scotland.
Points were
made about the joint implementation group. We want industry and voluntary
arts bodies to participate. The group will take a highly inclusive approach
and industry and voluntary arts bodies will be invited to share in the
discussions. I have met representatives of those groups in that regard.
I thank Alex
Johnstone for his kind words about my speech. Like all great works, it
is the result of collaboration. Members will know that I always like to
conclude on a positive note, whereas we have heard mean, negative and narrow-minded
contributions from members of the Opposition, Alex Johnstone excluded.
To uplift our spirits, therefore, I will quote from a Taoist proverb. For
the benefit of Alex Johnstone, I will say that that is a Chinese religion.
"Unobscure your
eyes and the result is sight. Unobscure your heart and the result is joy".
I say to our
Tory and nationalist opponents that they should unobscure their eyes and
embrace the Executive's vision. If they unobscure their cold hearts, the
result will be cultural bliss.
To
read this debate in full, click here
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