A CULTURAL POLICY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH

Preface

Cultural policy executive summary

What do we mean by cultural activities?

Cultural Partnership

Cultural Objectives for the City of Edinburgh

Conclusion

Preface

Culture is the mechanism through which individuals, communities and nations define themselves. Its roots stretch back to the emergence of the world’s earliest civilisations, and cultural activities have given inspiration and delight to generations throughout history.

Around the world, cities have been the wellsprings of cultural development. In the second half of the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was the focus of an extraordinary upsurge of intellectual, scientific and cultural energy, which transformed European thought and life. The city’s contribution to the Enlightenment has guaranteed it a place in history, but what of the future?

It is the City Council’s view that culture is not an optional extra, but an essential element in lifelong learning, economic development, social regeneration, and in the quality of life of and personal well being of individuals. This is why this Cultural Policy is central to our strategic vision for Edinburgh in the new millennium.

The Council acknowledges that it is only one of a range of funders and providers of cultural activities in the city, and by no means the most important. This policy, which has been improved following extensive consultation, will only succeed if Edinburgh’s diverse cultural community signs up to it.

The document is no more than a starting point for action, and one of its major proposals is the establishment of a Cultural Partnership to take forward its objectives. This significant new vehicle for collaborative working will provide a forum for the consideration of the future spending plans of the partner organisations, and for the first time will enable the city’s cultural community to speak with a collective voice.

With the forthcoming establishment of the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh is once again assuming its historic role as the political powerhouse of the nation. Could this development be the catalyst for another explosion of cultural activity, a new Enlightenment? Only time will tell, but whatever happens the adoption of this Policy will ensure that the city is well placed to maximise the cultural opportunities that lie ahead.

Councillor Susan Dalgety, Depute Council Leader

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Convener of Recreation Committee

Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, Convener of Education Committee

Councillor Donald Anderson, Convener of Economic Development Committee

Cultural policy executive summary

This Cultural Policy for the City of Edinburgh is intended to highlight the value of cultural activities in the City, and to inform people about the Council’s aims and objectives for the future support and development of these activities.

The document describes current areas of Council support and achievement, and provides an overview of the Council’s commitment to culture, its priorities, and the areas in which it will continue to provide support. This commitment is expressed in a number of policy objectives which will be achieved through a series of individual strategies containing action plans and targets

What do we mean by cultural activities?

The document uses the term culture in a broad sense to include a range of activities which is not limited to the traditional components such as the live arts, heritage, fine art, or literature, but follows the definition of culture formulated at UNESCO’s World Conference on cultural policies, which states:

"Culture consists of all distinctive, spiritual and material, intellectual and emotional features which characterise a society or social group." (Mexico 1982)

Cultural Partnership

In recent years the Council has given increasing emphasis to working in partnership with other cultural providers and supporters to ensure that there is a balance of provision across the City and that cultural activities are mutually complementary. This document proposes the establishment of a Cultural Partnership as a means of formalising and extending co-operation and co-ordination between cultural providers and supporters. The aims of the partnership would be to:

• help to achieve a common set of priorities;
• allow for greater co-ordination of programmes of work;
• provide the opportunity to look jointly at spending and funding plans;
• bring together the ideas, skills and experiences of a wide range of people;
• provide a focus and collective voice for other organisations and individuals in the sector; and
• offer an opportunity for a continuing dialogue between the partners

In addition, the Partnership would provide a forum for reviewing and updating cultural objectives and strategies.

Consultation has taken place on the principle of establishing a Cultural Partnership and has received widespread support. A detailed report covering the remit and membership of the Partnership is now being worked up, and the Partnership will be launched in 1999.

Cultural Objectives for the City of Edinburgh

The objectives set out the priorities identified by the Council and how it hopes to see cultural activity supported in the City. They are high level statements of intent and the detail of how they are to be achieved will be in the individual strategies. They are all equally important and are not presented in any order of priority:

• to enable all of Edinburgh’s citizens and visitors to participate in, and enjoy, the widest cultural experience, including targeting initiatives to combat social exclusion.
• to encourage the highest standards of creativity and excellence in all aspects of cultural activities
• to foster partnership working with organisations throughout the city which are involved in working within, or supporting, cultural activities, such as higher and further educational establishments, national institutions, museums and galleries, the commercial and private sector
• to develop lively and sustainable cultural industries, among which should be those evolving with the emergence of new technologies
• to develop and support the infrastructure which sustains Edinburgh’s cultural industries and activities
• to recognise and promote the importance of culture for children and young people
• to acknowledge and support the contribution of cultural activities to the lifelong learning process for the wider community
• to preserve and interpret Edinburgh’s heritage
• to promote locally, nationally and internationally the expression of Edinburgh’s diverse cultural identity, and to recognise the reciprocal benefits of widening cultural experience through international contacts
• to support and develop those cultural activities which enrich and extend personal and community development

Conclusion

This document is a starting point for action. It sets out the Council’s aims and objectives for the development of cultural activities in the City. The detailed strategies will be prepared over the next few months and will provide the more detailed programmes of work needed to achieve the objectives which the Council has set.

The Council clearly recognises that it cannot do this alone and is looking forward to working in partnership with individuals and organisations involved in cultural activities.

Copies of the full Cultural Policy document are available from The Council Information Centre, 12 St Giles Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1PT. Tel 0131 529 3078.