AN expert group to help Scotland’s culture sector deal with the challenges posed by Covid-19 is to meet for the first time.
The Scottish Government announced the creation of the new advisory body – which is being led by former Edinburgh International Festival managing director Joanna Baker – in February.
The 14 members on the National Partnership for Culture (NPC) group will help to deliver on Scotland’s culture strategy.
In addition, they will also consider and advise on the recovery of the sector, which has been largely shut down as a result of lockdown.
Baker said: “Scotland’s cultural sector has always punched well above its weight in its contribution to the health, wealth and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.”
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop added: “Culture is central to who we are as a nation, and while the remit of the National Partnership for Culture goes beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, it will play an integral part in our recovery.
“I look forward to [the NPC] providing ministers with strategic advice on harnessing the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship of our cultural sector to help create an enabled, inclusive society.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here