International Culture Strategy: Survey

Closed 12 May 2023

Opened 2 Feb 2023

Overview

The closing date for responses has been extended to Friday 12 May.

The Scottish Government has committed to developing a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector. Through this survey we want to understand views of all interested parties in this work to inform the shape the strategy takes. The survey is likely to require about 30-45 minutes to complete.

Scotland’s culture sector undoubtedly has a strong international reputation. For a small country, Scotland has an impressive number of internationally important cultural assets and international recognition of our many strengths. However, there is a need to better coordinate and focus the public policy landscape that aims to support the sector’s international activity.

A Culture Strategy for Scotland, published in February 2020, sets out a range of ambitions in this space. However, major disruptive events since its publication, including Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, have affected the ability of cultural professionals to work internationally and have imposed additional costs and administrative barriers.

The development of an International Culture Strategy (‘the strategy’) will seek to provide greater coherence to how the Scottish Government supports international cultural activity. It will focus on the motivations of culture sector stakeholders in working internationally, while recognising that such work has wider impacts on Scotland’s international reputation and relationships.

However, the sector is currently experiencing significant concurrent challenges and the development of a strategy must be set in that context. It must support sectoral resilience, recovery, and long term development and be one way through which current challenges can be addressed.

Who is this aimed at?

This survey is aimed at cultural organisations, creative industries companies, and individual practitioners who work internationally and those with aspirations to do so. We would also welcome views from organisations from outside of Scotland who have worked with Scottish partners or wish to do so.

We are seeking views on:

  • current international activity in the Scottish culture sector, its importance, and motivations behind it
  • rationale, principles, and objectives of the strategy
  • the current support available for international cultural activity and its appropriateness
  • how this work might help to address current major challenges, such as cost of living, recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact of leaving the EU
  • geographical priorities and focus

Read the survey paper in English or Gaelic (a Gaelic translation is available in the supporting documents)

Read an Easy Read version of the survey paper (There is a word version in the supporting documents if you would prefer to download and respond via email).

Online Information Sessions

Wednesday 29 March @ 11:00 – 12:00  SIGN UP

Thursday 30 March @ 15:00 – 16:00 SIGN UP

The sessions are designed to help people who are interested in providing a response to the International Culture Strategy Survey.

Both sessions will follow the same format of: 
- a short presentation from policy officials on strategy development, the rationale and principles behind this work, and the survey;
- an opportunity for Q&A with policy officials.

During the sessions we will not be gathering information on the views of participants.

 

What happens next

Responses will be used to inform the development of an International Culture Strategy. Views and information provided will shape the content of the strategy and help to develop actions proposed under it. They will help us to understand sectoral needs, aspirations and motivations in terms of international activity.

Events

  • Online Information Session

    From 29 Mar 2023 at 11:00 to 29 Mar 2023 at 12:00

    Wednesday 29 March @ 11:00 – 12:00 SIGN UP: https://rb.gy/rfchiu

    The sessions are designed to help people who are interested in providing a response to the International Culture Strategy Survey.

    Both sessions will follow the same format of:
    - a short presentation from policy officials on strategy development, the rationale and principles behind this work, and the survey;
    - an opportunity for Q&A with policy officials.

    During the sessions we will not be gathering information on the views of participants.

  • Online Information Session

    From 30 Mar 2023 at 15:00 to 30 Mar 2023 at 16:00

    Thursday 30 March @ 15:00 – 16:00 SIGN UP: https://rb.gy/fw5b2y

    The sessions are designed to help people who are interested in providing a response to the International Culture Strategy Survey.

    Both sessions will follow the same format of:
    - a short presentation from policy officials on strategy development, the rationale and principles behind this work, and the survey;
    - an opportunity for Q&A with policy officials.

    During the sessions we will not be gathering information on the views of participants.

Interests

  • Arts, Culture and Sport
  • Business, Industry and Innovation
  • International
  • Main hub