A new Theatre Touring Strategy will be launched today (13 March 2007) at the Federation of Scottish Theatre's Emporium event at Dance Base in Edinburgh.

The overall aim of the strategy is to ensure that high quality theatre of all types is available to as large a number and as broad a range of people across Scotland as possible. Four key aims have been highlighted and developed in consultation with a wide range of theatre producers, venues, presenters and funders. Those aims are to:

· Improve communication between all areas of the sector, including between the producer and the audience

· Support producers - companies and artists

· Support promoters and venues

· Encourage a larger number and broader range of people to attend and participate in touring theatre

Development of the strategy is an initial response to demand from the sector, the establishment of the National Theatre Scotland and as a follow through from the Scottish Arts Council's recent strategic review. It acknowledges the changing environment in which theatre touring is created and presented, as well as looking to the future as 'cultural entitlements' are developed in response to the forthcoming Culture Bill.

The Theatre Touring Strategy supports the Scottish Arts Council's corporate aim of increasing participation, through giving increased support for artists. The strategy covers all styles of touring theatre, at all scales, and includes rural, urban and city tours and will increase the range and variety of work available to audiences across Scotland. Each of the time-specific aims will be evaluated and the results of that work will be used to inform the decision-making processes within the Scottish Arts Council for funds to support the theatre touring sector.

The key aims of the strategy will help support improved information exchange between producers, presenters and venues, for example to develop scheduling which avoids potential clashes in productions; to encourage producers and promoters to work with the network of Cultural Co-Coordinators in schools; to encourage resource sharing and mentoring; to enhance knowledge and skills in technical, stage management, front of house and box office provision; to make a wider range of international drama available to the public and to ensure that the productions the Scottish Arts Council supports meet public demand.

David Taylor, Assistant Director Arts, Scottish Arts Council said: 'The Theatre Touring Strategy is intended to greatly increase co-operation, knowledge and understanding between all the vital elements of the touring theatre sector. By developing new and better partnerships between venues, promoters, producers and presenters, we hope to give audiences better opportunities to enjoy high quality theatre experiences that will whet their appetite for more. By co-ordinating those experiences across Scotland, presenters and venues will be able to bring the best work to their existing audiences, as well as tempting new audiences to enjoy a greater variety of work.'

Lizzi Nicoll, Director, Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) added: ‘The FST is delighted that Scottish Arts Council is launching the new Theatre Touring Strategy at the Emporium event; this is a perfect example of producers and promoters working in partnership together to exchange information.

‘FST welcomes the publication of the new strategy and looks forward to working with the Scottish Arts Council to assist in the delivery of a number of their key objectives, building audiences for touring theatre and increasing the capacity of the practitioners.’

The Federation of Scottish Theatre's Emporium event offers theatre professionals an opportunity to meet face-to-face with venues and presenters to discuss opportunities to produce and perform across Scotland. Following on from the hugely successful inaugural event in September 2006, almost 90 delegates will be attending Emporium, which FST hopes will be a bi-annual occasion.

The Theatre Touring Strategy has been informed by meetings with representatives from venues, promoters, touring companies, artists, membership organisations and Scottish Arts Council staff.

The new Theatre Touring Strategy will be available on the Scottish Arts Council's website: www.scottisharts.org.uk