Further high-profile speakers have joined the line up for Scotland: Creative Nation, the three-day Cultural Summit being held in Edinburgh at the end of February.

Sir Brian McMaster, whose report on Supporting Excellence in the Arts has just been published, will join National Theatre of Scotland Director Vicky Featherstone and filmmaker Mark Cousins in a debate about Excellence in the Arts on Monday, 25 February. An ‘Up Close’ session with Sir Brian will give delegates an opportunity to hear more about Sir Brian’s lifelong commitment to the arts and the development of his report.

Feargal Sharkey, Chairman of the Live Music Forum, will be discussing the Transformational Power of the Arts with Richard Holloway, Chairman of the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen on Wednesday, 27 February.

Day two of the Cultural Summit is themed around Innovation and New Artistic Practice. Tom Shakespeare, National Endowment for Science Technology & the Arts (NESTA) Fellow, will give a keynote speech on ‘Getting under the skin: creative encounters between art, ethics and the body’.

For the duration of this major three-day event, Gerry Hassan, of think tank Demos, will act as ‘provocateur’ for speakers and audience; challenging established thinking and introducing new perspectives.

As well as two keynote sessions each day, Scotland: Creative Nation will feature performances, participative art workshops, seminars and breakout sessions with a range of speakers including Per Ericsson of the Swedish Film Institute; Jane Carmichael, Director of Collections, National Museums Scotland; and choreographer Caroline Bowditch. The full programme can be found at: www.scottisharts.org.uk

Booking for Scotland: Creative Nation closes on 21 January 2008. Assistance is available for individual artists, freelancers, disabled artists with their carers and those for whom travel costs would inhibit attendance

Jim Tough, Acting Chief Executive, Scottish Arts Council said: ‘Scotland: Creative Nation will be three days packed full of passion, debate and discussion about the arts in Scotland.

‘Sir Brian McMaster and Feargal Sharkey are both hugely gifted and committed advocates for the arts in this country and each will bring something very unique to this event. I welcome them alongside all of our other delegates to what is lining up to be a stellar three days.’