Creative Scotland today (Friday) announced a further three groups will provide expert advice on the issues and opportunities facing Scotland’s creative community. Ewan Brown, Chair of Creative Scotland 09 Ltd and Chair of the Scottish Creative Industries Partnership, confirmed the new groups during today’s open meeting held in Dumfries.

The new groups will focus on:
• design services including digital design, advertising and architecture;
• product design including designer fashion, textile design and crafts;
• performing arts: to look at developing the economic aspects of the performing arts.

The groups were agreed following the most recent meeting of the Scottish Creative Industries Partnership Co-ordination group, which was attended by the Minister for Culture, Fiona Hyslop MSP.

Speaking in Dumfries, Ewan Brown said:

'Today's meeting is another welcome opportunity for us to update the artistic community on progress towards the establishment of Creative Scotland and to discuss with them the issues and opportunities facing the new organisation.

‘We are actively working with partner agencies and the artistic community on a range of initiatives, including the full implementation of the Scottish Creative Industries Partnership Agreement. All the partners to the Agreement, including COSLA and the enterprise agencies, recognise the enormous potential of the creative sector and its growing importance to the Scottish economy. The reference groups announced today, along with the existing Film and Music Groups, will provide valuable insight and intelligence that will inform future support and investment decisions.

‘Creative Scotland 09 Ltd will continue to engage with artists, practitioners and organisations over the next few months. Our aim is to build an organisation of the highest potential and one capable of meeting the great challenges ahead. Our next milestone is the appointment of a Chief Executive to lead the new organisation and implement the new Business Model.

Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said:

‘We must have the right structures and mechanisms in place to ensure culture and creativity continue to thrive in Scotland. That is why I am committed to making Creative Scotland happen. Good progress is being made: the process to establish Creative Scotland passed its first Parliamentary hurdle just last week when Parliament endorsed the Stage 1 committee reports recommending that Creative Scotland should be established as soon as possible. We are still on track for that to be achieved in the first half of this year.

‘Partnership working will be critical to Creative Scotland's success. Local government clearly is a principal partner and I have already met with Councillor Harry McGuigan of COSLA to move this agenda forward. In March, representatives from local government, Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd and Scottish Government will hold a joint summit to discuss the tremendous potential of this new relationship and focus on how to make it work in practice.

‘The ideas, innovation and creativity that the new organisation will stimulate are now coming into focus, and the process to establish Creative Scotland is clearly maintaining momentum. I will continue to work with Ewan Brown, Richard Holloway and their Boards to ensure we make the most of Scotland's unique contemporary culture."

Councillor Harry McGuigan, COSLA spokesperson for culture, said:

’COSLA looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to ensure that cultural vibrancy and creativity flourishes in all our communities across Scotland. At local level, it's important that Creative Scotland works closely with councils to avoid any duplication of effort and resource and to support community planning partnerships effectively so that culture imbues all aspects of policy, with benefits to communities the length and breadth of Scotland.’

The Dumfries meeting, hosted by Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop at Easterbrook Hall, is the third open dialogue event with the cultural sector. The meeting included a discussion and feedback session and was chaired by journalist and broadcaster Ruth Wishart. A podcast of the speeches will be available shortly on the Scottish Government website.

Nominations for membership of the new groups will be invited from key industry, academic and creative organisations.