Scottish Arts Council seeks the bigger picture
09/05/2002
The Scottish Arts Council wants to hear from every visual artist in Scotland for a report that could influence the public support given to artists.
At least 1,800 visual artists already in contact with the Scottish Arts Council will be approached for their views, but researchers hope every visual artist in Scotland will want to describe their working lives.
The survey aims to find out artists’ needs in post-devolution Scotland, with the results due to be published in November. The research aims to raise the professional status of visual artists and so it will also try to identify the barriers that prevent artists from developing their careers.
The Scottish Art Council will also use the results of the survey to develop a detailed picture of artists’ working lives and to inform their plans for delivering the National Cultural Strategy.
Sam Ainsley, practising artist and Chair of the Scottish Arts Council’s Visual Arts Committee said:
“This survey is a key initiative for the visual arts and will assist the Scottish Arts Council to identify ways in which we can help develop artists' creative potential and professional skills, in line with the priorities expressed in the National Cultural Strategy."
Amanda Catto, Head of Visual Arts at the Scottish Arts Council said:
“Many artists we see struggle throughout their professional careers, whereas others seem to find their feet early and go on to develop successful portfolios.
“We want to close the gap between the two and find out from artists themselves what kind of work they do, where they work and what their aspirations are.”
The Artists Audit will provide, for the first time, a detailed picture of the working lives of artists in Scotland today.
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council champions and sustains the arts for Scotland, investing £56 million from Scottish Executive and National Lottery Funding to support and develop artistic excellence and creativity throughout Scotland. Further information is available at www.scottisharts.org.uk.
- Questionnaires will be sent to those artists currently on the Scottish Arts Council’s database. Additional questionnaires are available from the Scottish Arts Council’s Help Desk. Questionnaires will be available this week and should be returned by 31 May 2002.
- Arts venues throughout Scotland are also being contacted by letter to publicise the survey and to encourage artists not already known to the Scottish Arts Council to complete a questionnaire.
- The study will be carried out by consultants Bonnar Keenlyside. An online questionnaire is also available on its website at www.b-k.co.uk.
- The Scottish Arts Council survey will only focus on visual artists living and working in Scotland. It will not cover the craft or performance artforms.
- The results of the research will feed into research on Artists and the UK Tax and Benefits Systems presently being undertaken by the Arts Council of England.
- Additional information on the survey is available from the Artists Information Company at www.a-n.co.uk/
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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