Arts funds to focus on cultural diversity

Black and minority ethnic arts receive a boost with the Scottish Arts Council pledging over £300,000 to projects which promote cultural diversity in Scotland.

Tessa Jackson, Director of the Scottish Arts Council, said that the designation of 2002 as the UK-wide ‘Year of Cultural Diversity’ would act as a catalyst for Scottish Arts Council efforts to raise awareness of Scotland’s many different cultures.

The money will be distributed through two new schemes - particularly Diversity 2002 which is offering grants from £2,000 to £30,000 to raise the status of arts for and with black and minority ethnic communities throughout Scotland.

It is hoped that the £250,000 fund will encourage a wide range of activity - for example artists residencies within community groups or new theatre productions examining minority ethnic issues.

Recognising that Glasgow and Edinburgh are home to the greatest concentration of minority ethnic communities in Scotland, the Scottish Arts Council has developed a unique partnership approach with the Local Authorities in these cities. To help generate a wide range of small-scale projects, the respective local authorities will be the first point of contact for small grant applications between £2,000 and £5,000 in their areas.

Another new scheme, the Strategic Development Fund, also aims to support cultural diversity, particularly new partnerships which pursue artistic excellence and create new work in the area of minority ethnic arts. Funding will be made available for projects involving two or more organisations which seek to further their own skills and understanding through a collaborative project.

Contact email(s)

media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council