SNP Conference Calls for "fair treatment" for Scots

On 16 October the SNP conference voted unanimously for a motion that calls on the Scottish Government to "guarantee fair treatment for Scotland’s unique cultural inheritance".

The motion welcomes the Government’s audit of Scots language provision and calls it "a key area very badly affected" by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) decision to remove flexible funding from the Scots Language Centre (SLC) and Scottish Language Dictionaries (SLD). It also looks forward to proposals emerging from the audit to secure the language’s future.

Among other measures, the motion calls for "the endowment of a national company or agency". Speaking for the motion, Rob Gibson MSP said:

"The living and tradional arts in Scotland are part of the country's DNA. The music, language help define us to ourselves and the rest of the world. It is important that they and those that keep them going receive the highest backing from our Government and the agencies which look after the culture in the country.

"One way to enshrine the living tradition is to create a new body which will deal specifically with the Traditional Arts. The trad arts needs to be seen in isolation and treated as such. It is too important a part of Scotland not be given special attention. The culture minister and the rest of the Government are committed to trad arts. The audit of Scots will tell you that. But there need to be more time and attention devoted to it to make sure that it lives on."

Answering a parliamentary question from Hugh Henry on 30 October, culture minister Linda Fabiani welcomed the SAC’s decision to fund the SLC and SLD till October 2009 and said she was considering how she could best enshure that our traditional arts could be supported in the longer term.

Full text of the SNP conference motion:

"Conference considers that the Scottish Government cultural policy, funding and support arrangements should guarantee fair treatment for Scotland’s unique cultural inheritance.

"Conference regrets Scottish Arts Council decisions in 2008 to withdraw flexible funding from key organisations that have successfully promoted Scotland’s linguistic, musical and theatrical heritage.

"To address problems that have resulted from these decisions, Conference encourages supporters and practitioners of Scotland’s traditional arts and culture and the Scottish Government to work together to investigate options for future support for this important facet of national life.

"Conference considers that such investigations should include, but not be limited to: investigations into the benefits of direct funding of key organisations; the use of challenge funds; introducing statutory responsibilities for, or issuing guidance to local government; and the endowment of a national company or agency.

"In particular, Conference welcomes the initiative taken by the Scottish Government to undertake an audit of Scots language provision, a key area very badly affected by SAC decisions and looks forward to the emergence of proposals that will secure the future of the language.”

Linda Fabiani’s answer to Hugh Henry: http://tinyurl.com/5s7q4d