Chamber and committees

Before we go back to Neil Bibby, a couple of members wish to ask supplementary questions.

Before I turn to Mr Ruskell, I have a question. Sarah Latto mentioned the TSI Scotland Network. Can you explain what that is, please?

Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 15th meeting in 2023 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

Our first agenda item is to take evidence in our culture in communities inquiry, which is focused on taking a place-based approach to culture. This morning, we are delighted to be joined by Jemma Neville, director, Creative Lives; Sarah Latto, policy officer, Volunteer Scotland; and Alison Reeves, Scotland manager, Making Music. Welcome to the committee.

We have heard throughout our inquiry about the importance of volunteers in developing and sustaining culture in our communities. In particular, the submission from Creative Lives states:

“volunteer-led, locally based creative groups represent the true backbone of culture in Scotland, yet it is one of the most overlooked parts of our cultural landscape.”

How do the contributions of volunteers develop culture in communities? How could that be better supported?

As I quoted from the Creative Lives submission, perhaps Ms Neville should go first.

That point is well made.

Thank you, all. I think that we now have a picture of each of your organisations, which is very helpful. That said, we are tight for time, so please be succinct in your answers. We want to cover as many topics as we can.

I now invite questions from my colleague Mark Ruskell.

I will ask a couple of questions, and reflect on our previous evidence sessions. I do not know whether you were able to watch it, but, the week before last, we had a session with local authorities and some arm’s-length external organisations that are providing local authority-level support for culture. Interestingly enough—if I remember correctly—we spent a long time talking about metrics. How smooth do you think that that process is? Are there any geographic gaps? Are different approaches being taken by different authorities? After all, we have heard this morning, particularly from Steve Byrne, about the disconnect between what local authorities and the Culture Collective have been doing in our communities.

On our second panel are Kathryn Welch, programme lead, Culture Collective, and Morvern Cunningham, creative lead, Culture Collective. A warm welcome to you both. We had an interesting session this morning in which we heard very positive comments from the panel about the Culture Collective. What has been different about the Culture Collective’s approach that maybe was missing from past projects?

In the previous session of Parliament, the Education and Skills Committee, of which I was the convener, undertook an inquiry into music tuition in schools, and it led to the policy commitment of not charging for music.

In my home area of North Lanarkshire, all the musicians, from the symphony band, the jazz band and the rock band, are brought together on a Friday night. We have Gaelic-medium teaching and traditional music, and a pipe band, there, too. I am often struck by the cross-pollination that happens and the support of other musicians for music that they might not always come into contact with; indeed, it led to people having a huge amount of pride when the pipe band was featured busking in Grand Central station during tartan week. That absolutely galvanised the community.

Alasdair Allan mentioned education. Do we perhaps not understand enough about what is going on in education? Is this sort of thing not being shared in the communities as much as it possibly could be? Perhaps we could have some reflections on that, starting with Rachael Disbury.

Okay. I call Maurice Golden.

Murray Dawson and Steve Byrne want to say something. If anyone else wants to come in, they should indicate that.