News Release

The Cultural Review

February 2006

At the beginning of December Council wrote to Patricia Ferguson with a paper setting out the views expressed at a meeting of Historic Environment/Heritage sector interests which HEACS had convened on 14 October. There had been general agreement that the Cultural Commission report was a missed opportunity: the Commission had focused on the 'Culture of Activity' rather than the 'Culture of Place'. The sector was convinced that there should be formal Government recognition that the Historic Environment and Heritage were integral parts of the culture of Scotland. Read the full text of the letter regarding Cultural Commission Report [pdf].

The Scottish Executive's response to the Culture Review was made by Patricia Ferguson in a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 19 January 2006 and in the publication Scotland's Culture.

Council welcomes the recognition given to the centrality of culture to the well-being of Scotland's citizens, the need to ensure that culture is at the heart of the policy making agenda, and culture's contribution to wider Government policies. HEACS notes the emphasis placed on the role of local authorities, and the promise of legislation to develop cultural entitlements and cultural planning. HEACS welcomes the promise of funding for local collections of national significance - the prospect for support for Scotland's industrial museums is especially important.

HEACS notes that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) is to be included amongst the 'National Collections' and that Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland are to consider managing their estates in a more joined-up manner. HEACS welcomes the emphasis given to partnership working and joined-up delivery amongst heritage bodies, the recognition of the importance of the audit of the Historic Environment, and the publication of Scottish Historic Environment Policy statements.

HEACS welcomes the Scottish Executive's commitment to culture and the recognition given in various ways to the Historic Environment. However, HEACS remains concerned that the Historic Environment appears to be regarded as tangential to, rather than a central part of the Scottish Executive's cultural policies.