Cultural identity in Scotland
Executive summary In recent times, people in Scotland have started to show a greater appreciation of and interest in their cultural identity. ... (Tourism, Culture and Communication, Hall 1999) I intend to look at the contribution the arts and cultural sectors make to the management of Scotlands tourism industry. I will focus mainly on the cultural structure which is in place in Scotland at the moment, and then link this in with the more obvious benefits that tourism in general brings to the destination. The arts in Scotland at present is under major reconstruction and new initiatives are being put in place which after years of underfunding. The Three Bodies Three bodies constitute the holy trinity of Scottish heritage and culture: the Scottish Tourist Board (or STB), Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. ... Moreover, they are set within a political and cultural framework which includes government departments and private operators. At the state level, the Scottish Office provides most of the funding for heritage through its public agencies (STB, Historic Scotland, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Museums Council). ... Together Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland own 15 % of Scottish visitor attractions. Historic Scotland remains, however, the largest operator and owner of attractions of the two. ... The Politics Behind Cultural Strategy in Scotland To get a clear understanding of how the culture and arts fit into Scotlands inner fabric it is essential to understand the politics behind them. ... In general, most authorities state that their cultural activities and facilities included the arts, heritage, libraries, sports, leisure, play and recreation. ... Some included community services, from village halls to community education; some incorporated tourism, Gaelic cultural activities, science and technology; some included aspects of formal education (e. ... However, strategic commitment to culture was not always supported by a financial commitment and when there was a choice to be made between cutting back on cultural provision or cutting back on the education or social work budgets, the first option was more likely to be chosen. (Local Authority Cultural survey June 2002. ... " UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies 1982 The Main Parties Views SNP Culture would be placed in the "mainstream of government thinking". ... Labour Supports an "inclusive and accessible" arts programme and would introduce a single cultural agency for Scotland that would promote the link between the promotion of tourism and economic growth. ... SSP Funding for the arts in Scotland would be doubled, including greater spending on Scottish Opera. Access to the arts is a democratic right that should be available to those on low incomes, not a cultural elite. ... ) The Tourism industry The tourism industry in Scotland is a leading sector. Over the past 30 years, tourism in Scotland has grown by 43%. ... In some areas of Scotland, the number of tourism-related jobs is considerably higher than the average.