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by Karen Gillon MSP
Clydesdale is an area with a rich cultural heritage. From the days of the Covenanters and before, culture has played an important part in the lives of local people. We boast the country’s oldest lending library at Leadhillls established to support the miners of the day and still maintained by a loyal bunch of volunteers, at New Lanark Robert Owen clearly knew the importance of diverse cultural experiences in revitalising and encouraging the workforce and throughout our coal mining and agricultural communities cultural expression was commonplace. In the annual Lanimer celebrations people celebrate their traditions in a modern setting and in gala days throughout the area local communities come together to celebrate their identity. We have a vast array of talent from the youngest to the oldest across a whole range of cultural expression.
So how do we support that activity and how do we exploit one of our greatest assets?
The idea of cultural entitlement is one that I certainly support. To participate in cultural activities and be given the opportunity express oneself should be a right that all of us enjoy but it does not come cheaply, especially in an area such as Clydesdale. The forthcoming Culture Bill will of course seek to enshrine that entitlement in law but the real question is what new resources will be made available to support the enactment of that entitlement. It will certainly be a challenge, not least because the large population centres will naturally attract large pots of cash. Obviously part of any cultural entitlement must be the ability to access high quality productions of theatre, music. ballet, opera and the like. Therefore the availability of public transport will be crucial; it is almost impossible to access such events from this area without use of a car, therefore prohibiting many people from accessing such opportunities. However those national productions must not be at the expense of community arts and local cultural activity which is more accessible, usually much more hands-on and having the ability to tackle a range of issues in a non-threatening way.
This takes us to the vexed question of funding. Day and daily groups and individuals involved in community arts and cultural activities face a battle for cash to keep their activities going, running coffee mornings, race nights you name it they have tried it. Fundraising can of course be part of your activity and is important in establishing groups and providing part of the ongoing revenue. However as a local politician I am keen to ensure that more of the national funding cake finds its way into local communities where access in an area such as this can be just as challenging as accessing any large city. Clearly that must be about increasing the size of the national cake but it is also about ensuring that whatever size the cake is it is shared out in a more equitable way. That is never easy but if we are serious about a cultural entitlement for all it is essential. In my view it cannot continue to be the case that the national companies spend the vast majority of the available cash to serve a relatively small audience but community arts struggle to get by off the crumbs whilst providing cultural opportunities for the vast majority of people.
It will also enable us to better showcase local talent across a range of activities and hopefully open doors for local companies and groups to a wider market place and thus support our local economy in a more sustainable way.
In redressing the balance I firmly believe that we will go a long way to supporting a genuine cultural entitlement for all and enable us all to celebrate our cultural identity and be all we can be.
June 1st, 2006
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