What is Culture Counts?

We are a network of arts, heritage and creative industries organisations. We advocate for the development and protection of culture as fundamental to our common future.

Mission Values Networks People Get Invovled

Our mission is to work with members to:

• promote the public benefit of the arts, heritage and creative industries

• protect the eco-system of the arts, heritage and creative industries for our common future; through administration and policy change

• demystify the operations of Government and Parliament; allowing more people from the arts, heritage and creative industries to influence policies that impact on them

• Ambition: for the arts, heritage, creative industries & future generations.

• Broad mindedness: collaboration, innovative democracy, inclusion, learning and understanding different points of view.

• Creativity: experimentation with patience and perseverance. Some changes are going to take time.

We achieve our mission and express our values through our Networks. Networks are created in response to new and sometimes unexpected policy challenges. See our list of current networks and groups here.

Kathryn Welch - Director

Steering Group

Lori Anderson - Festivals Edinburgh

Barbara Burke - National Library of Scotland

David Francis - Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland

Diarmid Hearns - National Trust for Scotland

Moira Jeffrey - Scottish Contemporary Art Network

Marion Sinclair - Publishing Scotland

Fiona Sturgeon Shea (Chair) - Federation of Scottish Theatre

You can get involved by joining our networks, our cross-party groups or subscribing to our newsletter.

The Culture Counts Journal brings you up-to-date with the policy-making landscape across the arts, screen, heritage and creative industries.

Our social media channels promote stories about the value of culture. We also share opportunities for those working or volunteering in the sector to engage in policymaking. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.