A Culture Act for Scotland 

Briefings and key documents

This page contains all briefings and documentation relating to Culture Counts’ proposal for the development of A Culture Act for Scotland

Summary briefing

Outlines the broad detail and prinicples of the proposal

International Approaches

An overview of approaches to cultural legislation successfully adopted by European neighbours: Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Wales

Impact on health and wellbeing

Briefing on how a Culture Act for Scotland could improve Scottish health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce NHS spend

Strengthening and Enabling Local Democracy

Our partners at Community Leisure UK, the organisation representing Council Culture and Leisure Trusts have produced a briefing on the potential for a Culture Act for Scotland to empower Local Authorities to recognise, value and protect their cultural infrastructure and services.

Open Letter

On Burns Night, 25 January 2026, we sent an open letter to leaders and culture spokespeople of Scottish political parties, making the case for the development of A Culture Act for Scotland in the next parliament. The letter was signed by more than 70 of Scotland’s cultural icons and sector leaders.

Voices of A Culture Act for Scotland

Academics, trade unions, chief executives of major cultural organisations, and artists across disciplines sharing their vision for what a Culture Act could mean for Scotland's cultural life.