Letter to First Minister on Cabinet Appointments

Today we wrote to the new First Minister to congratulate him on the outcome of the election, and to make the case for culture to be secured at Cabinet Secretary level as the new Cabinet is formed.

We've set out why we believe Cabinet Secretary level representation matters, and what we hope the new Government will deliver for culture in Scotland. You can read the full letter below, or download the pdf here. For more on the process and timescales of forming a new Government and Parliament, see our recent blog here.

Dear First Minister, 

Congratulations on the results of the Scottish Parliament elections last week. The beginning of a new Parliamentary term offers an exciting moment to look ahead to the opportunities of the coming five years. Culture Counts, as Scotland’s network for the arts, heritage and creative industries, stands ready to work with you to unlock the potential of the culture sector for communities across Scotland, and across policy areas.   

As you look to form your Cabinet over the coming weeks, we’re writing to urge you to secure the culture brief at Cabinet Secretary level. The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture’s role in the last Parliament was essential to the progress made, not just in securing the sector’s immediate financial position, but in demonstrating culture's relevance across the full breadth of government, from health and education to the economy and Scotland's international reputation. A junior ministerial position added valuable capacity, but it was that seniority that gave the sector the weight and reach to make that wider case.  

We welcomed the strong commitment and ambition for culture in the SNP manifesto. Building on the progress made in recent years to stabilise the sector, those commitments, if delivered, could take us towards a highly positive long-term future for culture in Scotland. We believe that delivering on the scale of that ambition requires culture's continuing representation at the Cabinet table, with the seniority, reach and authority to connect culture to the wider policy agenda and your Government's broader vision for Scotland.  

We very much look forward to working with the new Government over the weeks and months ahead. 

Yours Sincerely, 

Kathryn Welch & Joseph Peach  

Co-Directors - Culture Counts