Policy and resources
In this section, you can find our latest press releases, research reports, campaign materials and shared learning and development. We also share any representations we make to national and local government on behalf of the contemporary visual art community in Scotland.
View SCAN’s institutional policies and annual accounts.
Please get in touch if you’d like help finding what you need.
Public
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Trongate 103, our letter to First Minister John Swinney
Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 25 March 2026
We wrote to the First Minister John Swinney and Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson to...
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Scottish Government – Sector Support Needs Report
Cultural policy, Research reports - 20 May 2025
In January 2025, the Scottish Government circulated a survey to gather views from those working in, or interested in culture...
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Strategic Partnership for Scotland’s Arts Festivals - SCAN’s Submission to Steering Group
Arts funding, Cultural policy, Equalities, Political responses and submissions - 20 May 2025
SCAN has been invited to have representation in the Scottish Governments strategic partnership group that has been set up to...
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A guide to captioning for the cultural sector
Equalities - 28 January 2025
Edinburgh based Theatre Captioner, Live Captioner and Lipspeaker Louisa McDaid has put together a comprehensive guide to captioning for the...
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Scottish Government Culture Sector Support survey and briefing paper
Cultural policy - 24 January 2025
The Scottish Government is planning to undertake an independent review of support for culture in Scotland which includes an examination...
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Response to change of Multi-Year Funding timeline
Arts funding - 3 October 2024
Creative Scotland have announced a change to the timeline for Multi-Year Funding. In partnership with Federation of Scottish Theatre, we...
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Response to the announcement of the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals
Arts funding - 22 August 2024
We are continuing to advocate for artists and freelancers in our community after the announcement of the closure of Creative...
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Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 – SCAN’s submission to Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Arts funding, Cultural policy - 21 August 2024
The Constitution, Europe, External affairs and Culture Committee makes recommendations to the Scottish Government and is soon set to do...
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Visual Arts Organisations Unite to Call New Government to Action
Arts funding, Campaigns, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 28 June 2024
Organisations across the visual arts have come together to provide key policy recommendations for the next UK government to enact...
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Where We Meet: a good practice resource
Equalities, Learning and development - 25 June 2024
Where We Meet is a good practice resource for arts organisations and artists with lived experience of displacement. This practical...
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Response to our letter about Fine Art at UHI Moray from Graeme Dey
Arts funding, Political responses and submissions - 18 April 2024
In March 2024, we wrote to Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher and Further Education, about the future of Fine Art...
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Our letter to Graeme Dey regarding the future of Fine Art degree studies at UHI Moray
Political responses and submissions - 12 March 2024
We wrote to Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher and Further Education, about the future of Fine Art degree studies at...
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Our Letter to Kaukab Stewart MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
Political responses and submissions - 12 February 2024
We wrote to Kaukab Stewart MSP to congratulate her on her recent appointment as Minister for Culture, Europe, and International...
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Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee report on culture in communities
Arts funding, Cultural policy - 14 September 2023
We welcome The Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee report on culture in communities which recognises the importance of place based work...
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Artists Make a Better World Campaign Resources
- 15 June 2023
Get involved with Artists Make a Better World, SCAN’s summer campaign sharing the contribution that artists across Scotland make to the country.
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SCAN’s response to the Scottish Government’s International Culture Strategy consultation
Political responses and submissions - 25 May 2023
SCAN has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the development of a new International Culture Strategy. We...
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Our letter to Christina McKelvie MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
Political responses and submissions - 4 April 2023
We wrote to Christina McKelvie MSP to congratulate her on her recent appointment as Minister for Culture, Europe, and International...
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John Swinney responds to SCAN’s letter on the proposed cuts to Scottish culture funding
Arts funding, Political responses and submissions - 7 March 2023
Thanks to everyone who supported our successful campaign to reverse proposed cuts to Creative Scotland’s Budget. We have received a...
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Our letter to Deputy First Minister John Swinney on the proposed 10% cut to Creative Scotland’s Grant in Aid
Arts funding, Political responses and submissions - 30 January 2023
SCAN members are dismayed that the Culture Budget for 2023-2024 will dramatically weaken cultural provision for audiences in communities across...
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Our evidence to the CEEAC Committee Culture Funding draft budget scrutiny 2023-2024
Arts funding - 12 January 2023
SCAN members are dismayed that the Culture Budget for 2023-2024 will dramatically weaken cultural provision for audiences in communities across...
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Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24: Funding for Culture report
- 31 October 2022
Ahead of the 2023-24 budget announcement, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee (CEEAC) sought views on the impact...
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Neil Gray MSP responds to SCAN’s letter on the Costs Crisis
Arts funding, Cultural policy - 28 October 2022
We have written to Scotland’s Culture Minister Neil Gray MSP to share the impact of the Cost Crisis on members...
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SCAN urges Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson to protect Culture Budget
- 18 October 2022
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture In late October the Scottish Government will publish...
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SCAN Briefing on the Cost Crisis
Arts funding, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 13 October 2022
Visual artists and visual arts organisations are feeling the impact of the Costs Crisis this winter. Freelancers, artists and cultural...
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Our letter to Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
- 1 September 2022
We have written to Scotland’s Culture Minister Neil Gray MSP to share the impact of the Cost Crisis on members...
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SCAN Sparks Report April 2022
Equalities, Learning and development - 27 April 2022
Our SCAN Sparks programme explores grassroots and equalities-focused working in the contemporary art sector.
