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.
For SCAN’s institutional policies and annual accounts, visit this page.
Please get in touch if you’d like help finding what you need.
-
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...
-
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...
-
A guide to captioning for the cultural sector
- 28 January 2025
Edinburgh based Theatre Captioner, Live Captioner and Lipspeaker Louisa McDaid has put together a comprehensive guide to captioning for the...
-
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...
-
SCAN’s Environmental Policy
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
SCAN’s Environmental Policy details how we consider and measure our impact on the environment, support the circular economy, reduce waste,...
-
SCAN’s Equalities Policy
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
Our Equalities policy supports our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as understood and delivered by this organisation. We use...
-
SCAN’s Complaints Policy
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
We want to get things right for the people who we work with. If you have a complaint or concern...
-
SCAN’s Fair Work Policy
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
We are committed to ensuring that employees, artists and freelancers that work for SCAN are treated and paid fairly. Fair...
-
SCAN’s Dignity at Work Policy
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
SCAN believes everybody deserves to be treated with respect and our Dignity at Work policy is designed to help us...
-
Conflict of Interest Policy for SCAN Board of Trustees
SCAN Governance - 6 December 2024
All Trustees of SCAN have a duty to act in the best interests of the organisation and its beneficiaries when...
-
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...
-
Response to the announcement of the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals
- 22 August 2024
We are continuing to advocate for artists and freelancers in our community after the announcement of the closure of Creative...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
SCAN Accounts 2022/23
SCAN Governance - 21 December 2023
Scottish Contemporary Art Network’s Annual Accounts for year-end 31 March 2023.
-
Message to SCAN members about Creative Scotland budget cuts
Arts funding - 28 September 2023
You may have heard this morning that in the Autumn Budget Revision, the Scottish Government has reinstated the budget cut...
-
SCAN AGM 2023 – Papers
SCAN Governance - 27 September 2023
All the paperwork for our Annual General Meeting 2023 in one place. SCAN AGM 2023 Agenda SCAN-AGM-2022-Minutes held on 23rd...
-
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...
-
SCAN’S response to the Scottish Government’s call for pre-budget evidence
Arts funding, Political responses and submissions - 7 September 2023
SCAN has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s culture committee call for evidence on the Scottish Government’s culture budget. The committee...
-
Artists Make a Better World campaign – writing to your MSP
Campaigns - 4 July 2023
Artists voices are central to Artists Make a Better World, SCAN’s summer campaign to encourage policymakers to support contemporary art...
-
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.
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
Help us stand up for Culture Workers
- 1 February 2023
We have been working hard to make MSPs aware of culture cuts and to ask the Scottish government to change...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
Anti-racism for cultural workers: join us
- 27 October 2022
Racism impacts the arts sector in systemic, structural and interpersonal ways. It is all of our responsibilities to challenge and...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
SCAN evidence to Scottish Parliament
- 30 August 2022
SCAN has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee (CEEAC) in advance of the culture budget for 2023-24. We...
-
SCAN AGM 2022 – Papers
SCAN Governance - 23 August 2022
All the paperwork for our Annual General Meeting 2022 in one place. SCAN AGM 2022 Agenda Draft minutes of SCAN...
-
#ArtUnlocks 2022 – Campaign Resources
Campaigns - 13 June 2022
On this page you’ll find Information about what the #ArtUnlocks campaign is all about A link to our visual toolkit...
-
NEUK Collective report on removing barriers for neurodivergent artists
Equalities - 17 May 2022
On Tuesday 3rd of May, we held a SCAN Members Meet with Neuk Collective on working with neurodivergent artists. Neuk...
-
#ArtUnlocks Member Presentation
Campaigns - 16 May 2022
Our #ArtUnlocks campaign aims to promote the innovative work of Scotland’s artists and arts organisations to policy-makers, local and national...
-
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.
-
Creative Scotland Covid-19 Population Survey – Wave Four
Research reports - 1 April 2022
This latest wave of research from Creative Scotland covers attitudes to returning to in-person cultural activity, potential barriers and views to participating at home. Read the research findings here.
-
Culture and Heritage: A Manifesto for Local Government
Cultural policy - 7 March 2022
A Culture Strategy for Scotland states that culture should be “a central consideration across all policy areas” and celebrated “as part of every community.”
-
Culture Counts issue briefing in advance of Scottish Government 22-23 spending review
- 22 February 2022
SCAN director Moira Jeffrey is currently the chair of the steering group at Culture Counts the network of arts, heritage and...
-
Culture in Crisis: impacts of Covid-19 on the UK cultural sector and where we go from here
Covid-19, Cultural policy - 7 February 2022
SCAN is proud to be an affiliate of the Centre for Cultural Value. In one of the largest studies of...
-
Our Letter to Creative Scotland Chief Executive Iain Munro
Cultural policy - 1 February 2022
We know that artists and organisations in Scotland are experiencing continued challenges and uncertainty. We continue to meet regularly with...
-
MGETR – can you benefit from this vital scheme?
Arts funding - 29 October 2021
Are you a charitable organisation that stages exhibitions? Did you know you might be eligible for financial support through the...
-
Sector Advice Card – Advice for Museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Covid-19 - 18 October 2021
The Scottish Government has issued a “Sector Advice Card” for COVID-19 during this period of baseline measures. It summarises existing...
-
SCAN Annual Accounts 2020-21
- 1 October 2021
Scottish Contemporary Art Network’s Annual Accounts for year-end 31 March 2021.
-
SCAN AGM Resources
- 25 August 2021
All SCAN members that attend our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 26th August 2021 can access all the essential paperwork...
-
AGM Agenda 2021
- 5 August 2021
Agenda for SCAN’s 2021 AGM taking place on 26th August 2021 via Zoom.
-
Momentum Project Coordinator (freelance role) job description
- 2 July 2021
Fee: £6000 Location: Edinburgh Freelance role reporting to SCAN We’re looking for a super-organised, people person to share the message about...
-
Visual arts in the Scottish Elections
- 22 April 2021
Last year SCAN worked with our membership to develop our asks for the Scottish Elections 2021. You can read our...
-
SCAN’s Constitution
- 1 April 2021
SCAN is set up as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Our organisation’s purposes are: 4.1 the advancement of contemporary...
-
Legacy Report from the Scottish Parliament Committee for Tourism, Europe and External Affairs
- 24 March 2021
SCAN is one of the many cultural organisations who have submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and...
-
SCAN Working From Home Charter
Covid-19 - 26 February 2021
Working from home and working remotely is new to many of us. We have developed a Working From Home Charter...
-
Submission for CTEEA Inquiry into Impact of Covid on The Cultural Sector
Arts funding, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 28 January 2021
Ahead of the 3rd Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee Meeting 2021, SCAN submitted a document to the committee...
-
SCAN online member meet up 14/01/2021: Notes
Covid-19 - 21 January 2021
On 14th January, we held our first online member meet up of 2021. We just wanted to have a catch...
-
CLiC Case Study
- 1 January 2021
-
Sharing our SCAN asks for the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Elections and the next 5 years
Cultural policy - 30 November 2020
Contemporary visual art has the power to transform lives and open minds, and we need it now more than ever....
-
Our members asks for the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections and the next parliamentary term.
Cultural policy - 24 November 2020
Contemporary visual art has the power to transform lives and open minds, and we need it now more than ever....
-
Contemporary Artists Making Connections: A CLiC project blog post by Moira Jeffrey
Blog - 17 November 2020
Visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh this month have been rather surprised by a new addition to the...
-
Document for CTEEA Debate on Arts Funding: Update from SCAN on the situation of the visual art sector with regards arts funding and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic:
Political responses and submissions - 2 November 2020
In April 2019 we responded to the CTEEA Arts Funding Inquiry. At that point we signalled a crisis in the...
-
SCAN online member meeting notes – Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund
Covid-19 - 23 October 2020
These notes are from SCAN’s Online member meeting to discuss the Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund. Amanda Catto, Head of Visual...
-
Museums And Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief Fund FAQ
Arts funding, Covid-19 - 23 October 2020
This is a work-in-progress, created in response to feedback from the participants in the first phase of the MGETR pilot programme developed by YVAN/CVAN in 2019/2020.
-
Cultural Organisation and Venue Recovery Fund – Q&A on Eligibility and Insolvency
Arts funding, Covid-19, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 16 October 2020
We collated questions from members for Creative Scotland who are delivering the Cultural Organisation and Venue Recovery Fund. See the...
-
Response from Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop regarding our concerns about the Creative Organisations and Cultural Venue Fund
Political responses and submissions - 7 October 2020
On the 8th September, we wrote to Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture to outline...
-
SCAN Survey: Cultural Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund
Arts funding, Covid-19, Research reports - 2 October 2020
SCAN ran a member survey during the last week of September on their take-up of Creative Scotland’s Cultural Organisations and...
-
SCAN Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2018-2021
Arts funding, Equalities - 1 October 2020
SCAN’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2018-21 sets out a three-year plan for achieving a more diverse, open and...
-
Cultural Organisation and Venue Recovery Fund – our letter to Fiona Hyslop MSP
Arts funding, Covid-19, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 8 September 2020
Whilst we welcomed in principle the announcement made by the First Minister on 28th August 2020, we wrote to Fiona...
-
Keep Art in Action Press Release
Campaigns, Cultural policy, Press Releases - 17 August 2020
Leading artists join calls for dedicated emergency funding for visual arts in Scotland as Scottish Contemporary Art Network launch new...
-
SCAN Evidence to Scottish Parliament on further impacts of Covid-19
Covid-19, Political responses and submissions - 25 June 2020
Our second submission to the CTEEA (Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs) Committee of the Scottish Parliament in the wake of...
-
SCAN Submission to DCMS Committee inquiry into impact of Covid-19
Covid-19, Political responses and submissions - 19 June 2020
SCAN made a submission into the inquiry by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee at Westminster into the impact...
-
SCAN AGM 2020 Minutes
- 11 June 2020
Draft Minutes from SCAN’s Online AGM held on 11th June 2020.
-
SCAN Covid-19 member survey: organisations
Covid-19 - 11 May 2020
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK, SCAN’s team has been gathering evidence from its membership on...
-
SCAN Covid-19 member survey: individuals
Covid-19 - 11 May 2020
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK, SCAN’s team has been gathering evidence from its membership on...
-
Engage 44: Biennials and beyond (Spring 2020)
Cultural policy - 20 April 2020
Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education, is pleased to announce the publication of Issue 44 of the Engage Journal,...
-
SCAN members joint response to Glasgow Culture Plan: Visual Notes
Political responses and submissions - 2 March 2020
In January 2020, SCAN members based in Glasgow gathered to discuss and respond to the draft Glasgow Culture Plan. We...
-
SCAN members joint response to Glasgow Culture Plan
Political responses and submissions - 18 February 2020
In January 2020, SCAN members based in Glasgow gathered to discuss and respond to the draft Glasgow Culture Plan. We...
-
Evaluation of Art in Action 2019 campaign.
Campaigns, Research reports - 1 February 2020
Evaluation by Ruthless Research of our 2019 Art in Action activity, based on surveys of SCAN members, MSPs and other...
-
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee: Putting Artists In The Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System For Scotland Report
Arts funding, Cultural policy - 5 December 2019
This CTEEA committee report sets out recommendations that focus on putting artists at the centre of Scotland’s arts funding system....
-
Mandate Go See Fund: Future of the Art Market Unconference
- 13 November 2019
Mandate Event: Future of the Art Market Unconference at Somerset House, London In the October 2019 round of Mandate funding,...
-
Demystifying Arts and Arts Research
- 6 November 2019
Valuing Arts and Arts Research These reports discuss the role of the arts, artists and arts research in addressing complex...
-
Art in Action: Motion for Debate in Scottish Parliament. November 2019
Campaigns, Political responses and submissions - 1 November 2019
Working in partnership with Dr Claire Baker MSP’s office, we have put together a motion that will be debated in...
-
PRESS RELEASE: Arts Campaigners take their Message to Parliament This Week with a Print for Each and Every MSP. October 2019
Campaigns, Press Releases - 1 October 2019
Attached below is the press release detailing the background to the print commission for our Art in Action campaign. Artist...
-
Video: Curatorial Leadership in Collections (2019)
Cultural policy, Equalities, Learning and development - 1 October 2019
Find out about how the first phase of our Curatorial Leadership in Collections project has supported the ambitions of...
-
Mandate Go See Fund: Mapping the Contemporary Art in The Heritage Experience
Learning and development - 30 June 2019
Louise Briggs, Arts and Heritage Officer at Studio Pavilion, received support from the Mandate Go See Fund to attend the...
-
Art in Action Logo Pack
Campaigns - 1 May 2019
Get involved in our Art in Action campaign by downloading logos in colour or black and white. They can be...
-
Written Submission for CTEEA Arts Funding Inquiry. April 2019
Political responses and submissions - 1 April 2019
SCAN’s submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs (CTEEA) Committee Arts Funding Inquiry.
-
Report from SCAN Summit 2019: ‘Unsettled Status’: Brexit, Borders and the Hostile Environment
Brexit - 29 March 2019
SCAN’s annual summit took place on March 21 2019 at Glasgow Womens Library, where we welcomed members and friends from...
-
Mandate Go See Fund: The Arts Health Research Intensive
Learning and development - 1 March 2019
As part of SCAN and Engage Scotland’s joint initiative, Mandate, we sent Iona McCann, Outreach Manager at Art in Healthcare,...
-
Press Release: Scotland + Venice Professional Development Programme
Equalities, Press Releases - 19 February 2019
SCAN are really excited to support two people to take part in the Professional Development Programme as part of the Scotland...
-
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Equalities - 1 January 2019
SCAN is an equal opportunities employer and will ensure that no job applicant, volunteer, trainee or employee receives less favourable treatment...
-
SUB-GROUP REPORT: VISUAL ART – The impact of Brexit on the arts sector in Scotland
Brexit, Research reports - 17 October 2018
Brexit is the impending withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (EU), following a referendum held in 2016. The...
-
FULL REPORT The impact of Brexit on the arts sector in Scotland
Brexit, Research reports - 17 October 2018
Brexit is the impending withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (EU), following a referendum held in 2016. The...
-
Mandate Go See Fund Event: The Social Theory, Politics and the Arts (STPA) Conference
Learning and development - 1 October 2018
As part of SCAN and Engage Scotland’s joint initiative, Mandate, we sent Ben Callaghan to The Social Theory, Politics and...
-
The Impact of Brexit on the Arts Sector in Scotland
Brexit, Cultural policy, Political responses and submissions - 1 October 2018
Brexit is the impending withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (EU), following a referendum held in 2016. The...
-
Curatorial Leadership in Collections Final Forum: The Future of Collections by Rosie Lesso
Learning and development - 20 September 2018
“We have to dare to confront power,” Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum, has told an audience of museums and...
-
Curatorial Leadership in Collections: A Place Beyond Belief, The Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven by Moira Jeffrey
Learning and development - 17 August 2018
The Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven is one of Europe’s leading collections of modern and contemporary art. Under a team lead...
-
SCAN Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Report
Equalities, Research reports - 1 August 2018
The purpose of this report is to summarise easily available data on the demographics of the Scottish visual art workforce...
-
Curatorial Leadership in Collections: Widening Horizons by Moira Jeffrey
Learning and development - 20 June 2018
Our Curatorial Leadership in Collections project, which works with 8 partners, recently welcomed a new participant, Julie-Ann Delaney, Senior Curator...
-
Curatorial Leadership in Collections: Sharing Expertise by Moira Jeffrey
Learning and development - 14 March 2018
“It’s the unexpected outcomes that often count,” says Adele Patrick, Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager at Glasgow Women’s Library....
-
SCAN in Parliament: Cross Party Group on Culture
Cultural policy - 13 March 2018
This Cross Party Group on Culture took place on 13 March 2018 at the Scottish Parliament, organised by SCAN with...
-
Cultural Policy: International Best Practices in the Visual Arts
Research reports - 17 January 2018
Researcher Alexandra Chiriac was commissioned by SCAN, and supported by the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities, to undertake...
-
Visual Arts Manifesto. December 2017
Campaigns - 7 December 2017
Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN), Scottish Artists Union and Engage Scotland launched a new Visual Arts Manifesto on 11 December...
-
Accessibility Guide Resource. November 2017
Cultural policy, Equalities - 1 November 2017
Visit Scotland and Visit England have created a website which features a step by step guide for organisations to create...
-
Mapping the Visual Arts in Scotland Report 2016
Research reports - 1 February 2016
This digest provides a summary of key findings from the two Mapping the Visual Arts in Scotland surveys undertaken by...
-
Open Letter to Creative Scotland, 2012
Arts funding - 1 August 2012
An open letter sent to Creative Scotland on behalf of Scottish Contemporary Art Network, in response to the radical change...
