Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 May 2012
02 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Performing Companies
I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate our national performing companies, and I am sure that the debate will be consensual.
Scottish Labour decided to amend the Government’s motion only so that we as a Parliament could recognise the important contribution that is made to our national companies by local authorities and businesses and by the many individuals who contribute to their financial and artistic success. I thank the Government for indicating that it will agree the amendment at decision time.
The five companies that we now know as the national performing companies each have a long and proud history, but they have not been without their problems over the years. In the early years of the Parliament a number of those companies experienced a series of financial and artistic problems, which, by 2006, were largely behind them. With the creation of the National Theatre of Scotland, the time was right to create a new funding and governance regime that gave performing companies equal status with the national collections and the recognition that they deserved.
Artistic excellence and aspiration was the mark of the new relationship, as was raising the bar for the amount and quality of the outreach work that the companies undertook. My colleague Claudia Beamish will say more about the value of that work, but anyone who has watched or participated in the work that those companies do in our schools cannot fail to be impressed by the standards that are achieved and delighted by the end result.
I have explained the rationale behind our amendment, but I ask the cabinet secretary to consider two points. I am sure that she will take my suggestions in the spirit of consensus in which they are made. First, the Government should recognise the significant contribution that some local authorities make in supporting the national performing companies, and the arts more generally. The cabinet secretary will be aware that when budgets are tight there is often a concern that the softest target for cuts will be the arts, and sport suffers in that way too.
I realise that we have moved on from the concept of ring fencing, and I am not suggesting that it should be reintroduced, but I wonder whether the cabinet secretary would consider raising with her cabinet colleagues the idea of incentivising or rewarding those local authorities that champion the arts. We know that the arts contribute to educational achievement, assist regeneration, boost tourism and generally add to the dynamism and character of an area. It is vital that the progress that Scotland has made in that area in recent years is not lost. Incentivisation would send a gentle signal to those local authorities for which the arts are not such a priority or those that are tempted to look for savings in the arts to take a more balanced approach.
The second of my suggestions concerns the national youth performing arts companies of Scotland. When I announced the new designation of national performing companies and their new funding arrangements back in 2006, I made it clear that, although the list contained the five companies that exist today, it would be open to other companies to apply for that status and perhaps to receive it.
Obviously, any aspiring company would have to meet the qualifying criteria and demonstrate that they perform at a significantly high level of artistic endeavour. I also made it clear that the designation was open to all, including both adult and youth organisations. I suggest to the cabinet secretary that now might be the time seriously to consider awarding that status to our youth organisations.
For the past three decades, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, the Scottish Youth Theatre and YDance have demonstrated a history of and a belief in excellence, have engaged in outreach work and have been strong ambassadors for our country wherever they have travelled. Like their adult contemporaries, the national youth performing arts companies of Scotland work in every local authority area in Scotland, and each year they involve some 162,000 young people in their activities but, as the document that the companies presented to the cabinet secretary’s predecessor in 2009 stated,
“the statistics are colourless as the real impact of what we do is found in compelling performances on stages and concert platforms throughout Scotland and internationally; in improvisations and imaginative sessions in community halls, streets, stadia, and leisure centres; in myriad inspiring tuition sessions in schools and local venues in every part of Scotland”.
I know that the cabinet secretary is reviewing the work of the youth companies, but I sincerely hope that she will give my suggestion serious consideration. It would be a bold move, but one that would be widely welcomed and which would give additional impetus to our youth companies and to all the young people with whom they work.
One of the hardest tasks of Government is to monitor the performance of the companies from the point of view of artistic quality, financial responsibility and outreach without interfering in their artistic freedom. Another important and complex area is the number of people who attend performances, which the cabinet secretary touched on. I fully accept that audience numbers are not the only measure of success or of value for money and that fluctuations occur for many reasons. The staging of an unpopular but important play, a focus on smaller venues, a change in artistic leadership or even the weather can cause audience numbers to drop.
The figures that were released recently by the Scottish Government show a 20 per cent increase in audience numbers over the five companies in the past year, but—and it is a significant “but”—that seems to have been accounted for solely by the National Theatre of Scotland, which increased the number of its performances in 2010-11 and, consequently, its audience. I do not want to single out any one company because, as I said, variations can be wildly misleading, but the performance of each of the companies is an issue that their boards will need to take seriously.
Scottish Labour decided to amend the Government’s motion only so that we as a Parliament could recognise the important contribution that is made to our national companies by local authorities and businesses and by the many individuals who contribute to their financial and artistic success. I thank the Government for indicating that it will agree the amendment at decision time.
The five companies that we now know as the national performing companies each have a long and proud history, but they have not been without their problems over the years. In the early years of the Parliament a number of those companies experienced a series of financial and artistic problems, which, by 2006, were largely behind them. With the creation of the National Theatre of Scotland, the time was right to create a new funding and governance regime that gave performing companies equal status with the national collections and the recognition that they deserved.
Artistic excellence and aspiration was the mark of the new relationship, as was raising the bar for the amount and quality of the outreach work that the companies undertook. My colleague Claudia Beamish will say more about the value of that work, but anyone who has watched or participated in the work that those companies do in our schools cannot fail to be impressed by the standards that are achieved and delighted by the end result.
I have explained the rationale behind our amendment, but I ask the cabinet secretary to consider two points. I am sure that she will take my suggestions in the spirit of consensus in which they are made. First, the Government should recognise the significant contribution that some local authorities make in supporting the national performing companies, and the arts more generally. The cabinet secretary will be aware that when budgets are tight there is often a concern that the softest target for cuts will be the arts, and sport suffers in that way too.
I realise that we have moved on from the concept of ring fencing, and I am not suggesting that it should be reintroduced, but I wonder whether the cabinet secretary would consider raising with her cabinet colleagues the idea of incentivising or rewarding those local authorities that champion the arts. We know that the arts contribute to educational achievement, assist regeneration, boost tourism and generally add to the dynamism and character of an area. It is vital that the progress that Scotland has made in that area in recent years is not lost. Incentivisation would send a gentle signal to those local authorities for which the arts are not such a priority or those that are tempted to look for savings in the arts to take a more balanced approach.
The second of my suggestions concerns the national youth performing arts companies of Scotland. When I announced the new designation of national performing companies and their new funding arrangements back in 2006, I made it clear that, although the list contained the five companies that exist today, it would be open to other companies to apply for that status and perhaps to receive it.
Obviously, any aspiring company would have to meet the qualifying criteria and demonstrate that they perform at a significantly high level of artistic endeavour. I also made it clear that the designation was open to all, including both adult and youth organisations. I suggest to the cabinet secretary that now might be the time seriously to consider awarding that status to our youth organisations.
For the past three decades, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, the Scottish Youth Theatre and YDance have demonstrated a history of and a belief in excellence, have engaged in outreach work and have been strong ambassadors for our country wherever they have travelled. Like their adult contemporaries, the national youth performing arts companies of Scotland work in every local authority area in Scotland, and each year they involve some 162,000 young people in their activities but, as the document that the companies presented to the cabinet secretary’s predecessor in 2009 stated,
“the statistics are colourless as the real impact of what we do is found in compelling performances on stages and concert platforms throughout Scotland and internationally; in improvisations and imaginative sessions in community halls, streets, stadia, and leisure centres; in myriad inspiring tuition sessions in schools and local venues in every part of Scotland”.
I know that the cabinet secretary is reviewing the work of the youth companies, but I sincerely hope that she will give my suggestion serious consideration. It would be a bold move, but one that would be widely welcomed and which would give additional impetus to our youth companies and to all the young people with whom they work.
One of the hardest tasks of Government is to monitor the performance of the companies from the point of view of artistic quality, financial responsibility and outreach without interfering in their artistic freedom. Another important and complex area is the number of people who attend performances, which the cabinet secretary touched on. I fully accept that audience numbers are not the only measure of success or of value for money and that fluctuations occur for many reasons. The staging of an unpopular but important play, a focus on smaller venues, a change in artistic leadership or even the weather can cause audience numbers to drop.
The figures that were released recently by the Scottish Government show a 20 per cent increase in audience numbers over the five companies in the past year, but—and it is a significant “but”—that seems to have been accounted for solely by the National Theatre of Scotland, which increased the number of its performances in 2010-11 and, consequently, its audience. I do not want to single out any one company because, as I said, variations can be wildly misleading, but the performance of each of the companies is an issue that their boards will need to take seriously.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02738, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on the national performing companies. I call Fiona Hyslop to speak to...
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate and celebrate the significant achievements of the five national performing companies during the first five years of direc...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate our national performing companies, and I am sure that the debate will be consensual.Scottish Labour decided ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The member might be reflecting some coverage that the audience figures received when they were released. She might also be aware that the chief executive of ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I entirely accept the point that the cabinet secretary makes, but I think that it suggests that the publications that give us those facts and figures need to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Annabel Goldie, who has a very generous six minutes.15:30
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for bringing the motion to the chamber for debate, and I am pleased to speak in the debate because I, too, want to pay tribute to the br...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate, for which we have a little bit of time in hand. Speeches of a generous six minutes can be made by everyone in the debate.15:37
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Unsurprisingly, I open with a quotation from Tennessee Williams, describing the creative process as he saw it. He said:“I believe the way to write a good pla...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I commend the cabinet secretary for bringing this debate to the chamber and I join her in praising the outstanding work of the national performing companies ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I can be more generous.
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
The same themes can be reiterated with reference to the National Theatre of Scotland and the orchestras. We all know of the outreach work that they do. The R...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Our big five—Scotland’s five national performing companies—with their singing, dancing, music and storytelling to gladden the heart, are things of which we o...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I align myself with the remarks made by Annabelle Ewing—sorry, I mean Annabel Goldie. She has changed.
Annabel Goldie
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Some errors made in the chamber are justifiable and acceptable, but others are much more difficult to thole.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
That is not really a point of order.
Sandra White
SNP
I accept Annabel Goldie’s explanation, given that we are talking about the performing companies. I align myself with some of her remarks, as I, too, have bee...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Sandra White makes an important point. I refer her to a report that I think I brought to the Parliament’s attention when answering a question from Annabel Go...
Sandra White
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for that and look forward to seeing that strategy in the future.The link with education is important. It is great that the Roya...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
For a number of reasons, I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this debate. I will start by focusing on what I see as the significance of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I would be grateful if you would draw to a close sometime soon, please.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I am just about to, Presiding Officer. Thank you.The Scottish Government states that cultural engagement also“helps reinforce our resilience in difficult tim...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I am very pleased to have been called to speak in this debate on Scotland’s national performing companies and, indeed, to follow on from the very considerate...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As we have heard, the national performing arts companies have an important role. Not only do they allow Scots of all ages to experience the very best in thea...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak in this debate on the work of our national performing companies. All the companies do sterling wor...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the closing speeches. Annabel Goldie has a generous six minutes.16:32
Annabel Goldie
Con
The debate has been interesting and genuinely helpful. What our creative industries and NPCs do for Scotland and our economy has been universally recognised;...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I gently point out to Annabel Goldie that we have gone through the credit crunch and the recession. Interestingly, the arts and business figures for Scotland...
Annabel Goldie
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for that observation. I value what the sponsors and fund-raisers are doing; I simply point out that, if we cannot explain that ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I, too, thank colleagues around the chamber for their interesting and thoughtful contributions to what has been a very good and consensual debate. That is a ...