Meeting of the Parliament 21 April 2015
I thank Fiona Hyslop for the motion and Claire Baker for her amendment.
Regardless of its constitutional status, Scotland is a proud nation. Our unique culture makes Scotland unlike any other place in the world. There is clear evidence from the previous year that proves that Scotland’s cultural identity is valuable, not only to our society but to our economy. As a nation, we have much to offer the world, as is seen in last year’s impressive increase in tourism.
The international reputation of Scotland can be immensely beneficial for our economic growth. With 12 world-famous international festivals, Scotland has a platform for connecting with the rest of the world, which brings money, resources and a brand that can prove to be invaluable.
I have seen the effects that the latest Commonwealth games had on the city of Glasgow. Millions of pounds re-energised the Clyde waterfront and much of the east end of Glasgow. The games were not only about sports, though; the cultural events of the Commonwealth games festival were an amazing success that brought crowds and recognition to Glasgow, as well as the rest of Scotland.
In terms of a legacy, those events have proven to offer not only a temporary benefit but substantial long-term promise. I join many of my MSP colleagues in welcoming those promising results, but I urge the Scottish Government not to allow complacency. The international recognition that we seek is not inherited but must be earned and nurtured. We in Scotland must always keep our culture close, but when we share it with the world amazing things happen. Let us continue to foster our identity so that we can share it with more and more people around the world. To do that, we must continue to fund festivals and to broaden international awareness, and we must always improve how we brand our nation to the outside world.
To give an example, I believe that the Glasgow mela should be in the Scottish Government’s funding pool; such an important event should be under a national banner. I know that Glasgow City Council would not want to give up such a successful event, which started with small events around the city and culminated in their coming together for one to two days, and now for three days, to create a successful event. This year is the mela’s 25th anniversary, and I call on the Scottish Government to play its role in ensuring that it is a successful event not only in this 25th anniversary year, but as an event that continues in the Scottish calendar. I believe that multicultural events such as the Glasgow mela need that recognition, so I look forward to Fiona Hyslop’s comments and to her drawing up a list of events including the mela that can develop ideas for representing all Scotland’s communities.
Recently, the focus seems to have been taken off what minorities contribute to our culture and history, and they have been let down. Organisations such as those that organise the Edinburgh and Glasgow melas go a long way in supporting and rekindling such activity. Having been a local councillor in Glasgow for 17 years, I know for a fact that it took a lot of time, effort, energy and dedication by a small number of people to establish the Glasgow mela and to see it become a successful Scottish event. The participants come not only from all over Scotland and from all over the United Kingdom but from all over the world, and that makes me really proud, because when we celebrate the mela in Glasgow it is not only about the minority communities but about minority communities engaging with the rest of the communities in Scotland while at the same time selling the brand of Scotland around the world. That is something that, as a Glaswegian, I am proud of. I therefore call on the Scottish Government to look at some of the minority organisations that bring so much to our culture and diversity that we can be proud of.
15:38