A new co-operative for Culture, Heritage and the Arts will promote Argyll and Bute on the national and international stage and attract more visitors to the region, with support from Creative Scotland’s Place Partnership Awards.  

The Cultural Assembly will host a series of open meetings this March and April and anyone working in the sector – or interested in moving it forward – is encouraged to attend to find out how to get involved.    

The first meeting will take place on Sun 22 March, 3pm-5pm, The Tower, Helensburgh.

The independent initiative aims to map culture, heritage and arts across Argyll and its islands, allowing sectors to work together more closely and to celebrate a wealth of activity. It will foster collaboration and aims to develop and deliver exciting new partnership projects, joint marketing initiatives and shared training and resources.

A spokesperson for the Cultural Assembly Steering Group, said, “We believe strongly that everyone who works in the culture, heritage and arts sectors – as a volunteer, employee or artist – will benefit from being part of an independent co-operative with its own voice. This is a great opportunity for us all to work together to showcase the wealth of activity in this area and to promote Argyll as a creative destination.”

Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Community and Culture, Councillor Robin Currie, said, “Our culture, heritage, arts, Gaelic language and music are an intrinsic part of what defines Argyll and Bute’s identity, character and appeal. There is huge potential to develop these assets and their contribution to our cultural tourism and their support of the economy of Argyll and Bute and we are looking forward to working with the culture and heritage sectors alongside Creative Scotland in taking this exciting project forward.”

The Assembly will be made up of eight local geographical hubs: Mull, Iona, Tiree and Coll; Cowal; Kintyre and Gigha; Inveraray, Kilmartin Glen and Knapdale; Oban and Lorn; Bute; West Loch Lomond and Clyde Sea Lochs; Islay, Jura and Colonsay. An elected representative from each of these areas will sit on the board.

Watch out for details of further meetings which will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Cultural Assembly has been realised following a study by Business Tourism Solutions Ltd, commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in March 2014.

Place Partnerships are partnerships with the Local Authority, Creative Scotland and the local cultural and creative sector, with funding attached. The partnerships develop plans for projects or initiatives that are strategic, address challenges or opportunities, and can act as a catalyst for change in the cultural sector in the area.

http://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/place-programme