The Scottish Economic Policy Network (scotecon) today publishes a report entitled 'The Economic Impact of the Cultural Sector in Scotland' co-authored by Stewart Dunlop of the Fraser of Allander Institute and Susan Galloway, Christine Hamilton and Adrienne Scullion of the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow. The report includes estimates of the economic impact of arts organisations, museums and galleries.

Researchers at the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow have combined to produce a study that widens the debate on funding of the arts in Scotland by estimating the amount of economic activity supported by the cultural sector. The report shows that the vast proportion of Scottish Arts Council funding provided to Scottish arts organisations stays in Scotland, supports local artists and creates activity in industries that supply the arts sector in Scotland.

Stewart Dunlop of the Fraser of Allander comments:

'Our objective was to help inform the policy debate on the arts in Scotland in two main ways. The first was to define what activities form the 'cultural sector'.'

'We felt that the abundance of definitions in circulation has caused confusion over exactly which activities should be included within the cultural sector, and the first part of the report develops what we feel is a more rational basis for this definition.'

'Having established this, we then go on to measure the economic contribution that the cultural sector as defined makes to the Scottish economy. We feel that both aspects of the study will help contribute to policy debates on the future funding of the arts in Scotland.'

Scottish Arts Council core funded organisations

ﾕ 97.8% of all expenditure was placed in Scotland.

ﾕ A high proportion of all expenditure goes to support each organisations principal artistic activity.

ﾕ Scottish Arts Council core funded organisations support a total of 4,026 full-time jobs in Scotland.

ﾕ Scottish Arts Council core funded organisations support a total of £72.5M worth of income in Scotland.

ﾕ Each job in the arts supports a further 0.83 jobs elsewhere in Scotland.

ﾕ Each £1 of income paid to employees in the arts supports a further £0.87 worth of income in other industries in Scotland.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For more details please contact Christine Hamilton and the Centre for Cultural Policy Research on 0141 330-3558, or Stewart Dunlop on 0141 548-3963 or email s.dunlop@strath.ac.uk.

First published: 14 September 2004