THE ARRIVAL of 2007 heralds the start of the much-discussed and long-awaited Year of Highland Culture, set to launch officially with a Monster Street Party in Inverness on 12 January (and let’s all fervently hope that Unique Events have more luck with the weather than they did in Edinburgh with their Hogmanay celebrations). Highland 2007 has been supported from its inception by the Scottish Executive, and that body is currently undertaking a consultation process on the content of the Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill.

The process allows individuals and organisations to make their views on the proposed legislation known to the Executive. The legislation will deal with a number of significant matters, including the issue of “cultural entitlements” and cultural planning and how they will be dealt with locally; the creation of a new national arts organisation to replace the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen; and a reorganisation of the National Collections.

A copy of the draft bill can be read or downloaded from the Scottish Executive website at the link below, and the consultation process is explained in that document.

The focus on arts and culture in the Highlands & Islands is likely to be greater than ever in the course of this year, and the consultation process provides an opportunity to contribute to the shaping of national policy, and perhaps more significantly in a Highlands & Islands context, the nature of local provision of arts and culture in your community. The closing date for responses is 31 March 2007.

The Draft Culture Bill can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/14095224/0

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor, Northings

Kenny Mathieson lives and works in Boat of Garten, Strathspey. He studied American and English Literature at the University of East Anglia, graduating with a BA (First Class) in 1978, and a PhD in 1983. He has been a freelance writer on various arts-related subjects since 1982, and contributes to the Inverness Courier, The Scotsman, The Herald, The List, Times Educational Supplement Scotland, and other publications. He has contributed to numerous reference books, and has written books on jazz and Celtic music.