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Visit the culture portal for Scotland - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scran.ac.uk">SCRAN</a>
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<strong><u>The Mandate</u></strong>
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The Scottish Arts Council was established by Royal Charter in 1994, its purpose is:
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<ul>
<li>to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts </li>
<li>to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public and </li>
<li>to advise and co-operate with departments of the Scottish government, local authorities, Arts Council England, the Arts Councils of Wales and Northern Ireland, and other bodies and individuals on any matters concerned whether directly or indirectly with the two points above.</li>
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The Council serves professional arts, community arts, music, theatre, dance, visual arts, crafts, folk or traditional culture, libraries, language preservation, training of artists and/or cultural workers, cultural industries, writing, support for book and magazine publishing and translation, media and multi-media arts and arts education.
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<strong><u>The Council</u></strong>
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<ul>
<li>provides financial support to arts/cultural organisations </li>
<li>provides financial support to individuals in the arts/culture </li>
<li>advises the national government on matters related to the arts/culture </li>
<li>implements and evaluates national arts/cultural policies </li>
<li>conducts research in the arts/culture </li>
<li>promotes public understanding and appreciation of the arts/culture </li>
<li>organises and manages cultural activities and events </li>
<li>awards prizes/honours in the arts/culture </li>
<li>provides training and professional development in artistic/cultural fields</li>
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<u><strong>The Governing Body</strong></u>
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The Council has sufficient powers to implement the organisations three objectives under the Royal Charter.&nbsp; The 16 Council members are appointed by the Minister for the Arts, after national advertising and interviews are carried out, for a term of three years, with the possibility to extend the term by a further three years.&nbsp; The Council members should represent geographical, gender and&nbsp;ethnicity diversity, as well as ensuring cultural and professional expertise.
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<strong><u>The Staff</u></strong>
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The CEO is&nbsp;appointed by the governing body, of the 100 staff members of the organisation, <span>those who have direct program responsibilities (i.e. manage programs of support to organisations and/or individuals) come from the field. The organisation does not have regional offices.</span>
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<span><strong><u>Relationship with Government</u></strong></span>
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<span>The Scottish Arts Council a Non-Departmental Public Body, it is an independent organisation incorporated by Royal Charter, with a Financial Memorandum and Management Statement between the organisation and the Scottish Executive setting out&nbsp;its framework.</span>
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<span><span>Its accountability to government is ensured through a formal funding agreement with and regular reporting to government. The Council is required to file an annual report with the legislature and its financial accounts are audited by an auditor appointed by the government.</span></span>
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<span>The Director of the organisation is the Accountable Officer and responsible, under the terms of the Financial Memorandum, for the proper stewardship of the grantpaid to the Council.</span>
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<span><strong><u>The Government </u></strong></span>
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<span>Within limits, the government can give directions to the organisation, regarding funds for specific purposes to meet the aims of the national cutlural strategy</span>
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<span><strong><u>The Council</u></strong></span>
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<ul>
<li>determines its own policies </li>
<li>determines its own current priorities </li>
<li>establishes its own strategic plan </li>
<li>appoints its chief executive officer </li>
<li>selects its other staff members </li>
<li>determines the allocation of the budget to various programs and activities </li>
<li>establishes its various funding programs </li>
<li>determines who will receive its financials upport</li>
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<strong><u>Budget and Revenue Sources</u></strong>
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The organisation's budget in the current year is &pound;58m (approx US$105.9m).&nbsp; Of this, 64% is contributed by the national government, with the remaining 36% from the national lottery and interest from investments.&nbsp; The Council <span>receives annual funding from the government's general revenues or culture budget and government revenues derived from the lottery. Over the last five years, funding from government has increased.</span>
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<span><strong><u>Programs of Financial Support for the Arts/Cultural Community</u></strong></span>
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The Council provides financial support to organisations and individuals,&nbsp;most of its programs are organised by discipline or sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The funds can be used for:
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<ul>
<li>creation </li>
<li>research and development </li>
<li>production, presentation and exhibition </li>
<li>publication </li>
<li>the operations of an organisation </li>
<li>conservation and preservation </li>
<li>capital expenses </li>
<li>deficit reduction</li>
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Program funds cannot be used for:
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<ul>
<li>student fees </li>
<li>purely commercial activites </li>
<li>political or sectarian issues</li>
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<strong><u>Assessment of Applications for Financial Support</u></strong>
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Applications for financial assistance must meet the Scottish Arts Council's criteria, the applications are assessed internally by program staff and by external advisors who are selected by open application and serve for a term of one year, whcih can be extended.&nbsp; The peers then&nbsp;make recommendations to the Council.&nbsp; The organisation has conflict of interest regulations which state that an assessor must declare and interest if they will personally gain from a decision.
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<strong><u>Greatest Current Challenge</u></strong>
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The organisation's greatest challenge is dealing with dynamic changes in government policy.&nbsp; The broadening of the arts agenda has meant that the Council must support and meet government priorities through the arts.
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<strong><u>Greatest Current Strength</u></strong>
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The Council benefits from&nbsp;committed and knowledgeable staff developing the arts across a broad spectrum.
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