Culture Partnership Agreement: statement of intent

Scottish Government and COSLA

The Scottish Government and COSLA affirm our shared commitment to strengthening the role of culture in Scotland’s communities through a renewed partnership approach.

Building on the principles of the Verity House Agreement and the Culture Strategy for Scotland, we recognise the transformative power of cultural services - through libraries, museums, galleries, theatres and opportunities in our communities - to improve wellbeing, tackle poverty and inequality, and support a just transition to a wellbeing economy.

We recognise the challenges facing culture services, including the financial constraints facing Local Government, rising costs and changes in service use since the pandemic.

This joint statement sets out our intent to co-develop a full Culture Partnership Agreement in 2026. In the interim, we will work to ensure the long term resilience in the cultural sector by:

• exploring innovative funding models and seek to simplify the funding landscape
• considering new approaches to workforce planning and development processes 
• championing the value of culture across portfolios and policy areas
• strengthening strategic alignment between national and local government
• supporting sustainable cultural delivery through shared priorities and improved governance
• promoting inclusive access to cultural participation for all communities

Together, we will ensure culture is embedded in Scotland’s future - locally delivered, nationally supported, and collectively valued.

Next steps

A full and detailed Culture Partnership Agreement will be developed in 2026. This will be shaped among others by:

• input from Culture Conveners sessions
• the outcomes of the Cultural Value Summit
• guidance from the Local and National Delivery Group
• the findings of the Independent Review of Creative Scotland, the Independent Culture Fair Work Task Force and the recommendations from Public Libraries: ‘Beyond Adequate’ Advisory Group

This process will ensure the CPA reflects the voices, experiences, and ambitions of both national and local partners, and supports a resilient, inclusive, and strategically aligned cultural landscape across Scotland.