Independent Review of Creative Scotland: remit

The following remit has been agreed between Culture Secretary Angus Robertson and Angela Leitch CBE, Chair of the independent Review of Creative Scotland, supported by vice chair Stuart Currie, following the review team’s initial engagements with stakeholders and in line with the objectives they have been set to: 

• consider Creative Scotland’s functions and remit, as set out in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, to ensure they continue to be relevant for the culture sector and meet Ministers’ aspirations 
• evaluate how Creative Scotland delivers its functions including appropriateness of existing governance arrangements 
• maximise the impact of the funding Creative Scotland provide to the culture sector by ensuring Creative Scotland use and distribute funding appropriately and effectively

The remit is as follows:

Creative Scotland’s purpose and functions

• whether the remit of Creative Scotland is clear, fit for the diversity of a dynamic sector and resilient in the face of change
• whether Creative Scotland’s remit causes unintended barriers to delivery, and whether there are emerging areas that require specific support
• whether Creative Scotland’s four roles of advocacy, development, funder and influencer are compatible with each other and given sufficient priority

Creative Scotland’s structure and performance

• whether Creative Scotland’s operating model is the best and the most cost-efficient structure to deliver the functions
• whether Creative Scotland has the necessary skills, powers, direction and freedoms to deliver its statutory remit effectively and to meet the desires of ministers and the creative industries across the sector/Scotland
• how Creative Scotland monitors their performance and demonstrates their value for money, the appropriate implementation of principles, and the impact of their activity

Governance and leadership within Creative Scotland

• how Creative Scotland’s governance and accountability structures and processes ensure decision-making is efficient, robust and transparent
• how the governance of Creative Scotland provides strategic direction and a focus on planning
• how the Board and its structures ensure effective scrutiny of the executive leadership and the execution/delivery of plans and priorities
• how the leadership create an environment of innovation, and seek opportunities to maximise the impact of Creative Scotland

 Creative Scotland’s finances and distribution of funds

• whether the criteria for determining funding are fair, balanced and appropriate, and whether they ensure that funding reaches a diverse range of recipients across the breadth of the sector and country
• whether the application process for funding is proportionate to the potential funding award or the applicant
• whether Creative Scotland has appropriate medium- and long-term plans in place to ensure future financial sustainability
• whether Creative Scotland supports/aligns public funding to the benefit of individuals and geographical communities and communities of interest

 Collaboration, relationships and partnerships

• how effective the relationships are between Creative Scotland and others
• whether Creative Scotland maximises opportunities from cooperating with others and attracting and facilitating international collaboration
• how Creative Scotland uses its networks to support the development needs and wants of the whole sector

If additional areas are highlighted during the evidence gathering process, further questions may also be considered by the Review.