In a Parliamentary Debate on November 1, 2007, the Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, and the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani, underlined the links between the arts and the environment and the contribution which these could make towards the Scottish Government's Purpose and strategic objectives.
The Debate was followed in February 2008 by an event at Lanark Mart, which was attended by both Ministers and around sixty stakeholders from the realms of the arts and environment. Its purpose was to bring together a mixed group to generate ideas, promote joint working and to attempt to understand better how to develop and improve support for art and artists working in and with the environment of Scotland. The event was generally felt to have been useful and engaging and a summary of the discussions, including speaker biographies and speeches, was subsequently circulated to those who attended..
Since then, the Greener Scotland team within the Scottish Government have been considering with culture colleagues and arts and environment organisations options for taking work forward which could complement and support the wider variety of initiatives already underway in this area, such as the PlaceBook Scotland project.
The Scottish Government welcomes comments, queries and suggestions, and in particular would be glad to know of projects which people are undertaking in the field of arts and the environment. Please e-mail artsandenvironment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
Support for work in this field is provided by a range of organisations and initiatives, including the Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, the two National Parks, the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments and Historic Scotland, and the Placebook Scotland project.
Support may also be available for suitable projects from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund.