Tag Archives: Scottish Culture

News

How are the Creative Industries performing?

By Gregor Boyd

The Creative Industries are a huge player within the UK’s economy which generates billions in revenue each year, The key areas being London, The Northwest, and the Southeast of England.

But what exactly is Scotland’s contribution to the UK’s creative sectors? According to gov.scot, the creative industry is one of Scotland’s fastest-growing sectors.

According to the Office for National Statistics, Scotland’s highest contribution to the creative sector appears to be within the IT industry massively outperforming the other sectors with the lowest performing sector being the Craft sector followed by Museums & Galleries.

Within the IT sector sits the Games Industry, a behemoth.

Scotland is home to several games studios as well as leading universities offering courses on Games Design.

Dundee has in the past been dubbed the video game capital of Europe (as well as the drug death capital…).

However, it has cemented its status within the video game industry as the home of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto as well as bringing Minecraft onto consoles.

In more recent years Rockstar North has shifted itself to headquarters in Edinburgh.  Dundee’s future as a game’s mecca is ongoing but not unrecognised. With future planning proposals to build an E-sports gaming arena as well, Dundee aims to cement itself as a key industry player for gaming.

All around roughly the same turnovers are Publishing, Design, Architecture, and Performing Arts. Sectors that are essential to Scotland’s goals of competing on the world stage

In Music & Performing Arts. Scotland’s nightlife tourism industry is essential to the growth and regeneration of towns and cities. Huge artists frequent venues throughout Scotland as well as smaller acts tour up and down the country providing residents in more urban areas with valued nightlife experiences.

The economic benefit is felt throughout bars, pubs, clubs, and hotels. The Runrig concert brought an estimated 45,000 fans from all over the world to Stirling with an estimated £ 7 million benefit to the local economy. A great success model for building on future events.

Though in recent years, the night-time economy has been suffering due to the Covid-19 Pandemic which led to several businesses having to close their doors temporarily. Combined with the cost-of-living crisis, the night-time economy is going to suffer seriously.

The UK is a global powerhouse when it comes to producing content for movies or television. Above is a breakdown of the Film Industry breakdown for Scotland, showing that the bulk of the turnover is generated through motion pictures.

Glasgow became an ideal filming location for some films over the past few years, most notably the Matt Reeves blockbuster adaption of Batman in which Glasgow was used as the murky backdrop of Gotham city. Several iconic locations were used throughout the film with the most recognisable being the Necropolis used at the end of the film. The cancelled Batgirl film was also filmed in Glasgow just recently with it being noted that Glasgow Council paid to have Warner Bros shoot the entire production in the city.

Forecasts done by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) have found that the UK Creative industry is set to grow to be worth £97bn in revenue by 2026.

If the UK as a whole is to tackle the financial despair it’s been in for several years now. It needs to embrace the creative economy for the powerhouse it ought to be recognised as.

 

News

Edinburgh Filmhouse: Crowdfunder campaign launched to save independent cinema

A crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise £2 million to save the Edinburgh Filmhouse and its long-running international film festival.

The 88 Lothian Road building, the former home of Edinburgh Filmhouse, was put up for sale after the charity running the cinema went into administration in October.

A group of former senior staff launched the crowdfunding campaign on 16 November, aiming to raise £2 million by the end of this week and buy the building from the administrators.

“The loss of the building is catastrophic, not only for Filmhouse but also the provision of cultural cinema in Scotland’s capital city,” states the group’s crowdfunding page.

“Edinburgh will become the only UK city of its size and international cultural ambition to lack a cinema devoted to the full breadth and depth of cultural film”.

The group hopes to attract support from the screen industries and Scotland’s cultural scene.

Actor Jack Lowden supported the campaign and told the Scotsman that “the idea of our capital losing such an important cultural centre is deeply saddening.”

“With the Scottish film industry growing faster and faster, it’s more important than ever to have a truly independent platform in our city. And just as importantly, a welcoming place to have a great night out,” says Lowden.

Paul Sng, an independent filmmaker based in Edinburgh, started an online petition to save the Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Edinburgh International Festival. The petition now has over 24 000 signatures.

“It was mainly to show that there is a level of love and support, that there is the belief in the festival and in Filmhouse as an organization to be something that is in Edinburgh for the community, for the people that love cinema”, says Sng.

“As a filmmaker, being supported by these two organizations, the cultural linchpins, has been massively important to me.

“On that professional level, to lose either of them would impact the industry and also impact me personally. Being a filmmaker that is making documentaries on sometimes tricky subjects, you don’t have that many options,” explains Sng.

The Edinburgh Filmhouse was not only an important cultural institution, but for many people it was primarily a safe space.

Vivian Chang, an Edinburgh University student said: “The Filmhouse was a very important place to me and to my friends, it was a beautiful place where we can get tickets just for 2 pounds every Tuesday and enjoy art.”

So far, the crowdfunding campaign raised £138,644, which is 6% off the amount needed to save the building.

To get to the final number would mean every person who has signed Paul Sng’s petition needs to add at least £83.

Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Filmhouse are not the only cultural institutions forced to (completely) limit their activities, due to lack of finances.

Last week it was reported The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) is resizing its team and pausing its streaming activity.

Amanda Berry, Head of Marketing and PR of the EIBF, said: “it’s a difficult time and we are busy with a consultation and planning process to address the economic challenges that lie ahead.”

Due to time difficulties, the EIBF’s team refused to give any further comment.