Culture cemented its reputation to inspire in year of great uncertainty

A column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk

CULTURE is never more important than in times of economic or political uncertainty. In 2016 Scotland’s culture uplifted us and helped us make sense of the changing world. The giant yellow posters of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) proclaiming “Welcome World” weeks after the Brexit vote were a cultural statement of resilience, intent and internationalism. My favourites from the EIF included Cecilia Bartoli singing Bellini’s Norma and an epic performance of Martyn Bennett’s GRIT. His fusion of heritage and modernism is a masterful artistic anthem for Scotland.

The Art Festival continued to draw audiences to unused spaces in Edinburgh. Jonathan Owen’s “Untitled” enabled access to the Burns Monument, normally locked to the public. The Book Festival tested new ways of presenting literature with a gripping performance from Alice Munro’s View from Castle Rock, telling Scotland’s own migration story of our emigrants. I was fascinated by the story of the Moray Firth which inspired “The Terrestrial Sea”, one of the shows supported through Creative Scotland’s Made in Scotland programme.

In Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, I was proud to unveil 10 new galleries dedicated to fashion, decorative art, design, science and technology at the National Museum of Scotland. The stunning new displays are already inspiring the designers, scientists and engineers of tomorrow.

Culture can change lives and I am emphatic in my vision for Scotland to be recognised as a world leader in youth arts. In March, I announced further support for Sistema’s Big Noise centre in Govanhill. This will help to enhance the health, wellbeing and prospects of young people, supporting them to channel their energy into performance and music, which will stay with them forever.

I have met countless young people who stressed how important these chances have been and the difference they have made to their confidence and hopes for the future. Our festivals continued to immerse audiences in theatre, comedy, film, music, visual arts and the sciences. Their cultural and economic impact is significant, attracting 4.5 million visitors, providing jobs, supporting our tourism industry and contributing £313 million to the Scottish economy.

I am proud to support our festivals through the Expo Fund and will enhance this support for the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival next year. Next week we will welcome visitors from around the world to celebrate Hogmanay.

Look out for the special and new Midnight Moment at Edinburgh Castle, a spectacular series of firework displays. As we face 2017, let Scotland do it with a bold, welcoming and internationalist spirit.

Our work on the new BBC Charter secured a commitment to an operating licence and a dedicated board member for Scotland as well as continued support for Gaelic broadcasting. 2016 was the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

From the launch of the Festival of Architecture, Hinterland at St Peter’s Seminary in Cardross, to its finale at Light Nights in Dundee, the spotlight focused on our stunning architecture, creative industries and spirit of invention. The year expertly fused our history with contemporary innovation, a reminder of our ability to inspire and influence global audiences. History remained at the forefront of our minds as the First World War commemorations took place. We marked the Battle of Jutland, the only major sea battle of that war, at the end of May and the Battle of the Somme on June 30, culminating in whistles and gunfire to mark the moment the battle began on 1 July 1916.

I welcomed more than 40 international delegations to the third Edinburgh International Culture Summit in August. This year’s theme, “Culture – Building Resilient Communities”, reflected my strong belief in the vital role culture plays in the life of any successful community.

This brings me back to my opening reflection – art, culture, history and heritage enrich our sense of place and wellbeing. It has been a pleasure to champion the arts throughout 2016, and I look forward to kicking off the year by opening the National Theatre of Scotland’s new home, Rockvilla, next month. In my role as Culture Secretary, I am pleased to say there’s never a dull moment. Fiona Hyslop is Culture Secretary in the Scottish Government.