When you picture the average boardroom, you might imagine a group of experienced professionals with long careers behind them – and of course, veterans in their fields have much to offer their respective boards. Yet there’s also an acute need to diversify, to expand, and to unite individuals from a range of professional (and life) backgrounds to ensure that the boardroom is ultimately able to not only be sustained but to remain dynamic and energised.

Having invested over £3 million in almost 170 business and culture sector partnerships across Scotland since 2017, the Culture & Business Scotland Fund (C&BS Fund) is returning for its seventh year with a renewed focus on boosting collaboration between the two powerhouse sectors.

Last week, our Chief Executive David Watt appeared in Scottish Business Insider, discussing why it’s so important for the culture and business sectors in Scotland to come together to move away from subsidies and build a sustainable future.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament – which makes changes to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 – was passed by the Parliament on 28th June 2023 and received Royal Assent on 9th August 2023.  The key provisions of the 2023 Act are not yet in force and the 2005 Act remains unchanged, for now.  No action is needed at the moment, but OSCR will provide guidance and advice for charities over the coming months.

Creative Scotland has announced that the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Angus Robertson, in a letter to Chief Executive, Iain Munro on 20 September, has confirmed the Scottish Government has reapplied a 10% cut to their Grant in Aid Budget for 2023-24, and that this £6.6m sum has not been included in the Autumn Budget Revisions.

We’re delighted to announce the Culture & Business Fund Scotland is reopening for applications on 24 May 2023.

The former Arts & Business Scotland has today announced its rebranding to Culture & Business Scotland, as well as launching its strategy for the next five  years.

An upcoming Glasgow event hosted by Arts & Business Scotland will demonstrate the benefits of bringing together the worlds of creativity, culture and enterprise to help businesses innovate.

South of Scotland Enterprise CEO, Jane Morrison-Ross, succeeds Diana Murray CBE as our new Chair. Joining Jane,
five new Trustees bring a new range of skillsets to our Board.