What support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to funding bodies for the arts in respect of marketing arts events to socially a…

The National Cultural Strategy includes a key priority to develop wider opportunities for cultural access. Increasing access to the arts is therefore a priority for the Executive and audience development is an important aspect of this. Scottish funding bodies and public sector arts providers are aware of this emphasis and the Scottish Arts Council, as part of its £0.5 million lottery funding scheme for audience and sales development, is exploring ways to market arts events to all possible audiences including those affected by social exclusion. The local authorities' contribution is being considered by a working group of the Executive and COSLA with a view to developing guidelines setting out best practice.