Cultural Assembly
Meeting, Dunoon, 18th June 2014
Notes of the meetings and outcomes
Introduction
The Cultural Assembly meeting was called in order to review the cultural plan,
commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council with Highlands and Islands Enterprise
support, and recently approved and endorsed by the Council. The meeting also
aimed to identify further opportunities for Argyll and Bute emanating from the plan
and the future role of the Cultural Assembly.
In all, 90 people attended the Assembly meeting. A list of those present is appended.
The Assembly was facilitated by Ivan Broussine and Stewart Walker of BTS.
Background
The background to the project for the preparation of a strategic plan for Culture
Heritage and Arts in Argyll was explained by Ivan Broussine. The commission to
prepare the plan to meet the needs of the sector was originated by the Council, with
HIE support; the approach included a number of consultative workshops, an
electronic survey and many face to face and telephone interviews. Over 200 people
and organisations participated in the research.
Conclusions from the research suggest that the sector is important in terms of jobs
and the cultural identity of Argyll and Bute, but it’s also not visible, people don’t know
about it and it’s (currently) not part of the tourism offer. Meanwhile other places Fife, Orkney Dumfries and Galloway – are promoting their cultural sector and offer.
The sector has needs (defined in the research) but it must be led by people working
within it (and thus the Council’s endorsement but decision not to chair the Cultural
Assembly).
Guest Speakers
Two guest speakers spoke about recent cultural developments that will have
beneficial impacts on Argyll and Bute and with which the Cultural Assembly may
want further engagement:

Caroline Docherty from Creative Scotland spoke about Creative Scotland’s
Place Partnership Programme, how it works and how it will contribute to
cultural development in Argyll and Bute;
Page 1

Sheena Miller, Programme Manager, COMAR addressed the Youth Arts
Hub, where funding has been awarded by Creative Scotland and planning is
in place to develop its activities in Argyll and Bute.
Cultural Assembly
The background to the Cultural Assembly was explained. The assembly had met
once before, initiated by Councillor Louise Glen-Lee, to bring people working and
volunteering in the sector together, in part to generate cohesion and links across the
sector across Argyll and Bute, but also to help steer the preparation of the strategic
plan. A group of volunteers became the embryonic steering group for the project.
They have been approached with a view to continuing until elections are held and we
will contact you with details of the interim Steering Group shortly
The task now is to determine how the Cultural Assembly takes the leadership role for
the sector and the formal process of setting it up, for which there are a number of
options outlined further below, reflecting the discussion at the meeting.
The Discussion
There were a number of topics and the following provides the flavour and key issues
raised in the discussion.
We asked first of all what people thought of as the cultural and heritage priorities
across Argyll and Bute; responses included:









Linking to others and networking
Communication and promotion – to the two separate communities of residents
and visitors
With communication and networking, many people are excluded because they
are not IT savvy nor used to working in social media, so future communication
needs to take this into account
Need for the LA to recognise the economic and social value of the cultural
sector and commit more funding
Need for a body (cultural assembly) to identify priorities and projects, be a
forum for new schemes and attract funds for projects
Advocacy –the assembly should play a role
Need to find ways to ensure balance in the assembly to ensure each area has
equal influence
There is a need to engage schools and young people so that “culture” is
passed to them
Provide access to markets (for those working in sector)
Page 2
A wide ranging discussion then took place over the next couple of hours. Again we
give a flavour of that discussion. In some of the discussion more questions were
raised than answers, since the ultimate role and focus of the Cultural Assembly will
be determined by itself:









The question was asked about what proportion of participants are volunteers,
workers or public employees. The implication was that it was indeterminate
who should be driving the setup of the Cultural Assembly and the delivery of
the strategic plan, although many thought the question irrelevant because all
had a stake in the project.
Creative Scotland’s Place Partnership: several people wanted more details
of what it will involve/focus upon, the answer being that its priorities were still
being planned by the LA and Creative Scotland.
The focus of the Cultural Assembly was asked about in terms of clarifying
whether it was commercial activity (considered to be tourism related) or social
benefits (considered to be the voluntary sector in arts, culture and heritage).
There was a plea for the international representation of e.g. high end music
and sectors and whether and how the Assembly could support this aim.
Proposals had been made in the strategic plan for the representation of
local areas in the make-up of the Cultural Assembly and its governing Board.
Concerns were raised about the respective strengths of local areas (where
e.g. fewer people might elect to participate in the Cultural Assembly) and
reassurances given that each area would have a voice on the Board and
therefore not be prejudiced.
Equally, with regard to the art forms and thematic groups across Argyll and
Bute that would help make up the Cultural Assembly and from which Board
representatives would be elected, there were queries about which group
storytelling, dance and drama would fit, as well as events and festivals. The
definition of the groups has to be well designed. It was thought there should
be an additional group for venues too.
The islands were thought to be underrepresented. While this was true of the
meeting itself, Ivan reassured the meeting that the research had included
significant inputs from island communities and the planned representation on
the Cultural Assembly and its Board included the islands.
The debate about the tourism sector and interrelationship with arts, culture
and heritage was inconclusive, with some considering the association one
with another as important in accessing markets and representing what Argyll
and Bute has to offer as well as its identity.
This led to the question of commodifying the arts (treating arts as a mere
commodity), suggesting that the process of setting up the Assembly and
developing the sector was forgetting about the intrinsic value of the arts.
Page 3


Several people disagreed and didn’t see anything incompatible in setting up
the assembly and delivering the plan.
Role of the steering group members – the status of the existing steering
group members was questioned. These people (list appended) volunteered
when asked by Cllr Glen-Lee and had steered he preparation of the strategic
plan. They knew that formal elections would either displace them or allow
them to stand for election to the Cultural Assembly Board.
The best company structure for the Cultural Assembly was debated with
three options and advocates for each: a co-operative (analogous to the Argyll
and the Isles Co-operative), a company limited by guarantee and a Scottish
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). It was agreed that the different
options should be presented to those in the sector and the choice given to
everyone (see next actions).
In the discussion, Connie Lovel, Chief Executive of Mount Stuart, and Carron
Tobin of Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative, both spoke about the way that
the tourism sector in Argyll and Bute organised itself, to give tourism a cogent
presence and marketing impetus, creating an umbrella organisation/structure to
represent the region. The overriding requirement is for passion amongst participants
to deliver an agreed vision, for one voice, a common goal, timelines, outputs.
Everyone needs to leave their individual agendas at the door to work to the common
good. Individual marketing groups are members, of which there are many across
Argyll and Bute.
Conclusions
While some of the debate was challenging and raised real issues, there was 100%
support for the formal establishment of the Cultural Assembly and for the actions
required to make progress.
Next Actions
The next actions agreed were:
1. To ask everyone in culture, heritage and arts sectors in Argyll and Bute which
company structure they think would be best – Ivan to prepare survey and
everyone to support its widespread distribution;
2. To establish the area and thematic/art form groups to set up and from these to
hold an election to elect a board for the Cultural Assembly;
3. Establish the Cultural Assembly company and its programme of activity.
Page 4
Appendix 1
Argyll and Bute Culture, Heritage and Arts Cultural Assembly
18th June 2014 (11.00am – 3.00pm)
Venue: Queens Hall, Dunoon
Delegates
Robbie Baird
Briars and Thorns Arts
briarsandthornsarts@gmail.com
Jean Bell
Fyne Studios
info@fyne-studios.com
Anne Bissell
Isle of Bute Artist
Collective
annebissell@btinternet.com
Fiona Blakey
Argyll and Bute Council
fiona.blakey@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Jill Bowis
Ardchattan Parish Archive
admin@lorn.org.uk
Jodie Bramall
Briars and Thorns Arts
jodiebramall@portavadiemarina.com
Linda Bryce
Glenbarr Abbey
tgaglenbarrabbey@gmail.com
June Buchanan
Createive Words in Cowal
and Burgh Hall, Dunoon
junebuch@gmail.com
Laura Cameron
Gibson Community Centre
Sarah Cameron
Senscot
Sarah@senscot.net
Ann Campbell
Dunoon Burgh Hall
burghhalldunoon@gmail.com and
annbcampell@aol.com
Eleanor
Carlingford
Visual Artist, Secret Shed
Society
eleanor@eleanorcarlingford.com
Bob Clark
Auchindrain Museum
bob.clark@auchindrain.org.uk
Glyn Collis
Bute Museum
g.m.collis@gmail.com
Suse Coon
Writer/Publisher/Tarbert
Book Festival
suse@larickhouse.co.uk
Catriona Darroch
Cowal Open Studios
darroch_catriona@yahoo.co.uk
Jackie Davenport
Argyll and Bute Council
jackie.davenport@argyll-bute.gov.uk or
archive@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Page 5
Gavin Dick
Inveraray Jail
gavin@inverarayjail.co.uk
Charles DixonSpain
Dunans Castle
charles.dixonspain@gmail.com and
charles@arbu.co.uk
Caroline Docherty Creative Scotland
caroline.docherty@creativescotland.com
Jean Donaldson
Powan Media
powanmedia@gmail.com
Paul Duffy
Brandanii Heritage,
discoverbutearchaeology@googlemail.com
Discover Bute Archaeology
Jane Dunbar
Three Wee Cows
Cjd.madcow@btinternet.com
Lorna Elliott
Lorna.elliott@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Jan Ferguson
Argyll and the Islands
LEADER
Artist and Cowal Open
Studios
moiraclinch@hotmail.com
Moira Ferguson
Artist, Cowal Open Studios
and Scottish Potters
Association
Sheena Fisher
Dunoon & Cowal Heritage
Society
janemfisher@btinternet.com
Alastair Fleming
Luing Community Trust
fleming.a.z@btinternet.com
Zoe Fleming
Luing History Group
zdfleming@btinternet.com
John Gordon
Argyll and Bute Council
Johnwilliam.gordon@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Chris Gosling
(Observer)
Scottish Government
Chris.gosling@scottish.gsi.gov.uk
John Grant
ArtsQwest
info@artsqwest.com
Kerrien Grant
Highlands and Islands
Enterprise
Kerrien.grant@hient.co.uk
Mary Gray
Gibson Community Centre
marygray1931@gmail.com
John Hardie
Tarbert Enterprise
Company
johnwhardie@outlook.com
Lucinda
Hopkinson
Artist and Artmap
lhopkinson@btconnect.com
janferguson1@hotmail.co.uk
Page 6
Jane Isaacson
Sustainability &
Development Manager,
Dunollie Museum
jane@dunollie.org
Iain Johnston
Kintyre Cultural Forum
kintyreculturalforum@hotmail.co.uk
Sheena Kitchin
Craft Scotland
sheena@craftscotland.org
Fiona Lochhead
Historic Kilmun
fiona.lochhead@btinternet.com
Connie Lovel
Mount Stuart Trust
Connie@mountstuart.com
Jeanne
Macalister of
Glenbarr
Glenbarr Abbey
Allardice4@gmail.com
Pat McCann
Argyll and Bute Council
pat.mccann@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Elaine
McChesney
Dunollie Preservation Trust elaine@dunollie.org and
elainemcchesney@yahoo.co
Andy McClintock
Cowal Open Studios
andy@kilmunart.co.uk
Dinah McDonald
Dunoon Book Festival
dinah.mcdonald@btinternet.com
Peter McDonald
Argyll and Bute Council
peter.mcdonald@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Dinah McEwan
Dunoon & Cowal Heritage
Trust
mdinamack@aol.com
Ishbel MacKinnon Argyll Estates
archives@inveraray-castle.com
archives@argyll-estates.com
Sheila McLean
Argyll and the Islands
LEADER
sheila.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Dorothy
McLennan
Cowal Music Club
george.mclennan@mypostoffice.co.uk
Don McNeil
Fyne studios
info@fyne-studios.com
Donald MacVicar
Argyll and Bute Council
Donald.MacVicar@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Cllr Bruce
Marshall
Argyll and Bute Council
and Historic Kilmun
bruce.marshall@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Alana Mathers
The Walking Theatre
Company
alana@the4walkingtheatrecompany.com
Page 7
Jane Mayo
Campbeltown Picture
House
Jane.damaco@btinternet.com
Sheena Miller
COMAR Programme
Manager
sheena@comar.co.uk
Ali Mills
TV set designer and
community song leader
alimills.amarilla@me.com
Don Mitchell
Argyll College, UHI
don.mitchell@uhi.ac.uk
Marlyn Moffat
Kintyre Amenity Trust
marlynmo@btinternet.com
Catherine
Montgomery
Strachur Local History
Society
montgomery245@btinternet.com
Stewart Noble
Helensburgh Heritage
Trust
Nobleg84@btinternet.com
Louise
Oppenheimer
Artists Weaver and Artmap
Louise.oppenheimer@btinternet.com
Philip Norris
Friends of Loch Lomond
and The Trossachs &
Cowal Marketing Group
lyallcliff2@tiscali.co.uk and
info@lyallcliff.co.uk
Alison Palmer
Oban War & Peace
Museum
alison.palmer@btinternet.com
Mairi Paterson
Dunoon & Cowal Heritage
Trust
Mairi.paterson@tiscali.co.uk
Ann Rhodes
Cowal Choral Club
josephrhodes537@btinternet.com
Mike Rowell
Ballet West
balletwest@btconnect.com
Mags Russell
Dalriada Arts & Culture
mags@wildbiscuit.com and
info@dalriadaculture.com
John Saich
Wild Biscuit Ltd
john@wildbiscuit.com
Callum Satchell
Cowal Fiddle Workshop
csatch@gmail.com
Karen Scotland
Caol Ruadh Sculpture
Park
info@scottishsculpturepark.com and
Scotland.karen@yahoo.co.uk
Anne Scott
Business Gateway
Ann.scott@argyll-bute-gov.uk
Page 8
Jackie ScottMandeville
Strachur Smiddy Museum
sjackieveronica@yahoo.co.uk
Stuart Shaw
SNH
stuart.shaw@snh.gov.uk
Anne Smart
Kilmartin House Museum
Anne@kilmartin.org
Evelyn Smith
Rosneath Highland
Gathering
eveand54@btinternet.com
Bill Stewart
Argyll and Bute Social
Enterprise Network
william.stewart@absen.org.uk
Sarah Sumsion
Textile artist and Cowal
Open Studios
sarah.sumsion@ardkinglas.com
Carron Tobin
Rural Dimensions/AITC
carron.tobin@ruraldimensions.com
Chris Terris
URTV
chris@urtv.co.uk
Lara Van de Peer
Ballet West
balletwest@btconnect.com and
lara@balletwestscotland.co.uk
Sally Weaser
Artist and Gaelic medium
education
Sally.weaser@gmail.com
Niall Woodrow
Ionad Chalium Chille Ile
(The Columba Centre,
Islay)
nw.smo@uhi.ac.uk
Katrine Wreford
Rosneath Highland
Gathering
Katrinewreford@btinternet.com
Jane Young
Inveraray Castle
manager@inveraray-castle.com
Kevin Baker
Argyll and Bute Council
kevin.baker@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Ivan Broussine
BTS, facilitator
Ivan@businesspointer.co.uk
Stewart Walker
BTS, facilitator
stewart@bts-solutions.com
Page 9
Acceptances, but apologies given or unable to attend:
Rev Tommy
Bryson
Vivienne de Caris
Iain Connon
Arlene Cullum
Dave Dewar
Sadie DixonSpain
Elizabeth
Fairbairn
Robert Hay
Elaine Jamieson
Brian Keating
Karen Liversedge
Ann McClintock
Christine
MacIntyre
Fraser MacIver
Jim MacLean
Sian MacQueen
Jenni Minto
David Price
Sheila Rodger
Jonathan
Sheldrick
Marij van
Helmond
Pieter van der
Werf
Tarbert Church of Scotland thomas@bryson3.wanadoo.co.uk
Three Wee Crows
Colintraive Heritage Centre
Film locations and
Development (ABC)
Cultural Connections
The Walking Theatre
Company
Strachur Smiddy Museum
twc.struan@btinternet.com
iainuconnon@yahoo.co.uk
arlene.cullum@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Lismore Museum
Forestry Commission
Scotland
URTV
Karen Liversedge Artist
Kilmun Art
Columba's Trails
dot.bob@btopenworld.com
elaine.jamieson@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Artist
Dunoon Observer
Artmap
Museum of Islay Life
Three Wee Crows
Port Ban
f.macpainter@googlemail.com
jim@dunoon-observer.com
sianmacqueen@me.com
curator@islaymuseum.freeserve.co.uk
david.struan@btinternet.com
sheilarodger@btinternet.com
jonathan@portban.com
Cowal Cinema Club
marij@helmond.plus.com
Studio Orains
pietervanderwerf@orains.com
dave@cultural-connections.co.uk
sadie@thewalkingtheatrecompany.com
briankeating@me.com
karenliversedge@hotmail.co.uk
ann@kilmunart.co.uk
howbeg@gmail.com
Page 10