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| Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop Photo: Ric Lander |
The Scottish Government is to set up a panel of film experts to give it a more direct connection to the industry, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said today. With film worth more than £5bn annually to Scotland, and seen as having lots of potential to expand, it's an area of significant economic interest. It also employs more people tan the oil and gas industries.
The panel is to be chaired by Creative Scotland but there are as yet few indicators as to who could be appointed to it. The government say is will invite "film industry leaders" to get involved. Once established, it will help with the implementation of Creative Scotland's current three year strategy for the industry (which has two years left to run) and will aim to improve cooperation between the agency and Scottish Enterprise, following recent criticism of their working relationship.
"We have boosted public sector investment in the screen sector from £16.2 million in 2007/08 to more than £21 million in 2013-14. We built on this with our new £2m Tax Credit Loan Fund and £1m Screen Sector Skills Fund and through our continuing work to secure enhanced studio infrastructure for Scotland," said Hyslop in a statement.
"The measures we are announcing today will help us to better understand and respond to the needs of the creative industries in Scotland and ensure the government and its agencies are working more effectively and collaboratively for their benefit."
