First Minister John Swinney will today underline Scotland’s commitment to its creative industries in a major speech at the Edinburgh International Festival Hub.
The speech comes as the city prepares to welcome visitors from across the world for a month of renowned cultural celebration and artistic exchange.
Mr Swinney will highlight the growing economic strength of Scotland’s creative industries and their deeper role in shaping identity, building connections and showcasing the nation on the global stage.
The Scottish Government has pledged significant investment in culture, increasing arts and culture spending by £34 million for 2025‑26.
That includes £4 million of additional festival funding and forms part of a wider commitment to invest at least £100 million more annually in arts and culture by 2028‑29.
The First Minister is expected to celebrate the power of culture to tell Scotland’s story and to unite people around shared values.
“Culture gets to the very heart of our shared history and our national identity,” he will say.
“It shapes our public spaces and our environments.
“It contributes to education, to social dialogue, and social justice.
“Galleries and museums tell our story.
“Music and dance bring us together.
“Poetry and literature move us and inspire us to take action.
“Ceilidhs and concerts uplift us and invite others to join in with us.”
He will also reflect on the role of creativity in making sense of an uncertain world.
“How can we make sense of this increasingly dangerous, angry and uncertain world?
The answer as it always has been comes through the means of creative expression.
“Culture holds up a mirror and allows us to see Scotland as it truly is, in all its glorious diversity.
“Culture helps us to understand ourselves, to understand each other and to understand the world around us.”
Mr Swinney will say Scotland’s creative economy is central to its global reputation, every bit as distinctive as its landscapes and food and drink.
“I want to do all that I can to help our interlinked culture and creative industries flourish,” he will add, “because it is the right and the smart thing to do.”
