I'll take Scotland into world top 10 for arts, claims culture chief

Andrew Dixon, who is chief executive of the new organisation that replaces the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen in July, told an audience of 200 artists, writers and film-makers in Glasgow that their work should be better recognised around the world.

According to the Nation Brand Index, which measures how countries are perceived by other nations, Scotland is ranked 18th, behind nations such as America and France. But one of the challenges Mr Dixon, who took over his post three weeks ago, has set himself is to elevate Scotland into the top ten.

At a meeting to brief Glasgow's artistic community on the forthcoming changes, he said: "It would be great if in five years' time Scotland was in the top ten because of its culture.

"(If] it was recognised not just for its heritage, but for its contemporary culture and for the quality of the festivals, quality of productions there is no reason why it should not be one of the top places in the world in terms of its reputation."

The Nation Brand Index is researched by a contractor, Anholt-GfK Roper, on behalf of 50 countries who are analysed for their perceived success in six sectors: people, culture, exports, governance, tourism and investment and immigration.

The rankings are based on a survey of 20,000 people drawn from 20 participating nations.

Mr Dixon's career has centred on north-east England where, as a regional arts and promotion chief, he was closely involved in high-profile projects from the Sage Gateshead to the Angel of the North, raising 250 million for cultural regeneration.

Over the past few weeks, Mr Dixon has been travelling around Scotland and praised events such as the Ullapool Book Festival and the Dumfries Film Festival, and argued that they deserved greater recognition. He said: "There is so much exciting creative work, so many festivals, so many really high-quality niche festivals that are not registering across the Border. We have to have strength locally, have strength nationally and have strength internationally."

The event was held at the Briggait, Glasgow's new arts centre, which will officially open later this summer, and has 60 studios for artists.

Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government's culture minister also attended and, in answer to a question on tax breaks for artists, explained that the government could have more optios under the new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government at Westminster.

Afterwards, when asked if she supported tax breaks for artists, she replied: "I think we need to look at what is on offer. If there were tax breaks, we would need to see what the return on that investment might be."

On the issue of prospective budget cuts to arts funding, Mr Dixon insisted that great art often flourished in recession, but said: "

Nobody can deny the fact that we are in a difficult economic climate and that people are concerned for the growth of budgets of local authorities.

"I'm hoping Creative Scotland will be given a chance to prove itself and, with the support of the government, will find ways to use that money creatively."