Guardian of culture 'faces extinction'

But now the Saltire Society - known for its annual awards - has been told to modernise and attract younger members or face "terminal decline".

Last year it commissioned Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, one of Scotland's finest legal minds, and a panel of other prominent Scots, to investigate its status because of concerns that it was no longer relevant to 21st-century Scotland.

In a report to be launched tomorrow, Cullen says the Society's public profile is lower than ever, its activities have reduced, some of its awards face strong competition and it is seen, however inaccurately, as "exclusive and elitist".

He concludes that, although the Society does still have a role in speaking out independently on Scottish cultural issues, its leadership needs overhauling and it must attract younger members and use internet-based social networks to get its message across.

Of its predicament, he said: "Overall, the total number of members is falling and there is a dearth of younger members. The time is ripe for a fundamental reconsideration of its future. Nothing less than radical change is required if (it] is to avoid continuing into eventual terminal decline."

The Society was founded in 1936 by eminent Scots as a non-political body aimed at promoting the best in Scottish cultural life. Cullen's report said it was founded at a time of "general pessimism", with its founders "shocked at how ignorant Scots were of their own heritage and indifferent about its preservation". So the Society was set up "to promote and celebrate the uniqueness of Scottish culture and to reclaim Scotland's place as a distinct contributor to European and international culture".

Since then it has campaigned about, celebrated and promoted Scottish culture, as well as setting up a raft of awards to recognise excellence in subjects such as literature, civil engineering and architecture. Recipients of its First Book Award include writers AL Kennedy and Ali Smith.

Its heyday was in the 1950s when membership hit 2,000, but it has now fallen to 900 with seven branches around Scotland. High-profile members have included writers Naomi Mitchison, Neil Gunn and Sir Compton Mackenzie and poet Edwin Muir. In 2001, Liz Lochhead won a Saltire Book of the Year Award for her version of Euripides' Medea.

Cullen's report says there is now a "general lack of recognition" by the public as to what the Society stands for or does. It adds: "There is no strategic direction of the Society, its activities, its staff or resources."

It has also ceased to commemorate distinguished Scots and some of its awards face competition from newer awards with larger cash prizes. Press coverage is "patchy".

Its finances are also vulnerable, says the report. "It would run at a loss if it were solely reliant on membership fees, and hence it depends on the unpredictable windfall of legacies."

On leadership, Cullen recommends it hires a full-time executive director to direct an active programme as well as appoint a new executive council, encourage younger people to join its committees, and engage with universities, colleges and schools.

"All suitable social media tools" should be deployed, it adds. Cullen also recommends the Society's awards should be reviewed and extended if necessary and it should host high-profile debates, including an annual Saltire Society lecture. "We have to say," the report adds, "that in the absence of fundamental change, the Society is likely to continue to decline with unavoidable and inevitable consequences."

Lorimer Mackenzie, chair of the Society's council, said: "We have now formed a steering committee to come up with recommendations on how we move forward in time for our June annual general meeting."

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