This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Six Cities Design Festival
31/10/2006
The Six Cities Design Festival was officially launched today with the unveiling of plans for a three-week series of events due to begin in May next year.
Supported by Executive funding of £3 million, the festival is part of a wider project to raise awareness of the contribution of design and creativity in enabling Scottish businesses to compete at the highest level internationally.
First Minister Jack McConnell said it would inspire a whole new generation of Scottish designers.
He added:
"The Six Cities Design Festival will be an exciting three weeks for the cities involved and for the whole of Scotland.
"Some of the most innovative and exciting creative designers anywhere in world are based here in Scotland. Over the course of the Festival the best of their work will be put firmly in the spotlight.
"The creative industries support more than 100,000 Scottish jobs and generate over £5 billion for the Scottish economy every year. And we can be proud of the contribution our designers make to the global market.
"This Festival will inspire the next generation of innovative Scottish designers and continue to build Scotland's reputation for years to come."
The programme for the Six Cities Design Festival is being developed and delivered by The Lighthouse, Scotland's National Architecture and Design Centre. Janice Kirkpatrick, director of one of Scotland's leading design companies, Graven Images, and Chairman of The Lighthouse added
"In his review of Creativity in Business, commissioned by The Chancellor, Sir George Cox identified greater creativity as a key to greater productivity, whether by way of higher-value products and services, better processes, more effective marketing, simpler structures or better use of people's skills. Through long term business and education programmes, aligned with the findings of the Cox Review, the Six Cities Design Festival aims to support Scotland's vibrant design sector and to communicate this message to the broader business sector. Meanwhile, through the programme of public events we aim to engage as broad an audience as possible and raise awareness of the benefits of good design."
Sir George Cox, Chairman of the UK's Design Council and author of the recently-published Treasury report on Creativity in Business, commended the Six Cities initiative as an important step in enabling Scotland to build on its strengths and maximise the potential of its economy.
He said:
"I am delighted that Scotland has recognised at the highest level the vital importance of creativity and innovation. The Six Cities Design initiative has the potential to create a lasting legacy for both the design sector and the broader economy. I commend the vision of the Scottish Executive in supporting this project.
"In my Review I cited the Lighthouse as leading the way in putting design at the forefront of people's minds. Its Six Cities programme demonstrates the power of a dedicated Design hub to galvanise both the creative professions and the general public."
The Six Cities Design Festival will be running public programmes in all of Scotland's cities between May 17 and June 3, 2007. Many of the new initiatives from the Festival will be expected to continue over the longer term.
Following the huge success of the original Scottish Show, both in Scotland and abroad, there will be a second Scottish Show showcasing the work of Scottish designers across all disciplines together with associated education and business development programmes. The Scottish Show will run at The Lighthouse from May - August 2007 with linked exhibitions and events in each of Scotland's Six Cities.