Cities are the perfect place for Scotland’s creativity to shine

September 28, 2023

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Scotland has always been a place where creative talents can thrive and show off their abilities to knowledgeable and enthusiastic audiences.

And the spirit of creativity is strong in our cities, with many exciting projects taking shape across the country.

That’s especially true in Inverness, where the Inverness Creative Academy has celebrated welcoming more than 30,000 visitors since it opened in the summer of 2022. The facility is the first of its kind in the Highlands, and it has already hosted more than 20 art exhibitions and its 32 studios for resident artists are fully occupied.

And 53 office and flexible working spaces have been created for lease by creatives, social enterprises or charities.

Inverness Creative Academy has been a success

The Academy also runs a community engagement programme, called Inverness Openarts, which provides free access to art which is designed to boost wellbeing and tackle social isolation. It’s been a hit with local people and more than 400 people have already attended art sessions, with one regular participant saying:

The sessions are one of the only forms of social contact I have. They allow me to get out of my house and focus on doing something enjoyable. The sessions and the people who lead it and take part are helping me to slowly get over my anxieties about going out and being around people.

Meanwhile in Dundee, a new £3m creative space and events hub on the Dundee Waterfront is set to further enhance the city’s position as a major centre for arts and culture. The facility on Camperdown Street will be built by Chroma Developments and will feature a studio and flexible events space.

It’s certainly the case that exciting things are happening in Dundee, with Abertay University in line to host a new Waterfront lab that specialises in using the latest technology to create virtual sets for films, TV and the performing arts. The plan is part of the UK Government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision, which aims to harness our people’s creativity to generate an extra £50 million for the economy and support a million more jobs by 2030.

And Scotland’s TV and film industry is booming, the latest figures from Screen Scotland show that inward investment in film and TV soared by 110% from £165m in 2019 to £347m in 2021 with our cities providing the backdrop for many high profile films and TV shows. And overall spend on film and television production was £617m in 2021, compared to £398m in 2019. That’s an increase of 55%.


In Edinburgh, FirstStage Studios in Leith has been busy with the filming of the Amazon Prime hit series The Rig and Anasi Boys. And homegrown shows such as Guilt, Karen Pirie and Irvine Welsh’s Crime have used city locations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling to impressive effect.

Isabel Davis, Screen Scotland’s Executive Director said:

 The growth in all forms of production in Scotland between 2019 and 2021 is a phenomenal result.  It shows us that public investment via Screen Scotland in infrastructure, development, production and skills development, combined with attractive levels of production incentive are the catalyst for a successful industry.  

 Now is the time to build on these newly created jobs and growth with a sustained funding commitment towards skills development, attraction of large-scale productions and a focus on the development of locally originated film and television. Screen Scotland is committed to delivering further growth, working hand in hand with the commercial production and studio sectors.  This will rely upon sustained funding and support in order for Scotland to seize the opportunities ahead of it and see that growth trajectory continue.

So when it comes to creativity, Scotland’s cities really do have a starring role.