The bill states that local authorities are to 'have regard' to any guidance that the Scottish ministers may issue on the planning and
provision of cultural services.
Joanne Orr, the director of the Scottish Museums Council (SMC), said: 'There are no legislative teeth [in the bill] for making local authorities deliver entitlement.'
Helen Wilkinson, the Museums Association's policy officer, said: 'What seems disappointing is that provisions on entitlement are so weak. For a while it seemed Scotland was going to break new ground on this issue, but the bill is rather timid.'
John Leighton, the director of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), said he thought that the bill 'seemed to be trying to steer a line between enforcement, which might lead to a funding commitment, and encouragement'.
This was backed up by Steve Callaghan, the heritage officer for Orkney Heritage and the Museums Association's councillor in Scotland, who said that the bill presented local authorities with 'onerous responsibilities that are not accompanied by new cash'.
There is also concern about a clause in the bill that appears to allow ministers to have a say in the day-to-day running of the non-departmental public bodies. The clause reads: 'A cultural body must comply with any directions given to it by the Scottish ministers under this schedule and must have regard to any guidance so issued.'
Orr said that the clause 'does fly in the face of the arms-length principle', while Leighton balked at the 'spectre of political interference in artistic policy'. Leighton said that ministers had assured him it was nothing to worry about. 'But it does beg the question: if you're not going to use it, why put it in?'
However, the bill is not regarded as all doom and gloom. It brings Scottish museums up to date with legislation on illicit trade in cultural objects and enshrines wide powers of disposal for national museums.
Figures across the sector have also welcomed the bill as a sign that culture is being pushed up the political agenda in Scotland.
Patrick Steel
provision of cultural services.
Joanne Orr, the director of the Scottish Museums Council (SMC), said: 'There are no legislative teeth [in the bill] for making local authorities deliver entitlement.'
Helen Wilkinson, the Museums Association's policy officer, said: 'What seems disappointing is that provisions on entitlement are so weak. For a while it seemed Scotland was going to break new ground on this issue, but the bill is rather timid.'
John Leighton, the director of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), said he thought that the bill 'seemed to be trying to steer a line between enforcement, which might lead to a funding commitment, and encouragement'.
This was backed up by Steve Callaghan, the heritage officer for Orkney Heritage and the Museums Association's councillor in Scotland, who said that the bill presented local authorities with 'onerous responsibilities that are not accompanied by new cash'.
There is also concern about a clause in the bill that appears to allow ministers to have a say in the day-to-day running of the non-departmental public bodies. The clause reads: 'A cultural body must comply with any directions given to it by the Scottish ministers under this schedule and must have regard to any guidance so issued.'
Orr said that the clause 'does fly in the face of the arms-length principle', while Leighton balked at the 'spectre of political interference in artistic policy'. Leighton said that ministers had assured him it was nothing to worry about. 'But it does beg the question: if you're not going to use it, why put it in?'
However, the bill is not regarded as all doom and gloom. It brings Scottish museums up to date with legislation on illicit trade in cultural objects and enshrines wide powers of disposal for national museums.
Figures across the sector have also welcomed the bill as a sign that culture is being pushed up the political agenda in Scotland.
Patrick Steel
