Instrumental or intrinsic? Cultural policy in Scotland since devolution

Abstract

An opinion piece on cultural policy changes in Scotland since devolution, presenting a view of the development of cultural policy in Scotland over the last 10 years. The changes in cultural policy are analysed using the definitions of intrinsic and instrumental policy. Analysis is presented from the perspective of a cultural agency working with both central government in Scotland and cultural service providers. Over the period of devolution there has been some policy shifts most notably the recent change from the Labour administration's approach of developing cultural entitlements, to the new administration's development of a National Performance Framework for all parts of government and all public bodies. This new “Framework” has a focus on outcomes and targets and the new government is seeking alignment from all to progress its core purpose of achieving “sustainable economic growth”. This policy change appears to denote a shift from attempting to take account of the intrinsic value of culture in cultural policy to an instrumental approach. What is not clear is if the outcome based approach of the National Performance Framework which appears instrumental in its design will in its implementation allow for the intrinsic value of culture to be implicit.

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