The Scottish Government will partner with the British Council to undertake a scoping exercise exploring the establishment of a dedicated Export Service for Scotland's arts and culture sectors.
The project, running from December 2025 to May 2026, will examine the challenges and opportunities facing Scottish cultural organisations and artists in accessing international markets, identify gaps in current support, and develop recommendations for a new service to boost cultural exports.
This exercise is part of the Scottish Government's International Culture Strategy action plan and follows increased calls from across Scotland's cultural sectors for enhanced support in navigating post-Covid-19 and post-Brexit challenges. The music sector has been active with the STUC, Scottish Parliament's Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Committee, and the Scottish Music Industry Association all calling for dedicated export support.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said:
“As part of our International Culture Strategy, we continue to explore how best to support cultural export and exchange and help our culture and creative sectors to realise their potential on the international stage.
“British Council Scotland works across all art forms but doesn't represent any specific sector, ensuring they give us the independent, evidence-based recommendations we need. They'll also bring valuable international perspective by examining how other countries support cultural export, helping us learn from best practice models around the world."
Norah Campbell, Head of Arts at British Council Scotland, added:
"Supporting the international ambitions of the Scottish arts sector is at the heart of the British Council’s work. Cultural export is complex and sophisticated and different art forms have very different needs. Some sectors for example require access to international galleries and major markets for showcasing opportunities that springboard international work, while others involve design and product export.
“This scoping exercise will engage with the Scottish cultural sector to understand these varied challenges and needs. We're keen to hear from artists, organisations and practitioners across all disciplines, your input will be crucial in shaping recommendations that truly reflect what the sector needs to succeed internationally."
The research will actively engage with Scotland's cultural sectors through surveys, consultation groups, and in-depth interviews beginning in early 2026 and artists, agents, promoters, managers, and organisations across all art forms will have opportunities to share their experiences and expertise to help inform the recommendations.
Key art sector development organisations and international initiatives including Craft Scotland, Publishing Scotland, Made in Scotland, Showcase Scotland, the Scottish Music Industry Association will be consulted, alongside interviews with established cultural export services in other countries.
The study will deliver:
- Analysis of export support needs across Scotland's culture and creative sectors, mapping existing initiatives and identifying which sub-sectors could benefit most
- Comparative analysis of cultural export support models from other countries
- Recommendations on service functions and how they would relate to existing Scottish and UK organisations
- Delivery model options appraisal
- Cost estimates for establishing a pilot and/or full service
The British Council will work with specialist researchers to roll out surveys, analyse data, and draw international comparisons. The findings from the research and report will help inform the Scottish Government's decisions on future support for cultural export and exchange. A final report will be shared in the summer of 2026.
ENDS