The event was organised by Culture & Business Scotland.
Culture and business organisations were given key insights into how they can drive positive change and create effective voices at an event in Scotland.
Organised by Culture & Business Scotland, more than 45 organisations from across Scotland attended the members forum event at Glasgow's City Halls, which aimed to strengthen the bonds between these two vital areas of Scottish society.
Gillian Martin, Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work, gave a video introduction and emphasised the key role that Scotland’s culture and creative sectors play, as well as the importance of fair play, in moving towards a wellbeing economy.
Focusing on the theme of creating impactful collaborations, the forum featured presentations from notable projects and partnerships demonstrating community engagement and inclusivity in practice.
Following the success of the inaugural forum, this event further explored the potential of these collaborations to inspire and enact positive change.
David Watt, chief executive of Culture & Business Scotland, said: "Many of the organisations who attended our forum yesterday receive funding from either Creative Scotland or Historic Environment Scotland.
“A key requirement of ongoing investment from these, and indeed other funders, is for organisations to develop and implement robust Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Fair Work policies and plans.
“Our forum provided attendees with inspiration and information on best practice in those areas.”
Keynote speakers throughout the day included Stella Litchfield, director of development at National Theatre of Scotland and Lesley Gilmartin, director of LHH Recruitment Solutions.
Stella and Lesley provided an insight into the partnership between culture and business which brought this show to audiences across Scotland.
Jennifer Novotny, diverse heritage strategy and development officer at Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) gave insights into the 'Diverse Heritage' project, which aims to make Scottish heritage more inclusive and combat historical and current discrimination by celebrating the diverse cultures, traditions, and customs of our communities past and present.
Jennifer also spoke about SCT’s work to support marginalised and excluded members of our communities to engage with the heritage of their choice on their own terms through partnership working, co-design and co-delivery.
Thania M. Flores, The Trimontium Trust & Museum’s heritage environment resources officer, focused on ‘The Digital Romans’, a project generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It is centred on the creation of digital resources, accessibility, and inclusion and Thania covered insights into the project including fostering and strengthening partnerships and collaboration with UPMO, National Museums Scotland, Live Borders, and Historic Environment Scotland, and their approach to Fair Work with their volunteers.
Robert Softley Gale, Artistic Director, and Anna Richardson, Training Co-ordinator at Scotland’s first disability-led theatre company, Birds of Paradise, also gave insights into the challenges continuing to face disabled people and discussed how their work is helping to address barriers to inclusion.
The day concluded with peer-to-peer networking opportunities, allowing attendees to make new cross-sector connections.
