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In June 2004 Rachel Blanche was invited to assist the Cultural Commission as a member of the Secretariat responsible for research, analysis and international perspectives.
The Cultural Commission was established by the Scottish Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in June 2004 to undertake a review of cultural policy and provision in Scotland and to make strategic recommendations for a new long-term cultural policy. Having tasked the Commission with identifying a series of cultural rights and entitlements for the people of Scotland, it is believed that Scotland is setting a world precedent.
As a member of the Secretariat, Rachel has represented the Cultural Commission at consultation events around Scotland as well as attending international conferences and meetings across the UK and Europe. Through coordination with UNESCO and other international cultural organisations, Scottish and UK political bodies, members of the Scottish arts and culture sectors, academics and think tanks around the world, Rachel researched and produced reports on best practice and international cultural models to support the Commission’s thinking process.
Rachel also created an important archive of research publications and other cultural documents to hand over to the Scottish Executive’s research unit following the work of the Commission.
The Cultural Commission presents its final report and findings to the Scottish Executive in June 2005. For more information about the Cultural Commission, visit the website at www.culturalcommission.org.uk.
Cultural rights bill ‘may be impractical’ , The Herald, 23 September 2004
Extract: “A report for Scotland ’s Cultural Commission suggests the idea of “cultural rights”, a key part of the organisation’s remit, may not be suitable to be enshrined in law. Instead granting cultural freedoms may be more appropriate…The latest report was written by Rachel Blanche, a member of the Commission staff, after attending a recent conference on cultural rights in Barcelona. It is not prescriptive but suggests ideas and concepts… Ms Blanche said: “The point about the language used was one that was brought up at the conference. The important thing is that the commission is thinking about all of the implications of cultural rights, and whatever the result is will set an international precedent. This report gives some idea of current international thinking.”
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