SCOTLAND'S first national arts strategy for people aged from birth to 25 has been launched with £5 million in funding for its first two years.
The strategy, the latest from national arts funder Creative Scotland, will open a fresh source of financing for arts companies to develop new activities specifically for young people, a "new digital platform" to encourage young people to get involved in the arts and the establishment of a National Youth Advisory Group to help steer the strategy.
The strategy, entitled Time to Shine, is intended to be a long term initiative that will run much longer than its initial two years.
Janet Archer, the chief executive of Creative Scotland, said: "Time To Shine follows on the back of amazing work already taking place in youth arts in this country and the skills, dedication and energy of people of all ages involved throughout Scotland.
"Putting young people at the heart of Scotland's creative future will mean young people's lives will continue to be enriched through engagement in arts and creative activity."
The strategy stems from a paper in 2009 called Shaping Tomorrow Today, submitted to the Scottish Government by Scottish Youth Theatre, National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, YDance and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
Tom Strang, 16, from Grantown-on-Spey, who is involved with Eden Court Theatre and is one of the young people advising on the make up of the National Youth Advisory Group, said: "The arts give me a way to express myself.
"I hope that this strategy is taken on board by all arts provision providers in Scotland and reaches out to engage people who may not have had the opportunity to access the arts before."
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture and external affairs, said: "It is not only about providing enhanced access opportunities for all of Scotland's young people but it goes further to support meaningful career pathways for our talent of the future."
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