SCOTLAND'S cultural funding body has revealed how it plans to spend its a near-£100 million budget this year, alongside four new promises to the nation's artists.
Creative Scotland's new Annual Plan is the first under new chief executive Janet Archer. It will be followed next year by a longer-term strategy, which will last until 2017.
The document says the body is in the process of "redesigning funding programmes" and developing multi-year funding deals with organisations, as well as launching a new website.
The plan says Creative Scotland, which endured a torrid 2012 with the departure of chief executive, Andrew Dixon, supports "excellence in artistic and creative practice" to make work that is recognised in Scotland and abroad.
It wants to "develop and sustain a thriving environment for the arts, screen and creative industries through our funding programmes, development activity and advocacy".
It also wants to deliver its services "efficiently and effectively" and improve access to the arts.
The new plan says that Creative Scotland, which was criticised last year for its use of corporate language, its funding decisions and its policies, values "collaboration, commitment, trust and knowledge."
The body's income for 2013/14 is around £97.4m, with a straightforward £34.1m grant coming from the Scottish Government.
A further £18.8m comes from the Scottish Government for ring-fenced programmes.
Its funds from the UK Lottery are £43.4m.
Expenditure in the coming year is budgeted to exceed income by nearly £15m.
This, the body said, is an accounting measure, due to planned commitment to multi-year projects with actual cash flow coming in future financial years.
The operating costs of the arms-length body will be £7.7m, equivalent to 8% of its income.
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