Scotland's Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said she was confident the country would continue to have a presence at the world's biggest visual art festival, the Venice Biennale.

Ms Hyslop, the first Scottish politician to visit the festival since 2003, when Scotland first started having its own exhibition, believes that the country will "continue to exhibit" in future years.

Asked whether a yes vote in next year's independence referendum might alter the status of the Scotland + Venice show, which is supported by the British Council as well as Creative Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland, she said the strength of Scotland's art scene at such a show in Venice every other year was more than appropriate.

Scotland + Venice, which has cost around £500,000 for a show that lasts six months, is officially a 'collateral' event and not officially a national show.

She said: "We are confident that Scotland will continue to exhibit in the future, whatever happens next year."