Dreaming of a fairer future for culture

Information

In partnership with the Cross-Party Group on Culture and Communities 

Artist Harry Mould writes that ‘culture should be like salt, not caviar’: a part of everyday life, freely shared and enjoyed by all. Join Culture Counts, and a roster of artists and cultural organisations, to explore this vision of a world where creative opportunity is an integral part of a more equal, inclusive and nourishing society. We’ll be exploring some of the challenges, opportunities and possibilities facing our societies and communities today, and discussing what role culture and creativity might play in building a fairer, more hopeful future for Scotland.

Chair: Foysol Choudhury MSP, Convener, Cross-Party Group on Culture and Communities

Katie Goh is Project Manager at the Equal Media and Culture Centre (EMCC), a hub for research, monitoring and advocacy for equality in the creative and media sectors in Scotland. As well as their work at EMCC, Katie is an author, journalist and editor, and has worked in a variety of roles in the Scottish culture and media sector.

Gillian Easson is Director of Creative Dundee, where she designs a diverse portfolio of projects in collaboration with the team and leads strategic partnerships which support the sustainability of creative communities. She has grown Creative Dundee from the ground up since starting it as a blog in 2008, by catalysing opportunities for people and their place.

Jen Collins is Creative Producer at Creative Dundee, where she facilitates projects and events with and for the creative community and wider city. Since graduating, Jen has accompanied working as a freelance illustrator with an array of roles for cultural collectives and organisations, built via her belief that anything worth doing is worth doing openly, equitably and with care.

Matthew Hickman is a musician from Ayrshire, also known as brownbear, whose second album, Demons, was longlisted as Scottish Album of the Year in 2023. Matt is an advocate for BPoC Scottish creatives, for fair work, and for the Scottish music industry.

Harry Mould is a queer, mixed-heritage writer, artist, wellbeing facilitator, and EDI consultant. Their forthcoming debut novel was a finalist for the Merky New Writers Book Prize and the PFD Queer Literary Fiction Prize. Harry is Associate Artist with Sanctuary Queer Arts and on the board of directors for Wonder Fools theatre company.

Indra Wilson is a queer, working-class emerging Glasgow-based artist working across contemporary performance, live art, comedy and dance. Indra is a member of the Wonder Fools youth board.