It was a lovely evening at the The Scottish Parliament last night, sponsoring and welcoming an event hosted by Art27 Scotland, led by CEO and Founder Helen Trew.

There was a great turnout and such a strong range of thoughtful, inspiring speakers, all contributing to an important discussion about cultural rights — why they matter and how a rights-based approach to culture can benefit Scotland.

Culture is not an optional extra. It shapes who we are, how we connect with one another, and how we take part in our communities. Hearing so many perspectives on the role culture plays in equality, inclusion, social cohesion and democracy made for a really engaging and meaningful evening.

Thank you to Art27 Scotland for their leadership, to all the speakers for sharing their insights, and to everyone who came along and contributed to the conversation. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this work and collaboration goes next.