The Traditional Music Forum/ TRACS is a member of the the Culture Counts campaign, a body comprising most of the national cultural organisations in Scotland.  Culture Counts has developed a toolkit which is now available.

The toolkit contains the information and evidence you need to make the case for the value of your organisation, project or artistic practice. With just a few simple actions, you can engage with the decision makers in your area, raise the profile of your work and become part of a network promoting culture across Scotland. The toolkit provides tips on how to find your politicians, how to start conversations and what to say. Download it here. When speaking to politicians, you can explain the value of the work you do as well as what culture contributes overall to our society. Download the key facts as a starting point and remember that up-to-date evidence is always available on the Delicious feed.

The more people who engage with politicians to make the case, the more likely it is that culture will continue to be recognised and promoted in Scotland’s local and national government.

If you use and share the toolkit let Culture Counts and others know about your advocacy activities. Remember to use the hashtag #culturecounts on Twitter. You can also ask Culture Counts questions or share your experiences on culturecounts@scottishtheatre.org.

Culture Counts also has Research Summaries of key pieces of evidence to ensure you have the information at your fingertips. Recent research includes an evaluation of Sistema Scotland and a report on economic impact of the arts and culture industries in the UK – links to both of these are available on the Delicious feed. In the Research Summaries, you’ll also find a recent report on the Health and Educational Benefits of Sport and Culture.