Scotland’s Arctic Connections Policy Framework: Future Focus
“For centuries, Scotland and the Arctic have enjoyed close links that have had a lasting impact on our cultural, economic and social fabric. While most visible in our northernmost areas, these bonds are evident across the country and lie at the heart of our valued relationship with Arctic states. Scotland is among the Arctic region’s closest neighbours; we share many features and outlooks and have long looked to each other for inspiration, solutions and ideas. […]
To this day, connections forged through history continue to spur new academic partnerships, trade exchanges, artistic projects and joint cooperation improving our daily lives. Enabled by new technologies, a deep understanding of Scottish-Arctic similarities has led to rich collaborations across a range of areas, from improving connectivity and invigorating rural economies, to making sustainable use of marine resources and cultivating cultural heritage.”
Fiona Hyslop, September 2019 Scottish Government
Ministerial Forward (extract) Arctic Connections: Scotland’s Arctic policy framework: A prospectus for cooperation, knowledge-exchange and policy partnerships between Scotland and the Arctic.
For further detail on Scotland’s involvment with the Arctic see:
Arctic Frontiers Abroad 2023 Scotland Promotion video: Scottish Government
“The Scottish Government and Arctic Frontiers are promoting a one-day conference to encourage debate and knowledge exchange on some of the challenges and ambitions that Scotland shares with the Arctic region. Scottish and international speakers will come together to share their expertise and identify new opportunities for collaboration, with a special focus on just energy solutions and a sustainable blue economy.” Link to the Conference event here and to the Opening remarks and Keynote Address “Arctic Frontiers Abroad – Scotland Opening remarks:
- Angus Robertson MSP – External Affairs Secretary, Scottish Government – Anu Fredrikson – Executive Director,
- Arctic Frontiers Keynote address: – Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary for Labour and Social Inclusion, Government of Norway”
- For images of Arctic Frontiers event held in Aberdeen Scotland 2023, and other Arctic Frontier activity see here.
Arctic Assembly 2023: Scotland and the Arctic
EALA Slide for Scottish Government Arctic Assembly Team Scotland Stand
Scottish Arctic Connections Framework Fund 2022-23
Education and Arctic Policy
EALA seeks to expand on established links, new developments and connections on creative pedegogy, arts practice, cultural contexts, economies, ecology and environment. EALA is a project generated from exisiting UWS Scotland links (including via the Scottish Centre for Island Studies) with colleagues across UArctic thematic framework ASAD (Arctic Arts and Sustainable Design) that includes regular events such as Relate North exhibition and symposia. The role of universities in the future focus of understanding what is “sustainable” and the contexts of Arctic and ‘near Arctic’ development and industry futures is discussed in a range of accessible literature and source materials including recently Huhmarniemi and Jokela (2020) as quoted below:
“There is evidence that education has a positive impact in the Arctic; access to vocational and higher education and lifelong learning are fundamental for individual development and for the competitiveness of companies in the Arctic [132]. University towns are growing, even though they do not have heavy industries. Based on the importance of Arctic arts universities and the knowledge economy, and the impact of arts and culture on other sectors of society, Jokela and Coutts [33] stated that arts and design education has leverage for Arctic sustainability. While the economy is expected to shift from raw natural resources to creative industries [12,20,87], we agree with Petrov [12] that creative human capital is critical for economic development as an engine of economic reinvention and regional revitalisation. The development of Arctic arts, design, creative industries, renewable economies and education is crucial for a sustainable future.“
Recommended Reading: Huhmarniemi, Maria. and Jokela, Timo. 2020. “Arctic Arts with Pride: Discourses on Arctic Arts, Culture and Sustainability” Sustainability 12, no. 2: 604. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/604
Maria Huhmarniemi and Timo Jokela (2020)
Arctic Connections - example of sustainable arts and design collaborative learning focus: Lila 2022
See above a recent example of UWS Masters creative practice and arts pedegogy output for the ASAD LiLa (2022) student and staff creative practice and arts pedegogy collaboration. Students and staff generated artefacts and reflection with LiLa 2022 focusing on arctic and local ecology aware arts methods landscape working. Lila 2023 continues this year.
EalaCreative 