I was disappointed - but not surprised - to hear the Head of Education in East Ayrshire dismiss education in the expressive arts as pointless. That kind of thinking is stuck in the past and doesn’t reflect the reality of life in rural Scotland today.
From a purely economic perspective, Scotland’s creative industries contribute over £5 billion to our economy every year, with more than 70,000 people employed across 15,000 businesses. That includes everything from music and film to crafts, design, writing, and digital media. These are real jobs, supporting real people.
In my own small, rural community, creative work is everywhere. My kids go to school with the children of artists, writers, curators, actors, singers, poets, costume and prop designers, sound engineers, events organisers and violin-makers. All of whom are making a living and making a difference.
These careers aren’t pipe dreams. They’re the backbone of our local economy and culture and one of the few industries not entirely focussed around London and the Central Belt.
The creative industries are one of Scotland’s key growth sectors, especially in rural areas. In the South of Scotland, they’re central to our regional economic strategy. They bring in tourism, support small businesses, and help build vibrant, resilient communities.
Meanwhile, traditional manufacturing, once a major employer in rural Scotland, has never recovered from the damage done by decades of Tory policy. The creative sector has stepped in, offering sustainable, future-facing work that’s often rooted in place and heritage.
So when we tell young people that creative careers are somehow less “real” than other jobs, we’re not just wrong - we’re selling them short. We’re telling them their talents don’t matter. That their ambitions aren’t worth backing. That’s not the kind of Scotland I want to see.
Even if a young person doesn’t want to work in the creative sector, education in music and the arts teaches a whole host of crucial life skills like listening, discipline, collaboration, self-confidence and courage.
With the rise of AI, human creativity is likely to be highly sought-after in the workforce of the future. Treating education as a means to produce tool-wielding drones misses the point of broad general education entirely.
The Scottish Greens believe in a jobs-rich economy that values creativity, sustainability, and community. We want every young person - no matter where they live - to see a future in the arts, not just as a passion, but as a profession.
It’s time we stopped looking down on creative work and started recognising it for what it is: a vital part of Scotland’s economy, culture, and future.
You can follow my campaign on social media or contact me directly through this blog. I'd love to hear from you.
Laura Moodie
Scottish Green Party Candidate for South of Scotland
