SNP vows to give every Scot £200 when they turn 18 to spend on culture sector

The SNP has pledged to create a youth culture pass as part of plans to ensure the sector goes “from strength to strength”.

First Minister John Swinney is to set out plans to hand everyone in Scotland a culture pass worth £200 when they turn 18, which can be spent on tickets for theatre or musical performances, or in bookshops.

The SNP leader said: “Scotland is blessed with a vibrant, world-class cultural sector, and as First Minister I will do everything I can to ensure it goes from strength to strength.

“But as well as delivering for the sector, it is vital that everyone in Scotland gets the chance to enjoy what it has to offer. The days when Scotland’s cultural offering was out of reach to anyone based on their background must be over.

“That is why I am so proud of our plans to take forward the youth culture pass – learning from the experience of other European countries like Italy, France and Spain.”

The SNP has also vowed to pilot a minimum income for artists, and delivering a national performing company for traditional music.

Under the SNP plans, Screen Scotland would be established as a distinct organisation to support Scotland’s screen sector, while there would also be a dedicated film and TV school at a Scottish university.

Mr Swinney continued: “A re-elected SNP government will ensure that everyone in Scotland has a £200 culture pass when they turn 18 – meaning they can enjoy the world-class cultural offering on their doorstep, supporting the creative industries and possibly opening up new horizons for young people.

“That is what people will always get from me and the SNP – reliable, experienced leadership that is always on the side of our young people and which will always stand up for our culture sector.”