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Cultural leaders will gather at Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh is to play host to world leaders in the cultural sector at the second International Culture Summit from 10-12 August 2014.

The announcement was made yesterday by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop in response to a Parliamentary Question from Clare Adamson MSP.

Ms Hyslop said:

“The second Summit follows the success of the first event held in August 2012 and is particularly appropriate at a time when the eyes of the world are already focused on Scotland for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and other events of 2014. The Summit will also showcase Scotland as a vibrant international cultural hub during the Edinburgh Festivals in August.

“The first Summit was a collaboration between the Scottish Government, UK Government, British Council, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Scottish Parliament and was a resounding success, with 33 international delegations debating and discussing the role of culture as an international dialogue.

“The Summit celebrated and enhanced Scotland’s global reputation for creativity, innovation and imagination.”

Sir Jonathan Mills, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, said:

“The success of the inaugural Edinburgh International Culture Summit continues to resonate in Scotland and around the world and I am delighted that we are able to build on those achievements with a second Summit in 2014.

“The Summit aspires to create a space in which artists and leaders from around the world can come together to discuss the role and value of culture.

“We look forward to welcoming cultural delegations and leading thinkers from all corners of the world to join in a dialogue and debate between policy makers and artists.

“And of course there is no better context for this conversation than in the midst of the global cultural melting pot of Edinburgh in August.”

UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller said:

“We are looking forward to inviting culture ministers from around the world to the UK for this important cultural Summit. Edinburgh hosts the world famous Edinburgh Festivals each year - a great backdrop for discussions about how our individual nations, value and share culture.

“Working with partners including the Scottish Government and British Council, the Summit will also give us an opportunity to highlight the unique and incredible cultural talent on display throughout the UK. Our cultural and creative industries are second to none and this will give us another opportunity to demonstrate that to the rest of the world.”

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive, British Council said:

“The British Council is delighted to once again partner with the Scottish Government, the UK Government, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Scottish Parliament on the Edinburgh International Culture Summit. In the year of the Commonwealth Games it is fitting that the international community once again convenes in Scotland to discuss how we can work together to create cultural and educational opportunities for people of all nations. As it did in 2012, I expect the Summit to stimulate both ideas and debates as well as new collaborations and ways of working.”

The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP, said:

"The Scottish Parliament is delighted to be hosting this prestigious event again. In 2012, we heard passionate accounts from across the globe of how culture has bridged divides and brought people together around a common purpose. Next year’s event will build on the strong foundations and success of 2012 and I very much look forward to welcoming delegates to Holyrood.”