Minutes:
The Committee were advised that the Education, Culture and Sport Service had held its first “Snapshot” day on 13 May, 2010. All services, learners and users across the education, arts, heritage, community learning and sports sectors had been invited to submit examples of their activities on a particular date. The event had been a tremendous success, and people of all ages from all Services had taken the opportunity to participate by submitting video clips, photographs and written accounts of their activities. The Committee heard that the results were available to view on www.abernet.org.uk/snapshot and that Services would use the link to share examples of good practice throughout the Council.
The Committee heard that the Visitor Attraction Monitor had published its attendance figures for 2009 and that Aberdeen Art Gallery was listed as the third most popular visitor attraction in the Aberdeen and Grampian area after the David Welch Winter Gardens and Johnston’s of Elgin Cashmere Centre, making it the top gallery and museum in the area. It was noted that the Art Gallery was the 13th most visited museum and gallery in Scotland in 2009, which was an improved placing on the previous year.
The winners of this year’s Scottish Education awards were to be announced on 18 June, 2010, and the Committee were advised that Holy Family School was a finalist, and that representatives of the school would be attending the award ceremony in Glasgow.
The Committee heard that the Aberdeen City Children and Young People’s Services award ceremony would be held on 15 June, 2010, at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. It was expected that approximately 300 adults, young people and their families, and Council officers would attend the event, where the winners of all the Council’s award categories would be announced and presented with trophies and certificates. It was noted that the event, to be officially opened by the Lord Provost, was generously sponsored by a number of local companies. The Committee heard that the Chief Executive would be introducing the event.
The Committee were advised that the Aberdeen City Council Arts Education team had been awarded £10,000 from the Scottish Arts Council and Children in Scotland to establish a creative learning network in the city. The team had been successful in attracting the maximum amount which could be awarded, and the money would be used to develop new and existing creative learning networks, and to champion the arts, culture and creativity in schools and communities within the context of the Curriculum for Excellence.
The Committee heard that a local sports person, Ronnie Watt, had been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays for services to karate. The Committee was advised that this was a tremendous achievement and that Mr. Watt was one of only three people in the UK to be given this award. The Convener congratulated all those involved in the aforementioned events.
Finally, the Convener advised the Committee that this would be the last meeting attended by Rhona Jarvis, Head of Policy and Planning for Education, as she was shortly to retire from the Council. The Convener wished Mrs. Jarvis a long and happy retirement and thanked her for the immense amount of work she had undertaken for the Council throughout her career.
The Committee resolved:-
to concur with the congratulatory remarks and best wishes of the Convener.