Established in 2003, the National Theatre of Scotland is thus far the only new major cultural institution established since devolution. Previously funded through the Scottish Arts Council, the company has received its funding directly from the Scottish Government since 1 April 2007, in line with the terms of the 2006 cultural policy statement Scotland's Culture.

The National Theatre of Scotland has no building; there has been no great capital project involving architects and contractors. Instead, it takes theatre all over Scotland, working with the existing venues, touring and creating work within the theatre community. It has no bricks-and-mortar institutionalism to counter, nor the security of a permanent home in which to develop. All of its money and energy can be spent on creating work. Its theatre takes place not only in the great buildings - Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum Theatre and Glasgow's Citizens Theatre - but also at Platform at The Bridge and in site-specific locations, community halls and sports halls, car parks and forests.

As well as producing its own work, the National Theatre of Scotland seeks to collaborate with other companies and individual artists, creating everything from large-scale productions through to theatre specifically made for the smallest venues.

There are now opportunities to create large-scale work, music and spectacle, something that had disappeared due to lack of resources and time. There are opportunities for great Scottish playwrights to write big, important plays and to do new versions of those which have not been seen in Scotland for many years. This will create parts for the great Scottish actors spread over the world and at home.

The National Theatre of Scotland also travels all over Scotland taking work to school and communities. A small ensemble of six actors takes up residence for a week at a time in the smallest venues and communities, offering plays for adults, young adults and family theatre.

It works with playwrights, designers, directors, youth theatres and many other artists to help further develop the pool of talent in Scotland.

A young company of recently graduated actors, producers and directors is being created, mentored by the NTS artistic team, who will tour their own work nationally giving them the opportunity to develop professionally.

And finally the National Theatre of Scotland plans to tour internationally, working in collaboration with the best international companies and bringing international work into Scotland.