A GOVANHILL-based community space dedicated to DIY publishing, a community theatre project telling the stories of daily life in coastal communities, and the 38th edition of New Writing Scotland are among the 41 awards made in the latest round of National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund.
Glasgow Zine Library, a Govanhill-based community space dedicated to the creation, promotion and archiving of DIY publishing, has funding towards the delivery of its programme of activity for 2020/21.
The library hosts an archive of almost 700 zines, small-circulation self-published works, on a variety of subjects ranging from social activism to visual art.
Its diverse programme includes workshops such as drop-in zine making sessions, film screenings, discussion and reading groups, children’s craft classes and social clubs.
The library’s programme aims to provide access to space and resources for young people, and those in the wider community who are often excluded from creative activity.
An open-source programming approach allows the library to welcome a range of academics, activists and artists to lead accessible discussions and workshops in its space. In 2019, organisations including HIV Scotland, A+E Collective and Butterfly Conservation Scotland were hosted by the library.
A highlight of the 2020/21 programme will be the seventh edition of the Glasgow Zine Fest. The two-day festival will be a celebration of the ethos of DIY self-publishing, explored through workshops, discussion panels and a zine fair, where publications can be bought and sold.
Viccy Adams, Literature officer, Creative Scotland, said: “Using their passion for zines to offer opportunities to create, engage and discuss, the team at Glasgow Zine Library are bringing a fantastic line-up of activity to their new premises in Govanhill.
“I’m particularly impressed by the cultural democracy in action of their programming. The library is a vibrant example of how public funding at the right time can support an emerging, grassroots organisation to work with and for a range of communities.”
Lauren Davis, director, Glasgow Zine Library, said: “Glasgow Zine Library is thrilled to be funded for another year through Creative Scotland. We are a self-publishing library and community arts space located on the south side of Glasgow, working hard to bring people together through making. The work we do to reach marginalised communities and pay fair wages would not be possible without this funding.”
The Association for Scottish Literary Studies has received funding towards the publication of the 38th issue of New Writing Scotland, an annual anthology of the best new writing from writers who are Scottish by birth, residence or inclination.
Funding has also been awarded to enable members of coastal communities in Berwickshire to create and perform a major new multi-arts theatre production. The work will explore the relationship between coastal communities and the sea and will premiere in Eyemouth in 2020 before going on to be performed in the Year of Coastal Waters, as part of the 2020 Scottish International Storytelling Festival in Edinburgh.
Provisionally entitled People and the Sea, the work will tell stories of current day life in the coastal communities of Eyemouth, Coldingham, Burnmouth and surrounding areas.
The production’s producer and musical director, Ellie Logan, said: “We are all delighted to receive the funding support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
“It will enable the community here to capture and creatively showcase their voices and experiences of living in contemporary Eyemouth.”
Iain Munro, chief executive, Creative Scotland, said: “Glasgow Zine Library is a great example of the diverse range of projects Creative Scotland is supporting across Scotland.
“From zine libraries to community theatre projects, these awards once again demonstrate the potential of creativity to have a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of individuals across the breadth of Scotland.
“We recently celebrated the 25th birthday of the National Lottery, and these projects are a reminder of the fantastic creative work which is made possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players.”
In this round, over 40 creative projects and activities taking place across Scotland have received more than £927,000 of National Lottery Funding through Creative Scotland.
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