Tag: arts

£1.57 billion to protect Britain’s cultural, arts and heritage institutions

  • Future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues will be protected with emergency grants and loans
  • Funding will also be provided to restart construction work at cultural and heritage sites paused as a result of the pandemic

Britain’s arts, culture and heritage industries will receive a £1.57 billion rescue package to help weather the impact of coronavirus, the UK government has announced.

Thousands of organisations across a range of sectors including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans.

The money, which represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture, will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed. Funding to restart paused projects will also help support employment, including freelancers working in these sectors.

Many of Britain’s cultural and heritage institutions have already received unprecedented financial assistance to see them through the pandemic including loans, business rate holidays and participation in the coronavirus job retention scheme. More than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector have been furloughed since the pandemic began.

This new package will be available across the country and ensure the future of these multi billion-pound industries are secured.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK’s cultural industry is the beating heart of this country.

“This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”

Oliver Dowden Culture Secretary said: “Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the lynchpin of our world-beating and fast growing creative industries.

“I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment.”

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Our world-renowned galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues and independent cinemas are not only critical to keeping our economy thriving, employing more than 700,000 people, they’re the lifeblood of British culture.

“That’s why we’re giving them the vital cash they need to safeguard their survival, helping to protect jobs and ensuring that they can continue to provide the sights and sounds that Britain is famous for.”

The package announced today includes funding for national cultural institutions in England and investment in cultural and heritage sites to restart construction work paused as a result of the pandemic. This will be a big step forward to help rebuild our cultural infrastructure.

This ‘unprecedented’ package includes:

  • £1.15 billion support pot for cultural organisations in England delivered through a mix of grants and loans. This will be made up of £270 million of repayable finance and £880 million grants.
  • £100 million of targeted support for the national cultural institutions in England and the English Heritage Trust.
  • £120 million capital investment to restart construction on cultural infrastructure and for heritage construction projects in England which was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The new funding will also mean an extra £188 million for the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland (£33 million), Scotland (£97 million) and Wales (£59 million).

Decisions on awards will be made working alongside expert independent figures from the sector including the Arts Council England and other specialist bodies such as Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

Repayable finance will be issued on generous terms tailored for cultural institutions to ensure they are affordable. Further details will be set out when the scheme opens for applications in the coming weeks.

Edinburgh’s creative community adapting work during COVID-19

Edinburgh based creative projects Neu Reekie and Out of the Blueprint are among 68 projects across Scotland who have received a total of £1.6million from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund, to reimagine work and create new opportunities during COVID-19.  

Neu Reekie has been rethinking its year-long 10th anniversary programme, adapting and refocusing plans to reach audiences digitally.  

Kevin Williamson, Co-founder, Neu Reekie said: “For our 10th year we organised our fullest, most diverse, and most ground-breaking programme of events to date in Edinburgh, with a year-long series of core shows, as well an ambitious tour of Scotland’s towns and islands. 

“All of these have had to be postponed because of coronavirus. To this end we’ve marked Edwin Morgan’s centenary with a live streamed show on the weekend of his birthday which was conceptualised and programmed in the same unique way we do for our live shows.

“We’re hosting the Scottish leg of the BBC’s Words First talent development scheme over the summer months to help discover new spoken word talent; as well as launching a public appeal for new commissioned work from poets.  

“We’ll be at the ready to re-organise our core events, our national tour, and collaborative events when the coast is clear.” 

Social enterprise and print studio, Out of the Blueprint is developing Walk Don’t Walk, an exhibition of work by 20 young illustrators and comic-makers. 

Originally imagined as a summer presentation at Leith’s Drill Hall, plans are now underway to showcase work on the streets of Leith. 

Johnny Gaily, Manager at Out of the Blueprint, said: “There’s a real need this summer to put art and community up front and central, and I can’t think of a better way than to showcase some of the amazing young talent we’re working with.”  

Joan Parr, Director of Arts and Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “COVID-19 has had such a significant impact on artists and organisations working across the country that it is sometimes difficult to think positively at this time.

“We’re therefore pleased to share news of these projects where artists have been able to adapt their practices and work, finding new and engaging ways to connect with audiences and contribute to our national wellbeing in these challenging circumstances.” 

Image: Out of the Blueprint exhibition opening. Credit: Out of the Blueprint

Creative Scotland launches support for organisations to take creativity online

Creative Scotland has announced a new programme  for creative organisations to adapt their programming and content to the digital landscape, during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Delivered by cultural consultant and independent producer Suzy Glass, the Digital Pivot initiative will offer one-to-one, tailored support to move programming, content and audience engagement strategies online.

Suzy Glass said: “As a producer specialising in digital contexts, I’m aware of how complex it can be to pivot creative projects so they exist authentically within online environments.

“I hope that these tailored sessions will offer creative practitioners and organisations access to the space and expertise they need to refine and develop their ideas, and support them to find ways of connecting meaningfully with audiences across Scotland and beyond despite the distance between us all.”

Those interested in applying can sign up for free, open webinars where more information about the scheme can be accessed.

The application portal will open on 18 May 2020 and close on 1 June 2020 for one-to-one sessions in June/July.

A second cycle of applications will open on 6 July 2020 and close on 20 July 2020 for sessions in August/September.

Ashley Smith-Hammond, Creative Industries Officer, Creative Scotland said: “We want Scotland’s artists, makers and creative organisations to have opportunities to continue to develop and evolve in these challenging times. 

“We hope that the programme will strengthen the ways in which individuals and organisations can meaningfully connect with audiences under the current circumstances, until we are able to share live experiences with one another again.”

Further details about the programme, including selection criteria for applicants can be found on the Creative Scotland website.

Additional funding opportunities – through Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland, Scottish Government and UK Government – alongside helpful resources and sector specific support groups and organisations, are also accessible through the Creative Scotland website.

A Culture Strategy for Scotland

Culture’s ability to transform lives and empower people is the focus of A Culture Strategy for Scotland, published yesterday.

The document, which was developed through public engagement and consultation, outlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to strengthening the sector in order to value, protect and nurture culture.

As part of the strategy, which is supported by almost £1.25 million funding, the Scottish Government will:

• Establish a new National Partnership for Culture, an advisory group led by the former Edinburgh International Festival Managing Director Joanna Baker to support delivery of the strategy’s aims and advise Scottish Ministers on matters affecting culture

• Build an Arts Alive programme to bring up to 250 cultural sessions to schools and communities, including five artists’ residencies

• Support a pilot project with Museum Galleries Scotland to recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds and help them achieve an SQA accredited qualification

• Develop the Arts, Culture, Health & Wellbeing Scotland Network to advocate for cultural approaches to prevent poor health and promote cultural intervention to tackle health inequality and support rehabilitation

• Encourage community-led and participatory arts activity through the Creative Communities programme, which has been match-funded this year by proceeds of crime to support projects for young people at risk of re-offending

• Help schools engage more with the arts through the Supporting Expressive Arts in the Curriculum programme

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop (above) said: “Culture is central to who we are. It is Scotland’s strength. This is why it must be valued first and foremost in and of itself – that is to say culture is worth more than any financial value that can be placed on it.

“A key pillar of the strategy is the recognition that we need to do more to nurture artistic talent and support artists and to add value, recognise and champion artistic excellence. We want to harness the power of culture to transform lives, to improve health and wellbeing, to contribute to the growing economy, and to bring creative approaches to design better communities.

“I am grateful to everyone who has helped to shape this strategy as part of our national cultural conversation – which will continue to grow and evolve. It places culture at the heart of Government, and sets a shared vision which I hope will inspire all those with an interest in its future in Scotland.”

Ms Baker said: “A Culture Strategy for Scotland is a powerful assertion of the importance of culture and creativity to the lives of everyone, and of the positive contribution that a rich diversity of cultures and artists makes to Scotland’s place in the world.

“I welcome the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from across the country and from many different sectors to help to shape the future of support for culture in Scotland.”

culture-strategy-scotland

Top Scots musicians bringing in a Scottish New Year at Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival’s Hogmanay

THE Year of Scotland in Australia 2020 will kick off in style as Woodford Folk Festival celebrates the New Year with a traditional Scottish Hogmanay party on 31 December 2019.
Continue reading Top Scots musicians bringing in a Scottish New Year at Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival’s Hogmanay

Arts funding needs a greater focus on artists, says Holyrood Committee

The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee has today published its report into Scotland’s funding of the arts and artists where it called for an urgent resetting of arts policy and funding.  The Committee’s report is the first Scottish Parliament inquiry to consider the arts funding system as a whole. Continue reading Arts funding needs a greater focus on artists, says Holyrood Committee

Creative projects across Scotland share in over £927,000 of National Lottery funding

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. Continue reading Creative projects across Scotland share in over £927,000 of National Lottery funding

National tour for Dogstar’s The Stornoway Way

WORLD PREMIERE

DOGSTAR THEATRE COMPANY

in association with An Lanntair

present

The Stornoway Way

adapted from the novel by Kevin MacNeil

Dogstar Theatre Company are delighted be continuing their association with An Lanntair in presenting the world premiere of The Stornoway Way.

Adapted from the novel by Kevin MacNeil, the production played two performances at An Lanntair, Isle of Lewis, on 30 and 31 August and will be touring Scotland throughout October opening at the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, on Thursday 3 October at 7.30pm. Continue reading National tour for Dogstar’s The Stornoway Way