Tag: arts

Emergency funding for culture details announced

Creative Scotland has published details of the Scottish Government’s Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund, which forms part of the £31.5m emergency funding for culture announced by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on 28 August.

The £15 million Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund aims to provide emergency support to organisations that provide opportunities for cultural engagement and have been unable to trade due to the impact of Covid-19. Its primary aim is to protect jobs and to support the sustainability of organisations threatened by insolvency in the short to medium term

Eligibility criteria and guidelines for applying to the Fund have now been published ahead opening for applications on Thursday 17 September.

Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop said: “It’s been an extremely difficult time for the culture sector this year. We’ve done everything we can to alleviate some of the immediate challenges but we know many businesses will continue to struggle until they can fully reopen.

“The Culture Organisations and Venue Recovery Fund will aid a range of cultural businesses and help them weather the most critical challenges they face. I’m grateful to Creative Scotland for the pace they’ve worked at to develop the funding and its distribution.”

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “The challenges presented to the culture and creative sector by the Covid-19 pandemic are only too real and are not going to go away quickly or easily. That’s why this additional emergency funding from the Scottish Government is so welcome.

“Our top priority is the delivery of these funds to the sector as quickly as possible and the launch today of the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund is an important step in providing much needed support. While we know that this funding won’t be able to meet every challenge, it will help to protect jobs and support the sustainability of organisations wherever possible.”

The Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund is the second of five new emergency funds from Scottish Government being delivered by Creative Scotland as follows:

  • The £3.5m Independent Cinemas Recovery and Resilience Fund, announced on Thursday 3 September, is helping to secure the survival of Scotland’s independent cinemas, enabling them to re-establish and adjust their business models in response to Covid-19.   The fund opens for applications on Monday 14 September.
  • The £5m Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund will address the current financial hardship being felt by creative freelancers who normally work in the culture sector but whose work has been impacted by Covid-19. We will be issuing an open call for partner organisations to help us distribute this fund on Friday 11 September
  • The £5m Sustaining Creative Practice Fund will support artists to continue developing new creative work that will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19. This includes £1.5 million for the Culture Collective programme, mentioned in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, supporting organisations employing freelance artists to work in and with communities across Scotland. The remaining £3.5m has been added to Creative Scotland’s existing open fund which is open for applications from individuals now.
  • The £3m Youth Arts Fundwill ensure creative opportunities for children and young people continue to exist across Scotland despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Details of this fund are currently being finalised and will be announced week commencing 14 September.

The previously announced £2.2m Grassroots Music Venue Sustainability Fund closed for applications on 3 September. The fund has received 97 applications and awards will be announced on 22 September.

The £5m open call element of the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund closed for applications on 27 August. The fund received 42 applications and awards will be announced by 24 September.

Updates on all emergency funds will be published regularly on the Creative Scotland website and publicised through media and social media communications.

Creating Inclusion

A theatre project about the lived experience of disability, album recordings and a film project highlighting the experiences of LGBTQIA refugees are among the 25 projects to receive support in the latest round of Create: Inclusion funding, through Creative Scotland. 

The Create: Inclusion Fund, supported by the National Lottery, has distributed awards of between £2,250 and £28,187, to a total of £375,000. The fund supports activities which enable development of creative and professional practice, and opportunities to take creative risks. 

Actor Kirin Saeed has received funding towards Crossing Care (working title), a theatre project which will use the lived experience of a blind Asian woman as a framework to collaborate with community groups and emerging artists.  

Kirin Saeed said: “This project will offer opportunities for disabled people and communities whose voices are not often told on their own terms through the medium of theatre. I am so excited to be able to highlight the many complexities of receiving support as a disabled person, especially at a time when carers and caring are such topical subjects for discussion.” 

Folk pop musician Man of the Minch has received funding towards debut album The Tide is At the Turning. An extension of the Bogha-frois: LGBT+ Voices in Folk project, the album will be recorded working with people who predominately identify as members of the LGBTQIA community. The Tide is At the Turning will be a musical blend of traditional Scottish music and contemporary pop, and its lyrical content will discuss queer experiences.  

Pedro Cameron (Man of the Minch) said: “I hope the album serves as a monument to the Bogha-frois project and will be a piece of work which speaks not only to LGBTQIA people, but the wider community as a whole.” 

Composer Amble Skuse has received funding towards A Reasonable Adjustment, a verbatim opera about the experiences of disabled people under austerity in the UK. The piece will be performed by an all-disabled ensemble and will premiere in February 2021 as part of Aberdeen’s Sound Festival. 

Amble Skuse said: “This funding means we will be able to explore strategies of disseminating disabled voices through composition. We will be using the funding to work out how disabled artists can make and share work under the restrictions of shielding, a situation which may be considerably lengthier for disabled people than for the general population.” 

Bombito Productions received funding towards Who I am Now, a short film project focused on the experience of a transgender Egyptian man and his emigration to Scotland. The project is dedicated to the memory of Zan Scott, who originally conceived of the idea and sadly passed away before production.  

Reece Cargan, Producer, Bombito Productions said: “This funding was vital in allowing me to work with queer collaborators and expand my slate as an LGBTQI+ filmmaker. More importantly, the film will hopefully give audiences an insight into the extra barriers experienced by trans people when seeking asylum in the UK.” 

Edinburgh-based acclaimed Syrian artist Nihad Al Turk has received funding towards The Threat, a collection of paintings expressing the artist’s experience of living under constant threat. 

Nihad Al Turk said: “This project will really help to support me to start working as a professional artist in Scotland, both by funding my work and enabling me to connect with other artists. The project will also help my wellbeing, by creatively expressing my experience of living under threat.” 

Director Manu Kurewa has received funding towards Life Lived in Black and White. The short film project, set on a Glasgow housing estate, explores the lives of a group of African immigrants who are connected by their sense of dislocation. The film celebrates the love and loss experienced by the diaspora and will be performed by actors with lived experience of the issues the film explores. 

Manu Kurewa said: “I am delighted at having been given this wonderful opportunity to develop my film practice. This is a great opportunity for me and other members from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds to share experiences with the wider community and tell stories that normally don’t get the chance to be heard.” 

Other projects to receive funding in this round include:  

  • An interactive game depicting the experiences of refugees from Malath Abbas  
  • A spoken word project exploring neurodiversity from Jen McGregor 
  • A collection of multi-artform projects from Roderick MacKenzie 
  • A short film exploring mental health and questions of place from Fiona Bailey 
  • A devised verbatim piece from Heather Andrews, exploring neurodiversity 
  • Do you mind can I ask you what happened … (to your legs)? a dance film about disability from Simon Fildes 
  • A storytelling dance drama project from Abhinaya Dance Academy 
  • A research and development programme merging Ghanian traditional arts with contemporary performance practice from Adie Baako 
  • An artistic development programme from Penny Anderson 
  • The development of a new neurodivergent artist collective from Tzipporah Johnston  
  • A printmaking programme from Garvald Art Studio, in collaboration with Edinburgh Printmakers 
  • The development of a drama film feature from Razan Madhoon 
  • A celebration of folk song from Azerbaijan from FarzaneZamen 
  • The mentoring and development of musician Magnus Turpie 
  • A spoken word project from Sarah Grant  
  • A novel from Anne Hamilton 
  • The Ando Glass Collective, a musical ensemble from Glasgow’s Roma communities. 

The Create:Inclusion Fund represents one aspect of Creative Scotland’s ongoing workto address the numerous and complex barriers to access, progression and representation in the arts, screen and creative industries.  

Another round of the fund will open for applications in Autumn 2020. 

Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: “When creative practice is reflective of, and made by, a diverse range of people and communities, it becomes more relevant to everybody. 

“This fund offers a step towards achieving this ambition, helping increase diversity among people building careers in the arts, screen and creative industries. These awards support a breadth of practice, a diversity of perspectives and level of ambition that reflects the rich cultural life of Scotland.” 

Coming Up: The Fringe that never was

Following the announcement that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will not be going ahead as planned in 2020, the Fringe Society has unveiled alternative digital plans taking place this summer, complementing a variety of activities planned by Fringe artists and venues.

Under hugely difficult circumstances, creatives from across the Fringe landscape willbe bringing versions of their work to life digitally, many for the very first time. From livestreamed performances to nostalgic throwbacks and community-focused events and support sessions, the spirit of the Fringe will live on in the work of thousands of Fringe artists and venues, and the Fringe Society will help audiences navigate them through a central listings service on edfringe.com.

Alongside this, we will be running a series of digital activities, including virtual shows, a festival-wide crowdfunding campaign, artist-facing workshops, a new online arts industry platform and a virtual Fringe Central, so thereare still plenty of ways to #MakeYourFringe in 2020.

the heroes of the Fringe

We have also unveiled the artwork for the Fringe programme cover that never was. Designed by celebrated contemporary artist Butcher Billy, the campaign is based on the theme of ‘the heroes of the Fringe’. Full details on the artwork and the Society’s diverse programme of activity can be found below.

Commenting on the launch of this year’s digital Fringe activity, Shona McCarthy, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chief Executive, said: “It’s hard to imagine a summer without the Fringe.

“The explosion of creativity and community that the festival brings every year is unparalleled, and whilst we may not be able to provide a stage in Edinburgh in quite the same way this year, it feels hugely important that the spirit of this brilliant festival is kept alive.

“Little did we know way back in autumn, when we first started talking about this year’s programme artwork, how prescient the superhero theme would be today. We’re happy to be able to shine a spotlight on some of our Fringe heroes now, as we rally round to support the people that make your Fringe. On the other side of this, we’ll need them more than ever.

“The impact of Covid-19 has been devastating for the countless artists, audiences, venues, workers and small businesses that make this festival happen every year. The FringeMakers crowdfunding campaign is designed to support them, while the Fringe on a Friday live show and the Fringe Pick n Mix website aim to bring some much-needed joy to our devoted audiences both here in Scotland and all over the world.”

Professor Sir Tim O’Shea, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chair, added: “It’s been an extraordinarily difficult year and we still have real work to do to secure the future of the wider Fringe ecosystem.

“The partnership with Crowdfunder is an important step towards helping venues and artists raise vital funds that we know are needed to keep the Fringe alive.

“At its core the Fringe Society exists to support artists and we’re pleased to be able to offer so many different opportunities for arts professionals during this difficult time, from our online artist development programme, Fringe Central, to our dedicated Fringe Marketplace arts industry platform.

“We’re incredibly grateful to all the partners, funders and supporters who have helped us to deliver this. Their support is invaluable during what has been a difficult time for the Fringe and the wider arts sector.”

Helen Page, Group Brand and Marketing Director at Virgin Money, said: “We’re proud to support the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society at what is an incredibly difficult time for the creative industries.

“Creating this brand-new digital Fringe is innovative and enables the community to come together at a time when social connections are needed more than ever. We look forward to joining the virtual shows and recreating the Fringe spirit at home this year.”

A spokesperson for Johnnie Walker said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is such a vital part of the life and culture of the city for residents and visitors alike, and we are pleased to make our contribution along with other partners to keeping the spirit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe alive during these challenging times.

“We will miss the incredible excitement, colour and vibrancy the Fringe brings to Edinburgh this summer, but it is wonderful to see the creativity and innovation of the virtual programme. We wish our friends at the Fringe the very best.”

Tonight: Edinburgh Culture Conversations

Join us for Edinburgh Culture Conversations, a 10-week series of live, online events that will debate the future role of arts and culture, and examine how the arts and creative sectors can help society recover from the effects of Covid-19.

The events will bring together members of the public, artists, academics and cultural leaders to discuss how culture contributes to our lives and what it could do in the future.

The online debates, staged in conjunction with the Edinburgh Futures Institute, begin tonight with the first conversation considering the question “How can we keep the Festival spirit of internationalism and interculturalism alive?”

Janet Archer, the University of Edinburgh’s Director of Festivals, Cultural and City Events, will host the weekly conversations which will debate the value of creativity, not only to the arts, but also to society and the wider economy.

Over the course of the series a distinguished panel of guests is set to include Scots Makar Jackie Kay, CEO and Festival Director of the Edinburgh International Festival Fergus Linehan, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Shona McCarthy, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and British Art Show 9 artist Hanna Tuulikki.

Reserve your free place now!Register
The conversations have been organised by the University of Edinburgh Festivals Office and are being staged in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh’s new centre for interdisciplinary learning and research, the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

£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.”

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