Tag: Creative Scotland

Open letter urges: Save Lammermuir!

‘This festival cannot be allowed to disappear’

  • The Lammermuir Festival 2023 came to a close this week while urgently working to secure its future.
  • Nicola Benedetti and Sir James MacMillan add their support for Lammermuir Festival.
  • Open Letter to Creative Scotland signed by 362 musicians, composers, educationalists, politicians, participants, supporters, audience members and local businesses.

The Lammermuir Festival closed its 14th festival earlier this week, one of its most successful yet. The programme was met with great acclaim cited by some music critics as the best programme presented.

Audiences flocked with over 80% of tickets sold, over 30% of which were to new customers. Initial analysis indicates that a little over half of those audiences were local with the remaining travelling to East Lothian to enjoy one of the UK’s best loved classical music events.

This successful edition was set against the backdrop of the festival finding out just days before it opened that Creative Scotland was not supporting its 14th festival, having invested in the event for thirteen years.

Losing the cultural funder’s support this year leaves the festival in an urgent financial position, working hard to find a secure future.

Many of Scotland’s leading musicians have lent their support to the festival’s campaign, most recently Nicola Benedetti and Sir James MacMillan.

Nicola Benedetti said: “Being able to share the best, world-class music making with audiences not residing in our cities but in rural areas is a really important part of our nation’s cultural fabric.

“An aspect we must support and nurture. The Lammermuir Festival has done this brilliantly over the last 14 festivals creating acclaimed events that also enable young artists to develop in the industry, and engage young people in the region to give them deep and extraordinary experiences.

“It would be tragic for Scotland’s music scene if this festival wasn’t supported to continue this work which benefits so many.”

An Open Letter to Creative Scotland has been signed by 362 musicians, composers, education workers, participants, supporters, audience members and local businesses including Steven Obsorne, Andrea Baker, Sean Shibe, Stuart MacRae, Dinis Sousa, Ryan Corbett, Sue Baxendale, Craig Hoy MSP, Douglas Alexander, Martin Brabbins, Sian Edwards, Ruth Ellis, Monica Wilkinson and Alfonso Leal del Ojo.

James Waters, Chief Executive and Joint Artistic Director of the Lammermuir Festival said: “The support and affection for Lammermuir Festival that we have seen pouring in from musicians, education providers, local businesses, supporters and audiences across Scotland and beyond has been incredible.

“We have never been more proud of the festival and what it brings to so many and we will continue to do everything we can to secure its future.”

Letter from supporters of Lammermuir Festival

To Iain Munro, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland and its Chair, Robert Wilson,

We the undersigned appeal to you to save what one audience member has described as a ‘precious jewel of originality and joy’.

According to the panels judging Open Fund applications at Creative Scotland, Lammermuir Festival does not sufficiently align to your priorities.

This is despite having the full support of the Music Officers at Creative Scotland who approved its application and strongly recommended funding without conditions.

This is one of the most acclaimed classical music festivals in the UK, recipient of an RPS award, the highest accolade in its field, and giving work to 350 musicians a year, many of them Scottish. It has a proven record of achievement, appeals to ever-growing audiences and supports performers at all stages in their careers.

It is also a festival which returns £750,000 in economic benefits for East Lothian, on top of its social and cultural benefits, bringing visitors to a region which is underserved for arts, offering audiences international quality music performances and participation opportunities.

If the festival were to not exist, neither would its work with McOpera which engaged 1,700 children, young people and adults as participants and audience through their outreach strand over the last two years. This proved a formative part of so many young musicians’ lives in East Lothian.

This strand of the festival’s work reached out to multiple and diverse local community groups, nurturing children and young people from across 31 different schools, supporting the growth of an Instrumental Music Service and creative organisations (such as Dunbar Voices), bringing to the region international conductors and Scottish creatives, composers, singers and instrumentalists.

It has also regularly provided career placements to students from Edinburgh College, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier Universities, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

This decision by Creative Scotland flies in the face of the expressions of support for culture in Scotland, and in particular for festivals, that the First Minister Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray, and Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson have made in recent days.

The Open Fund process appears to have no strategic overview of provision, and no clear artistic, quality or geographic priorities.

Your process places huge pressure on organisations. Lammermuir Festival was invited to make multiple applications for the same activity with funding decisions taking their nerves to the wire – in this case Creative Scotland passed their verdict on a third application just 16 days before the festival started.

The system needs to change. As it stands it places Scotland’s cultural ecology on a downward trajectory.

Without Creative Scotland’s support the Lammermuir Festival’s future is under threat. Your decision not to fund the 2023 festival, destabilises the organisation and undermines the festival’s ability to plan for or run a festival in 2024 and beyond. In order to secure the future of this festival beyond 2023, urgent support is needed.

As musicians, educators, audience members, supporters, participants, businesses in East Lothian, and community leaders we are utterly appalled at your decision and urgently appeal to Creative Scotland to reverse it in order to save this cultural gem.

This festival cannot be allowed to disappear.

362 signatures which can be viewed on the Lammermuir Festival website: 

https://www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk/open-letter-from-supporters-of-lammermuir-festival-to-creative-scotland/

cc’d

First Minister Humza Yousaf

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson

Minister of Culture Christina McKelvie

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray

SCVO and partners unveil HR for Creatives project

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has unveiled the 20 organisations who will be a part of a groundbreaking HR for Creatives project. 

SCVO has partnered with Creative Scotland and Project Manager Kathryn Willens on the action research project to explore the support needed for micro and small creative organisations.

The project incorporates research into participant organisations’ learning journeys in order to share findings so that the wider arts, screen and creative industries can learn from this project. 

This will allow the project partners to learn from organisations that access support and to identify where there are key and shared opportunities, challenges, strengths and weaknesses for the sector. 

SCVO’s HR Service will now work with them to support them on their HR journey, including an audit of their HR policies and procedures, one-to-one advice and guidance, as well as access to webinars and a peer network.  

The partners hope this will Improve people management for arts, screen and creative industries organisations, starting with legal compliance and moving beyond this to help organisations create a space and place to work where their people – staff and freelance practitioners – thrive and where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity.

SCVO, Scotland’s national membership body for the voluntary sector, received over 80 applications from micro to small sized arts, screen and creative industries organisations from across Scotland. All applications were of a high standard, with only 20 places available. 

The organisations represent a wide range of artistic practice including animation, digital art, theatre, film, poetry, music and dance. (1)

The number of applications highlights the demand for HR support in the sector especially from micro to small employers, with SCVO planning to offer some support to the organisations that didn’t make it to the shortlist through access to webinars and resources. 

SCVO is delighted to be working with Creative Scotland, Kathryn, and research partner Tialt on the HR for Creatives action learning programme, funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. 

The programme will kick off in September 2023 and continue for 12 months. 

Caroline Christie, SCVO’s Head of HR, said: “We are thrilled with the response to the HR for Creatives programme. This level of interest highlights arts, screen and creative industries organisations commitment to HR and to Fair Work as well as a need for this kind of support. 

“HR for Creatives aims to offer support and learning to improve people management for arts, screen and creative industries organisations, support that will enable organisations to create work cultures where their staff and freelancers can thrive and where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity.

“SCVO’s HR Service and the HR for Creatives project team are very excited to start working with the 20 shortlisted organisations and with the research partners, Tialt.”  

Ashley Smith-Hammond, Creative Industries Officer at Creative Scotland, said: “As Creative Scotland develops its work in response to the Fair Work agenda, we’re committed to empowering organisations in the arts, screen and creative industries to best support their workforce. 

“We’re pleased to partner with SCVO on this vital programme, which responds to challenges that small and micro creative businesses have in accessing appropriate, specialist support around people management.

“In this challenging economic context, it’s an investment in more competent, confident creative businesses and better experience for those in the creative workforce.”

HR for Creatives organisations 

Africa in MotionGlasgow
An Tobar and Mull TheatreTobermory
Art Link CentralStirling
Civic Digits CICEdinburgh
Company of WolvesGlasgow
Cove ParkHelensborough
Creation Mill CICDumfries
Creative DundeeDundee
Forgan Arts CentreFife
ImaginateEdinburgh
Lung Ha Theatre CompanyEdinburgh
Media co-opGlasgow
Print Clan CICGlasgow
Produced MoonGlasgow
Push The Boat OutEdinburgh
Regional Screen ScotlandEdinburgh
Scottish Artists UnionGlasgow
Scottish Sculpture WorkshopLumsden
Sound FestivalAberdeen
The Work RoomGlasgow

Lammermuir Festival faces future challenge head-on as Creative Scotland turns it down for funding

Lammermuir Festival has been turned down by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for funding towards this year’s festival.

Over a period of 40 weeks the festival lodged three applications having been strongly encouraged by Creative Scotland officials to re-apply twice. 

Each application was strongly recommended for funding by the Music Department at Creative Scotland, particularly as a key part of a network of festivals across the country including East Neuk, Paxton, Cumnock Tryst and St Magnus.

Each application has been turned down by assessment panels, the last notification being on 22 August, just 16 days before the 2023 festival opened.

Statement on the future of the Lammermuir Festival from the Chair and Trustees:

The Chair and Trustees of the Lammermuir Festival are appalled and saddened at the lack of investment in the 2023 festival by Creative Scotland. The Times described the Lammermuir Festival as “an indispensable part of Scotland’s musical culture”.

It has indisputably been a huge success over the past 14 years, giving pleasure to audiences from East Lothian and further afield, transformative experiences for people young and old through our community engagement, and presenting Scottish and international performers with worldwide reputations in beautiful and intimate settings across the county. 

Presenting the Festival in its current form has relied on a strong, supportive audience; our loyal Friends, Benefactors, sponsors and other generous funders; and investment from public funds, mainly Creative Scotland but also contributions from EventScotland and East Lothian Council. 

In previous years ticket revenues, private sector funders and public support have contributed about one third each of the cost of the Festival enabling us to keep ticket prices at a level to allow the widest audience to attend the performances.

If Creative Scotland had invested the sum requested in 2023 it would have represented 23% of the Festival budget. This is crucial investment in an area of Scotland which does not have regular high-quality cultural events drawing audiences to the area. In 2022 the Lammermuir Festival generated £780,000 of economic benefit for East Lothian (Source: MKA Economics, November 2022).

Public support has in addition allowed children and young people from across the county to discover and develop musical skills and benefit socially from participation in music. Most recently this brought almost 700 people together in our community opera and engagement work, giving them the experience of every aspect of production as well as performing.

This year Creative Scotland has declined to support the festival despite having encouraged us to re-apply twice over the last nine months.

Reasons given were first: prioritising applications with activity earlier in the year; second: Fair Work; third: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This third application was refused on a criterion which the Music Department assessor judged to be fully met. We are urgently seeking clarification on how this could be. 

The artistic ambition and quality of the festival has been consistently recognised in Music Department assessments.

In particular there has been no recognition that what has emerged is effectively a decision by Creative Scotland to give no priority to a festival as significant as Lammermuir, despite its record of achievement and its obvious appeal to audiences and performers; and no attempt is made to justify this. 

This flies in the face of the expressions of support for culture in Scotland, and in particular for festivals, that have been made in recent days by the First Minister, Neil Gray and Angus Robertson.

To deliver this year’s Festival as planned – with what is already being acclaimed as an outstanding artistic programme – we shall be obliged to use a significant proportion of our reserves which we have judiciously built up over many years. 

Thankfully on this one occasion we were in a position to do this, allowing audiences to once again enjoy beautiful music in beautiful places as in previous festivals, and meet our commitment to artists.

Without Creative Scotland support the Lammermuir Festival’s future is under threat.

We urge Creative Scotland to reconsider their decision and secure the future of Lammermuir Festival. In order to make plans and commitments for 2024 and beyond we need the financial stability which Creative Scotland has provided over the past 13 years. 

We are determined to save the Lammermuir Festival for the future.

From the Chair and trustees of Lammermuir Festival

£9.5 million to support young musicians in Scotland

Youth music programme funding confirmed

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has confirmed £9.5 million funding for Scotland’s flagship Youth Music Initiative (YMI) this year. This includes £500,000 which has been ringfenced to deliver on the commitment to expand the YMI model into other art forms.

YMI funding enables schools and other organisations to provide quality music-making activities for children and young people, which range from after-school drum bands to courses in sound production.

More than 362,000 children and young people took part in YMI-funded projects under the 2021-22 programme, the majority of those in high-deprivation areas. The funding also supported 1,182 music education posts across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Mr Robertson marked the funding award with a visit to Murrayburn Primary School in Sighthill, Edinburgh, where he met pupils who have benefitted from the programme, which is administered by Creative Scotland.

The Culture Secretary said: “Music plays a vitally important role in young people’s lives, and beyond developing their wider skills and learning we know these kinds of activities also have a huge positive impact on their confidence and wellbeing.

“We are committed to ensuring every school pupil in Scotland can access a year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school through the YMI, no matter their background. YMI is focused on creating opportunities for groups of children and young people who may not otherwise have the chance to participate in cultural activity.

“This year’s funding takes our investment in this programme to more than £150 million since 2007, to enable free music tuition for hundreds of thousands of young people, and support thousands of music sector jobs across the country.”

Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager said: “With ongoing support from the Scottish Government, the YMI allows local authorities to deliver programmes like this across Scotland ensuring that children and young people with additional support needs have opportunities to experience the joy and excitement that comes with making music.”

Youth Music Initiative | Creative Scotland

£1.8 million for Scotland’s major arts festivals

Expo Fund will support additional organisations

Fourteen major festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow will receive a share of this year’s £1.8 million Expo Fund. Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society receives the lion’s share of the funding pot – it gets £550,000.

See below for the full list of recipients.

Established in 2007 by the Scottish Government, the Expo Fund’s aim is to build innovation across the festivals and maximise national and international opportunities for the artists contributing to the festivals.

This year for the first time, the Glasgow Film Festival and the biennial Sonica visual art and sonic festival will receive funding.

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Scotland’s major festivals are a wonderful showcase for the extraordinary range of artistic talent we have in this country. The Expo Fund not only helps to support performances at home, but enables artists to find new audiences further afield. 

“The last few years have been challenging for the culture sector, especially festivals and events. I’m pleased that we are able to continue this important fund and include two more Glasgow-based festivals who will receive support for the first time.”

Creative Scotland Chief Executive Iain Munro said: “Scotland is known across the globe for its outstanding array of world-class festivals. The Expo Fund is vital in raising the international profile of these festivals and enabling them to enhance their programmes through exciting and innovative co-productions and collaborations.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to recognise the distinct international profile and work of Sonica and Glasgow Film Festival through Expo funding. They join Celtic Connections, Glasgow International and the Edinburgh Festivals, further expanding the diversity of opportunities and inspirational work reaching international audiences.”

Expo Fund 2023-24 recipients:

Celtic Connections £101,000
Edinburgh Art Festival£130,000
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society£550,000
Edinburgh International Book Festival£85,000
Edinburgh International Festival£100,000
Edinburgh International Film Festival£59,000
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival£100,000
Edinburgh Science Festival£120,000
Glasgow International Festival£75,000
Hogmanay£130,000
Imaginate – Edinburgh International Children’s Festival£130,000
Scottish International Story Festival£120,000
As new entrants, Glasgow Film Festival and Sonica will share£100,000

Edinburgh Tradfest programme launched

Edinburgh Tradfest has launched its 2023 programme of traditional live music, storytelling, dance, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.

Over the 11 days of the Festival, hundreds of artists and musicians will perform, including American folk singer, two-time winner, and six-time Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, who will kick off the festival at the Assembly Rooms on Friday 28 Aprilsupported by special guests Roo Geddes and Neil Sutcliffe.

Over the opening weekend the programme is packed with music, dance, song, and special events including a screening of award-winning documentary film Heading West: a story about a band called Shooglenifty; performances from Orcadian powerhouse FARA, legendary pipers Rona Lightfoot and Allan Macdonald, Austro-British, singer-songwriter, folk-punk musician Alicia Edelweiss; tenor banjo player Ciaran Ryan and his band; and live music (Fri-Sun) until late at the Traverse Theatre Bar. 

Plus, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the festival kicks off with the return of Pomegranates – a weekend of dance, performance, and workshops run by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland to celebrate International Dance Day (29 April); and the second North Atlantic Song Convention run by the Traditional Music Forum takes place, with delegates from around the world gathering in Edinburgh to celebrate and learn about our rich song traditions. 

Unmissable highlights continue during the first weekwith Two for Joy a new piece of music commissioned specifically for the festival, composed and arranged by award-winning harpist Ailie Robertson, and performed by Neil Sutcliffe, Alice Allen, Alastair Savage, Josie Duncan, and Heather Cartwright. Two for Joy explores the use of birdsong in music and folklore, and the positive impact it can have on our mental health. 

Musicians also performing during the first week are BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year 2023 Amy Laurenson with her newly formed trio; Mississippi Delta songbird Bronwynne Brent who was crowned Female Vocalist of The Year by Americana UK in 2019; Swedish nyckelharpa player Fredy Clue; America’s masters of old-time, bluegrass, classic country and Cajun music The Foghorn Stringband; trailblazing cellist Juliette Lemoine(who counts SAY-award winning pianist Fergus McCreadie among her A-list backing band); award-winning singer and composer Kim Carnie; Northumbria’s Kathryn Tickell OBEwho has twice won ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, performing with her band The Darkening; and Gnawa musician Omar Afif in a collaboration with local sax wizard Steve Kettley. 

At the Scottish Storytelling Centre the week one programme is packed with fantastic events including a talk on naturalist Nan Shepherd (author of The Living Mountain) conducted by Erlend Clouston; a performance by the Scots Opera Project of the acclaimed The Seal-Woman written by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock in 1924; Shapeshifters which returns with more terrifying and tragic folktales from Scotland including the Seal Killer of Duncansby Head and Saba the deer mother told by storyteller Fiona Herbert with song, harp and fiddle from Emma Durkan; open-floor storytelling at the Waverley Bar with Ailsa Dixon; and for younger audiences, folklorist Allison Galbraith will be telling stories from her latest collection Funny Folk Tales for Children. Plus, to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week, Solar Bear will present a panel discussion and a series of new films created and developed over the last three years exploring deaf folklore, deaf identity and disability. 

Week two of the Festival also offers a packed programme including spring ceilidhs at the Scottish Storytelling Centre; the traditional May Day March – Fighting Back Together (6 May) which travels down the Royal Mile culminating in a rally against unjust labour laws and the cost of living crisis at The Pleasance; a performance of the ancient and much-loved border ballad of Thomas the Rhymer narrated by Julia Munrow and with music by John Sampson; tales of bees, birds, and international stories performed by Susan Strauss (Oregon, USA) chosen from her book Tree with Golden Apples; the launch of Stuart McHardy’s new book The Nine Maidens: Priestesses of the Ancient World;and Donald Smith presenting his recently published Storm and Shore a bardsaga for our times, reflecting our need for contemporary solace and sanctuary close to nature.

At the Traverse the musical talent continues with a Hands Up For Trad concert for #WorldPlayAStrathyspeyDay (6 May) with musicians Graham Mackenzie, Madeleine Stewart, Rory Matheson and Adam Sutherland performing a mix of trad strathspeys, reels, marches and the official strathspey written for the new king; a performance by Rory Matheson and Graham Rorie whose album We Have Won The Land celebrates the success of the Assynt Crofter’s Trust in buying back the North Lochinver Estate from a Swedish land speculator 30 years ago; music from daughter/father duo Dirk and Amelia Powell from Louisiana who bring their deeply rooted Cajun, Appalachian and original sounds to the festival for the first time; nu-folk singer-songwriter and ukulele musician Zoë Bestel; 2022 MG ALBA Musician of The Year nominee fiddle player Ryan Young; the Edinburgh Folk Club returning with husband and wife combo Jim and Susie Malcolm; and, to close the festival, award-winning musical geniuses Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) and Tim Edey (Chieftains) will raise the roof with an unmissable festival finale of foot-stomping tunes topped with great banter. 

This year the festival also presents its first ETF Spotlight which will showcase some of the most exciting new performers emerging in folk and traditional music today including high energy folk band Falasgair; guitarist and singer-songwriter Heather Cartwright; folk musician and activist Maddie Morris; and the Madeleine Stewart Trio which includes Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhran).

Throughout the Festival there will also be workshops for all levels including the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin weekend for 13-18 year olds; Cajun and Appalachian tunes/songs with Dirk and Amelia Powell, fiddle tunes with Ryan Young, a Shetland tunes workshop with Amy Laurenson; and storytelling with international storyteller Susan Strauss (Oregon USA).

Finally, Edinburgh Tradfest is delighted to host this year’s Rebellious Truth lecture/recital presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, which will explore mental health issues in the music industry.

Led by Gaelic singer, composer, researcher and broadcaster Mischa Macpherson who will be joined on stage by Celtic and Scottish Studies musician-in-residence Fraser Fifield. This event is free but ticketed, and will be live-streamed.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch, Alan Morrison Head of Music at Creative Scotland said: “With its potent mix of music, dance, song and storytelling, Tradfest is a true reflection of Scottish culture – past, present and future.

“Newly commissioned work sits alongside favourites from the treasure trove of Scotland’s heritage, all of which is enriched by the international artists who are threaded through the programme. At a time when respect and tolerance for different cultures is under global threat, Tradfest offers a shining example of how we can celebrate both our shared humanity and our distinct traditions.”

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are super excited about the scope of this year’s festival, not to mention the quality of the performers from Scotland and overseas: from Grammy-winners to homegrown superstars; visiting virtuosos to emerging talent; tunes with centuries of tradition to new writing.

“We have it all. Every day of the festival is brimming with talent and we encourage everyone to connect with their favourites and try something new. You can be assured of a warm welcome.”

Steve Byrne, Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland): “TRACS is delighted to contribute a rich offering from across the traditional arts to this year’s Tradfest.

“The festival is a fantastic platform for singers, dancers, musicians and storytellers to follow in the great Edinburgh spring tradition of celebrating our traditional cultures both local and global.”  

Daniel Abercrombie, Programme & Events Manager, Scottish Storytelling Centre: “Tradfest is a chance for us to celebrate a range of traditional arts through live performance and participation.

“The Storytelling Centre’s programme has themes of nature and the environment running through it with ceilidhs, long-form storytelling, dance and song events, sitting alongside Celtic opera, BSL digital storytelling and family events. Something for everyone this spring!”

Musician Amy Laurenson said: “I’m delighted to be performing at this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest in May. It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of today’s event and to give everyone a taste of what to expect to hear from us.

“Winning Young Trad Musician of the Year was absolutely fantastic and I am super excited to see what the next year holds.”

Edinburgh Tradfest 2023 will run from Friday 28 April – Monday 8 May.

For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com   

Famous last words: new album reimages iconic final moments from Scottish fiction

Project takes inspiration from the country’s most loved storytellers

The famous last lines of iconic Scottish texts Sunset Song, Lanark, Peter Pan and Treasure Island are to feature alongside the song from the last page of Jackie Kay’s The Pink House and Kirsty Campbell’s joyful farewell in Ely Percy’s Duck Feet in an intriguing new collaboration between composer, singer-songwriter Gareth Williams and an array of Scottish fiction luminaries. 

In Songs from the Last Page, Williams is drawing directly from the final moments of some of Scotland’s most influential and much-loved works of fiction, and inspiring readers of all ages to re-engage with their favourite stories reimagined through music – a 12-track pop/classical album and Scottish tour. 

Williams comments: “This new suite of songs for voice, piano and string duo captures the moment a reader finishes the last lines of a book and holds on to this feeling for just a few more minutes.  

“The album will be a true celebration of the rich musical and literary worlds of Scotland and will include unforgettable and fantastical lines from much-loved historical and contemporary works.  

Explaining the origin of the work, Williams said “I’ve always been a big reader and really enjoy working with text. During the pandemic I looked towards my bookshelf for inspiration, delving into the final pages of my favourite works, and dabbling with the notion of using the last lines to create new songs.” 

Award-winning poet, playwright, and novelist Jackie Kay commented: “This is a first for me – lines of a story made into song. I’m excited to hear what Gareth Williams makes of the lines from The Pink House.

“The story was originally published in my book Reality, Reality. I love the idea of these lines fashioning a whole new reality through music.” 

Some of the stories set for potential inclusion on the album include: How to be Both by Ali Smith, At the Loch of The Green Corrie by Andrew Greig, Lanark by Alasdair Gray, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Duck Feet by Ely Percy, News Of The Dead by James Robertson, Sonny and Me by Ross Sayers, Peter Pan by J M Barrie, Pink House by Jackie Kay and The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle.  

Listen to The Song from the Last Page of Lanark (Demo) on SoundCloud. 

The full album will be recorded in April this year followed by its launch at a week-long residency at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, where each evening, a new song will be written specially for that concert – taken from a suggestion submitted by the public in the weeks leading up to the Festival. 

Songs from the Last Page is among 37 receiving a total of £791,837 National Lottery funding in this latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards. At a glance, projects also include:  

Paul Burns, Interim Director of Arts at Creative Scotland said: “This month has seen the launch of two new funds: the National Lottery Open Fund for organisations and a new time-limited National Lottery Extended Programme Fund, marking an important step in the delivery of our new approach that will enable even more innovative and exciting creative activity to unfold in the year ahead and beyond, inspiring people of all ages across Scotland.”  

The full list of Open Fund recipients in this round is available on Creative Scotland’s website. 

Creative Scotland launches two new National Lottery funds

As part of Creative Scotand’s ongoing work to reshape their funding approach, the arts organisation has launched two new funds, supported by The National Lottery.

The funds are:

  • a refreshed National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations, and;
  • a new time-limited National Lottery Extended Programme Fund.

Both funds are designed for organisations that are not currently in receipt of Regular Funding.

The refreshed National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations offers funding of between £1,000 and £100,000 for projects or programmes of activity lasting up to 18 months. Applications can be made at any time, with no deadlines.

The National Lottery Extended Programme Fund offers funding of between £100,000 and £200,000 for programmes of creative activity lasting between 18 and 24 months. Applications can be made at any time, right up until the deadline for the fund in November 2023.

Iain Munro, CEO of Creative Scotland commented: “It’s thanks to National Lottery players that we can launch these two new funds, enabling cultural and creative organisations to deliver their work across Scotland.

“Offering funding for a broad range of projects in terms of scale and duration these new funds will enable longer term planning of creative programmes.

“These funds mark an important step in the delivery of our new approach to funding for organisations, as part of the roll-out of our revised Funding Framework.”

Applications for both funds can be submitted through our online portal.

Support for Scotland’s Hip Hop artists

Twenty-four Scotland based Hip Hop artists working in music, visual arts, dance, drama, literature, and screen have received bursaries totalling more than £31,000 thanks to a growing nationwide programme of support designed to strengthen and sustain Scotland’s thriving Hip Hop community.  

With a doubling of funding in this, its second year from Sunny Govan Radio, UP2STNDRD, 644 Studios and The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the Scottish Hip Hop Bursary Programme is providing one off grants of up to £1,500 to emerging and established artists towards development, presentation and promotion of new work.  

From Turriff to Dumfries, Angus to Aberdeen, the bursaries are backing DJ workshops, the development of new EPs, singles, albums and music videos; dedicated writing, producing, audio engineering and dance training, the creation of new Hip Hop web series’, provision of DJ equipment and the roll out of new events.    

Artist, producer, lyricist Queen of Harps (Anise Pearson – pictured above) is in development on a new EP and music video; Angus’ NoQuestion (Connor Metcalfe) is working on an instrumental beats album offering open-source material for future collaborations; and Tristyn Jay Trustler’s forthcoming album – created in memory of their mother, will form the basis for a new theatre production.  

Edinburgh’s Werd (Andrew Devine), who’s using his bursary to develop a new album in collaboration with local producers, said “Sunny Govan’s always been a cornerstone in showcasing and supporting Hip Hop in Scotland.

This funding will allow anyone to progress doing what they love while easing financial concerns. I’m proud to be included and given the chance to push myself and others I work with and I encourage all independent acts to learn about these great opportunities on offer.”  

Steg G of Sunny Govan Radio said: “These bursaries are an important step towards improving access to arts funding and support for new and existing Hip Hop adjacent artists to develop their skills and talents. 

“Hip Hop’s energy, artistry and community spirit is alive and thriving in Scotland. It’s a culture, a movement, and a way of life. The ambition, the appetite is palpable and now we’re working together with partners to put the infrastructure and opportunities in place that will help sustain and grow Scotland’s vibrant and diverse scene.”  

 121 mentoring with legendary Hip Hop Artist Steg G, Talent Manager and Creative Producer Mobo Agoro or DJ and Producer K4CIE also features this year, alongside availability of additional access costs.  

 Jenny Tipton, Place, Partnerships & Communities Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Now in its second year, we’re excited to be able to provide refreshed opportunities for Scotland’s growing Hip Hop community and pleased to be able to offer increased provision, additional mentoring opportunities and further access support for each bursary.

“In a time of increased uncertainty for the creative sector, small bursary programmes like these are more important than ever to support artists to develop their careers and provide sustained opportunity across the multi art form genre that is Scottish Hip Hop. It’s with thanks to The National Lottery that we’re able to continue to support this programme.”  

Artist   Project Summary  Location  Amount £  
Karin Bezchlebova  DJ workshops for women in hip hop, supporting guest women DJs to deliver sessions.  Glasgow  £1,500  
Gracia Brill  6 track EP for CrayTwinz that also documents the creative process via video so that it can be shared with other artists as a resource.  Dunbar  £1,000  
Steven Buckby  Hip Hop writing and producing workshops for women over 21 in Polmont Prison.  Fife  £1,478  
AJ Crawford  Two new singles with accompanying music videos.  Glasgow  £1,500  
Sean Cosgrove  Web series showcasing young Scottish MCs in a cypher format with artist as DJ.  Glasgow  £1,000  
Ibrahim Dikko  Collaborating with local videographer to develop music video for new music release.  Glasgow  £1,035  
Andrew Divine  New album for Werd (SOS) working with local producers.  Edinburgh  £1,500  
Yas Farzan  Filmed DJ sets showcasing 4 under-represented Hip Hop artists in Scotland.  Glasgow  £1,050  
Rowena Gatenby  Equipment to support artists development in DJing, and MCing.  Aberdeen  £1,500  
Lewis Linich  Audio engineering workshops for early career audio engineers and producers.  Glasgow  £1,500  
Connor Metcalfe  16 track instrumental project by NoQuestion creating an open source beats material for future collaboration.  Angus  £879  
John Lee Miller  5 track EP that highlights theme of mental health.  Glasgow  £1,000  
Andre Muvuti  7 tracks with 7 Scottish producers focusing on spoken word pieces to be developed into music.  Glasgow  £1,500  
Ian Nijdam  Producing a collaborative Hip Hop EP with artists based across Scotland.  Glasgow  £1,250  
Anise Pearson  Develop new EP and music video for Queen of Harps.  Edinburgh  £1,000  
Harry Raitt  3 track release, with recording, mixing, artwork and visuals collaborating with Scottish based creatives.  Turriff  £1,500  
Jordan Robertson  Collection of music videos to support development of work.  Glasgow  £1,000  
Alexander Romance  Live music event supporting under-represented artists in Hip Hop.  Dumfries and Galloway  £1,150  
Joe Rosenthal  Music video for band AROMA collaborating with rapper Skittles.  Glasgow  £1,500  
Nadia Sewnauth  Midgierakers Unite Dance workshops in collaboration with Shelltoe Mel, offering sessions for women and young people to learn different Hip Hop Dance styles.  Dumbarton  £1,500  
Sarah-Jayne Simpson  2 tracks exploring contemporary life in the North East of Scotland.  Aberdeen  £1,262  
Faris El Sheikh  Working with producer Stu Brown and filmmaker Meray Dinar and contemporary dancer to develop a new song, music video and dance piece.  Glasgow  £1,500  
TJ Trusler  Album created in their mother’s memory, that will form the basis for a theatrical production.  Edinburgh  £1,500  
David Wark  Collaborating with Big City Brains in Copenhagen, two dance artists from the popping scene in Glasgow will travel to Copenhagen to meet this dance collective and develop a sustainable model of artist development for dancers.  Glasgow/Copenhagen  £1,500  

Art project inspired by wild swimming set to make a big splash

New artwork celebrates 50+ swimmers in Scotland’s East Coast communities

Fife-based artist Joanna van den Berg will embark upon a new two-year art project inspired by the lure of coastal swimming thanks to National Lottery Funding through Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.

A woman in silhouette walks out to sea in the sunlight

Developed in collaboration with swimmers, coastal artists and communities, Joanna will develop a series of mixed-media artworks, with a companion collection of writing and images.

This new project titled IMMERSE will take the form of a tribute, exploration and celebration of the growing numbers of ‘feisty 50+ers, women in particular’, whose lives, well-being and sense of solidarity have been galvanised through regular immersion in Scotland’s seas, lochs, rivers and reservoirs.

As one of many who started wild swimming during the Covid pandemic, artist Joanna van den Berg has drawn inspiration from the physical and emotional impact of this directly immersive encounter with the landscape. In Joanna’s own words, ‘the act of transitioning from land to water; the shock, the fear, the exhilaration.’

IMMERSE will host a series of exhibition/gathering events in coastal venues, aiming to produce a companion publication/anthology of text and images for wider distribution by December 2024. News on these, along with call-outs for contributors and regular updates on the project, will be available on an IMMERSE Instagram/Facebook channel from January 2023.

Artist Joanna van den Berg says: “I’m delighted to have been awarded Open Project funding for IMMERSE, a project to create visual narrative for the emotional and physical lure of wild, coastal and tidal pool swimming.

“I’ll be developing work that draws directly from the stories and experiences of swimmers in Scotland’s East Coast communities.

“Much of my work is bound in transitions between land and water, lost and found, known and unknown, and is increasingly underpinned by my experience of aging.

“I am one of an armada of wild swimmers (many of whom are older women) with a newfound and directly immersive relationship with the landscape. I’m particularly interested in the correlation of wild swimming with age-related changes to our bodies, lifestyle and social autonomy.”

The project is one of 69 projects receiving a total of £1,197,933 National Lottery funding in this latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards.

At a glance, projects include:

  • Ullapool Book Festival’s 19th annual festival to be held on 5 and 6 May 2023.
  • A new album from acclaimed Glasgow-based folk band Gnoss.
  • Look To the Rainbow – the first biography of the Scots-born singer, actress and entertainer Ella Logan from Alison Kerr.
  • A new duo album fromLouise Dodds and Elchin Shirinov comprised of traditional Scottish Folk Songs and interwoven with influences of both jazz and Azerbaijani folk music.
  • The Party Shrimp – an interactive, outdoor, visual walkabout performance for children (5+), families from Adrenalism.
  • A Scotland-wide series of exhibitions, talks and workshops engaging audiences in the story of Bernat Klein, a Serbian born designer whose career based in the Scottish Borders spanned six decades.

Paul Burns, Interim Deputy Director of Arts & Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “As the year draws to a close, we are once again inspired by the range of exciting new projects that have received Open Fund support.

“The diversity and scope of these projects is reflective of our society as a whole, and we hope that these projects will continue to enrich the lives of people of all ages in Scotland in 2023 and beyond.”