Nine Edinburgh-based projects are sharing over £145,000 Scottish Government and National Lottery funds through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Fund awards.
A digital drag show from Edinburgh drag queen, Mystika Glamoor; an exciting wave of music making focused on the arrival of COP26 on our shores from Oi Musica; a new writer mentoring programme from Wildfire Theatre;and new music from traditional music ensemble, The Whistlebinkies are among 45 projects across the country to be awarded over £732,000 last month.
These funds are supporting a diverse range creative people, projects and organisations across Scotland to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by Covid-19 and helping to sustain creative development at this challenging time.
Featuring a variety of experimental local drag performers and LGBT+ performance art, GLAMOOR, THE KWEER KABARET which originated at Edinburgh’s The Street bar is moving online.
Oskar Kirk Hansen, who will be hosting as his alter ego Mystika Glamoor, said: “This funding from Creative Scotland allows me to support myself as a full-time artist, and most importantly to give back to the wider community of LGBT artists in the line-ups of my shows throughout the rest of the year.
“I truly hope this is part of a turning point in Scottish drag that will make our community stand up for what it’s worth, so we can truly start to see ourselves as professionals.”
Building on work in 2020 with musicians including Karine Polwart and Heather Macleod, Let it Grow is a new musical response to COP26 from Edinburgh-based artist-led music organisation Oi Musica.
Oli Furness, Co-Director of Oi Musica said: “We are particularly excited about supporting youth creativity, about building connections across communities and creating a focus for grassroots and lifelong learning projects as they emerge from lockdowns and COVID restrictions.”
New Voices from Wildfire Theatre is a digital project that will see the professional performance of up to ten pieces of new writing from new writers who will receive professional mentoring.
Director Pauline Lockhart says: “This project will encourage untapped creativity and provide an exciting outlet for that talent.
“It’s imperative that we give opportunity to these new voices and I’m really excited about the talent this project might uncover!”
Unlocking John Cage’s Scottish Circus will see the world-premiere release in audio and video of American composer John Cage’s 1990 work Scottish Circus featuring the musicians of The Whistlebinkies for whom it was written.
Whistlebinkies’ fiddle and concertina player Stuart Eydmann says: “It was an honour for the Whistlebinkies, and for Scottish music, when the distinguished 20th-century American composer John Cage created the work featured in this world-premiere DVD recording.”
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotlandsaid: “We are committed to supporting a diverse mix of artists and creative groups through the Open Fund, in communities throughout Scotland.
“Many of the projects supported will spark a timely discussion over issues such as climate change, as well as a commitment to greater inclusion of underrepresented groups in the arts.
“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, and funding from the Scottish Government, these awards play an important part in enriching the lives of people throughout Scotland.”
Youth groups, schools, community organisations, activist groups and individuals of all ages, abilities and filmmaking experience will soon be invited to take part in a major Challenge to create 90‑second short films in response to climate change, to be screened in and around this November’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).
Led by Film Access Scotland with support from Screen Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful, the Climate Challenge: 1.5 Degree Films project will invite people to make films to share their thoughts and ideas about climate change and how it is affecting us as individuals, our surroundings, families and communities.
Local filmmaking training and support will be provided to groups in Scotland from film educators based in community hubs and within partner arts and cultural organisations. Regardless of background, age or filmmaking experience, anyone anywhere can submit a film to the Challenge, with resources available online to help people get started.
Films must be short, only 1.5 minutes long – like the hoped-for maximum limit on global warming of 1.5 degrees – and can be made using any technology, including smartphones and tablets.
Films will be available online, providing a platform for sharing views on climate change. Many will go on to be screened at fringe events in Glasgow during COP26 and there will be a special celebratory event in December where films will be awarded commendations and prizes.
Submissions from young people aged up to 25 years will automatically be entered into Film Access Scotland’s film festival in November.
Chief Executive of Film Access Scotland, Natalie Ushersaid “Global leaders will come together in Glasgow at COP26 to discuss urgent climate action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
“This Challenge invites you to make 1.5 minute films to join the climate debate and help us create a collective snapshot of this response to climate change. Through the filmmaking support offered by the project, we want to connect people with arts and community organisations across Scotland in order to facilitate public engagement and awareness about climate change.”
Scott Donaldson, Screen Scotland’sHead of Film Educationsaid: “We all have a huge stake in the outcome of COP26 and everyone has a story to tell about their relationship with the environment and climate crisis.
“Film Access Scotland’s open access Film Challenge will inspire people to learn more about the climate crisis, promote greater public engagement with environmental issues and support people across Scotland to make films and have their voices heard at the COP26 and beyond.”
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “To become a Net Zero Nation, the people of Scotland need to be supported to understand the Climate Emergency and identify actions we can take as individuals and as a nation to tackle it.
“Our experience working with people across Scotland is that ordinary citizens are some of the best climate change communicators, sharing messages in culturally relevant ways that resonate with their own friends, families and communities.
“That’s why we are delighted to be a partner in this project, giving a voice to people across Scotland and encouraging action on climate change at every level.”
If you are a representative of a group based in Scotland that would like to submit your expression of interest in participating, email info@filmaccess.scot. To keep up to date with latest developments, use #90SecondClimateFilms and visit Film Access Scotland.
Full details about the Climate Challenge: 1.5° Films project including eligibility criteria and submission deadlines will be announced in July 2021.
Today, Thursday 10 June 2021, Creative Scotland announces details of £25m additional emergency funds to help cultural organisations and venues prevent insolvency or significant job losses due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This funding was confirmed by the Scottish Government on 02 June.
£13m will be made available through a further round of Creative Scotland’s Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund and £12m through a further round of the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund.
Both funds will be open to previous recipients of funding from the first round who are in need of further emergency support and new applicants that were eligible for the first round who are now in need of emergency support.
Both funds will also include an option for urgent payment of a proportion of the emergency funding being applied for, to support any organisations who are at immediate risk of insolvency.
Full guidance is published today, the funds will open for applications on 17 June and close for applications on24 June.
Any urgent emergency payments to mitigate risk of immediate insolvency will be made from 01 July, with further payments being made from the end of July, following full assessment.
Iain Munro, Creative Scotland Chief Executivesaid:“We very much welcome this much needed additional emergency funding to support Scotland’s cultural organisations and performing arts venues, who continue to deal with the challenge of closure or partial closure due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
“Following confirmation from the Scottish Government on 02 June, everyone at Creative Scotland is working as quickly as possible to deliver this funding. As reflects the seriousness of the situation, this includes early payment of a proportion of funds to any organisation at immediate risk of insolvency.”
Jenny Gilruth, Culture Ministersaid:“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the culture sector has been profound, and the Scottish Government is determined to support the sector and performing arts venues as they continue to deal with its consequences.
“Which is why I am pleased that this further £25 million of additional emergency funds will now be available to support cultural organisations and venues address their urgent and critical needs.”
27 Edinburgh-based projects are sharing in over £607,000 of National Lottery and Scottish Government funding through Creative Scotland in the March and April rounds of Open Fund awards.
Designed to support creative people, projects and organisations across Scotland to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by Covid-19, awards made through the Open Fund are helping to sustain creative development at this challenging time.
Edinburgh-based artists and creative practitioners include:
The Cymera Festival – an annual celebration of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror (SFFH) writing, bringing together writers and readers to share ideas, create stories and share insights.
Cymera is the first of its kind in the UK, and 2021 is its third instalment. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the programme will once again be digital.
Festival organiser Ann Landmann said: “We are excited to return to the digital space from 3rd to 6th June 2021. Thanks to the funding from the Creative Scotland Open Fund, #Cymera21 is a jam-packed weekend and our most international programme yet, with speakers joining us from all around the world.
“From internationally bestselling authors to Scottish debuts, our programme is a smorgasbord of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror writers to suit all tastes.”
The Dance Audition! is a new interactive online performance piece. Inspired by A Chorus Line, the 1985 American musical drama film, The Dance Audition! will be choreographed by Dance Ihayami’s Artistic Director, Priya Shrikumar using popular Indian dance forms.
Audience members will be encouraged to follow the journey of performers, learn the choreography and participate as a judge to identify the dancers for the final 5-minute dance creation, choreographed by Priya.
Choreographer, Priya Shrikumar (top) said: “Now is the best and in a way a positive time for this form (Indian dance) to be viewed and enjoyed by a larger audience – something accessible and enjoyable.
“It will bring colour and wonder to a world which is a bit colourless at the moment, due to the pandemic.”
Re·creation: A Creative Opportunity for Queer Poets is a new work from Edinburgh-based writers Éadaoín Lynch and Alycia Pirmohamed, with independent publisher Stewed Rhubarb Press.
This project will identify and commission Covid-affected queer creatives to write poems, develop their craft, build a community of poets, and be published in a landmark poetry collection.
The project leads are also the co-editors of the anthology, planned for publication in summer 2022. Éadaoín Lynch is an early career researcher with a PhD in poetry from the University of St Andrews; Alycia Pirmohamed is co-founder of the Scottish BAME Writers Network, and winner of the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award 2020.
The collection is planned to include 30 poets: 10 commissions, and 20 selections from an open call for submissions. Workshops, 1-to-1 mentorship, and a round-table feedback session will be provided as part of the project. More information can be found on the website here: https://recreation-anthology.co.uk/
Project lead, Éadaoín Lynch says: “The project title has its roots in play, refreshment, recovery, restoration, invigoration, and creating, all of which are long overdue in a Covid-affected world, particularly for those in the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Funding has also been awarded to Edinburgh-based visual artist Alison Grant for a period of research to develop a new body of work looking at coastal communities across the 11,000 miles of Scotland’s shores.
From Viking graffiti artists who anchored in the best fishing areas to the contemporary work of today’s Blue Carbon visionaries, the project will look at best practice from the past to inform how we consider our coastlines in the future.
Visual artist Alison Grant says: “I am delighted to have received funding from Creative Scotland for 11000 Miles, a project conceived during lockdown this winter.
“It is important at this time of climate crisis to look locally to our own coastline for sustainable solutions to some of the problems we have created. I want to engage with these issues to use my creativity to communicate ideas, not just to as wide an audience as possible but also to our local communities, to look anew at our relationship with the sea.”
Strategy: Get Arts. 35 Artists Who Broke the Rules is a new work from Studies in Photography (part of the Scottish Society for the History of Photography).
Edited by Christian Weikop, Senior Lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), this book will be the first print publication to consider the formation of the ground-breaking exhibition Strategy: Get Arts (SGA), staged at ECA in 1970, when thirty-five German post-war artists (including Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Blinky Palermo, Klaus Rinke, and Günther Uecker) staged a provocative takeover of ECA, transforming the college into a ‘total work of art’ through their ‘actions’ and installations.
Featuring essays by academics, senior National Galleries of Scotland staff, and those involved in curating the exhibition, the publication will include photographs by Monika Baumgartl, George Oliver, and Richard Demarco, many never seen before.
Alex Hamilton says: “As Chair and Co-Editor of Studies in Photography, I am delighted to be able to publish this book. The exhibition held for me, particular importance as one of the gallery assistants.
“It changed many people’s lives… After 50 years and during the anniversary of the birth of Joseph Beuys we are delighted that the amazing stories behind this ground-breaking event can finally be revealed.”
The work is due to be published later in 2021.
These examples are some of the 105 projects in total that have been awarded over £2.3million of National Lottery and Scottish Government funding through Creative Scotland in the latest rounds of Open Fund awards.
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotlandsaid: “Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, alongside equally welcome funding from the Scottish Government, these Open Fund awards are helping artists, creative organisations and communities to develop and share their work, and to keep culture and creativity at the heart of people’s lives as we look to recover from the challenges of the pandemic.”
Funding of £20 million will deliver a range of activities for children and young people and their families over the summer, ensuring they are provided with opportunities to socialise, play and reconnect within their local communities and environments.
In particular this will provide support for those children and young people who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays.
Working with local authorities and partner organisations including sportscotland, Creative Scotland, Play Scotland, Education Scotland and others, the funding will support existing provision of community-based services while also widening access to other local facilities, such as school estates and local sports facilities.
Speaking before Holyrood broke up for May’s elections, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “We do not underestimate the physical and mental health impacts which children and young people have experienced throughout the pandemic, and that the impacts have fallen unequally across society.
“This enhanced range of summer experiences for children and young people will help address the impacts associated with extended periods of isolation and reduced participation in normal activities. This offer will have children’s rights and needs at its heart, and will provide opportunities to socialise across a range of activities, combined with broader support where needed.
“This will build on local summer offers, recognising the need for flexibility to deliver using local assets and connecting with wider offers from partners.
“Over the next few months we will continue to develop further all aspects of our education recovery strategy with our partners and stakeholders. Following periods of disruption to in-school learning, this will include how we can intensify and deepen support for children and young people’s progress in learning, including in key areas such as literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.”
20 creatives launch new campaigns and bid for up to £10,000 match funding
Eight Edinburgh based projects are among twenty creative projects across Scotland to launch their worldwide crowdfunding campaigns, thanks to a coaching and match-funding scheme run by Creative Scotland in partnership with Crowdfunder.
The Edinburgh based Crowdfunding campaigns include INKLINGS, a new non-fiction series from award winning, independent publisher 404 INK;
ReStyler a brand-new and sustainable garment restyling alteration service from award-winning social enterprise Remode Collective;
Ink on Mesh, a community print, and textiles studio facility offering fully equipped studio space from contemporary textiles brand Blessed Unrest;
songwriter Amy Duncan is fundraising for her new album ‘Cocoon’;and
Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education CIC is fundraising to develop an original outdoor circus & theatre show, ‘Positive Imaginings’, that engages children with the issue of climate change and how it is linked to our connection with the natural world, amongst others.
As part of the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch programme, the creatives have been building their campaigns with coaching support from Crowdfunder over the past four weeks.
Now ‘live’, once projects raise £1,000 from at least 30 supporters they will receive £1,000 match funding from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Further match funding is potentially available, up to a maximum of £10,000 per project, for those that reach additional funding targets, until the total sum available of £75,000 is allocated.
Jason Nuttall, Programme Director at Crowdfunder said:“Working with Creative Scotland in 2020 was a very positive experience so we’re pleased to be collaborating once again on what is shaping up another fantastic round of crowdfunding.
“We had a huge response to this year’s call for entry, with an amazing range of ideas submitted for big and small creative projects across Scotland. Throughout the COVID crisis we have worked with thousands of organisations, so we know that crowdfunding has many positive benefits, even during tough times.
“Good luck to all the entrants, we’re looking forward to sharing the highs, lows, and surprises over the coming weeks.
Jackie Stewart, Creative Industries Officer, Creative Scotland said: “We’re delighted to continue working with Crowdfunder to help more creative businesses in Scotland gain a deeper understanding of crowdfunding by giving them the coaching and tools to launch their own campaigns.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the projects selected to grow their networks, increase awareness of their work and build stronger connections with their customers and audiences.
“The arts and creative industries have been hit hard by the consequences of the pandemic and crowdfunding offers creative individuals and businesses a viable way to generate the income required for creative projects and to sustain and grow a business.
“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week these creative projects will be supported to deliver a fantastic range of work.”
About the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch 2021 projects in Edinburgh
Heather McDaid and Laura Jones of award-winning independent publisher 404 Ink is crowdfunding for the launch of their non-fiction seriesINKLINGS.
The eight titles, part of their series of big ideas in compact packages, are designed for the curious reader, looking to learn more on subjects that they may be interested in learning more about, but don’t know where to start.
Laura Jones, co-founder & publisher, 404 Ink: “What a thrill to see our new Inklings series launched with Crowdfunder and the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch initiative!
“The idea for this series came mid-pandemic when life was looking bleak for so many people and 404 Ink was in hibernation and now that idea has bloomed into a full series of topics that are vital, timely, and insightful, we can’t wait to get the books into people’s hands.
“We’re honoured to be working with such talented writers who are trusting us with their words and experiences – we hope we can do them justice and that this campaign will launch the Inklings with the fanfare it deserves.”
Edinburgh based songwriter Amy Duncan is fundraising for her new album ‘Cocoon’, which was written during lockdown.
Amy will be working with percussionist Guy Nicolson and co producer Cameron Malcolm to record the album.
Amy Duncancommented: “I am a music artist based in Scotland and will be releasing a new album next November. It was written in 2020 throughout the lockdown and it is my hope that the songs will resonate widely with people through the shared experience of being in the midst of a global pandemic.
“I will be working with PR specialist Black Arts PR who work with renowned artists such as Mogwai and C Duncan. Crowdfunding will cover costs of recording, PR, radio plugging, and a special live stream album launch gig which I will perform with a band in an Edinburgh venue.”
Isla Munro is crowdfunding the 100 Days Project Scotland which encourages people to undertake daily creative pursuits which will be exhibited in an annual show.
Building on the award-winning album Songs of Separation, Jenny Hill is fundraising for ‘SoS Music – ALL SING!’.
The project will bring together community choir leaders from across the UK to enjoy a rewarding creative residential which will result in new song teaching resources.
Contemporary textiles brand Blessed Unrest is crowdfunding Ink on Mesh, a community print, and textiles studio facility offering fully equipped studio space, a wide range of classes and expert technical support to its community.
Lorna Brown ofBlessed Unrestcommented: “With the support of Creative Scotland Crowdmatch and Crowdfunder UK I’m looking to achieve my dream of establishing INK on MESH in the heart of my local community.
“The studio will allow me to continue to develop my own textiles brand as well as providing invaluable space and specialized equipment for developing, emerging and graduate textile practitioners.
“I know just how challenging it is to pursue your professional career as a textile graduate without access to screens, studio space and the support networks that college life offers”.
Award-winning social enterprise Remode Collective are crowdfunding ReStyler, a brand-new and sustainable garment restyling alteration and mending service in Edinburgh.
Producer Penny Davies (co-owner of Smashing Pictures) is working with an all-female team including Director Shiona McCubbin and Writer Amy Hawes to crowdfund their short film ‘Maureen’.
Penny Davies commented: “Shiona, Amy and I have talked about working together a number of times, so we’re absolutely delighted to have been selected for Creative Scotland Crowdfunder with our short film Maureen.
Amy has written a fantastic script, and we have a wonderful all-female team lined up – we can’t wait to get going now!”
Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education CIC is fundraising to develop an original outdoor circus & theatre show, ‘Positive Imaginings’, that engages children with the issue of climate change and how it is linked to our connection with the natural world.
Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education commented: “2021 is the year we must address the climate emergency.
“Coming out of COVID-19 we have an opportunity to create a new way of living. Scotland is hosting COP26 this year, the most important meeting on climate change since 2015 when the Paris agreement was drawn up. This project aims to both educate and give a voice to children creating a sense of agency and hope for their future.”
For the full list of projects across Scotland please visit:
Lorna Brown is seeking your support to turn her dream of a creating a community arts and design resource in Newhaven into a reality.
Lorna explained: “Creative Scotland selected my business plan for their crowdmatch funding support in February this year.
“I’m looking to achieve my goal of establishing INK on MESH, a community print space that offers classes, courses and tuition in screen printing and stitched textiles.
“Post – pandemic, INK on MESH will become a space that promotes and encourages creative expression, community connections, confidence building and well being through hand craft and heritage skills education.
“I can continue to develop my own textiles brand, Blessed Unrest and also provide affordable space and specialized equipment for developing, emerging and graduate practitioners.”
INK on MESH is an interest partner with The Heart of Newhaven Community, one of the first dedicated intergenerational centres in the UK and will potentially open there in Autumn 2021 or in another local retail space.
Lorna added: “Individuality prevails! You can give people the same instructions and access to the same materials & equipment but how they explore that, interpret and express that is entirely UNIQUE … this is one of the fascinating and constant motivating experiences for me as a craft educator.
“Ink on Mesh will become that dedicated space where people at all ages and stages can come to explore their unique ideas through the craft of screen printing and textiles. Let’s make this happen!”
The crowdfunder launches at 9am this morning (Monday 22 March).
Linda’s friend and colleague Lisa Arnott said: “I can not express how super delighted for my amazing best friend Lorna Brown of BlessedUnrest and her Crowdfunding launch for the new and amazing dedicated print studio INK on MESH.
“Her Crowdfunding starts at 9am on Monday 22nd March. It’s an amazing way to become part of her story, show your support for a well-needed resource for our community and support the arts and design industries.
“Set your watches and phone alarms for 9am on Monday 22nd March!”
14 projects based in Edinburgh have received funding in the latest round of Open Fund awards from Creative Scotland.
They are among 58 projects across Scotland which are sharing over £1.6 million of National Lottery and Scottish Government funding.
These funds are supporting creative people, projects and organisations across Scotland to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by Covid-19 and helping to sustain creative development at this challenging time.
Among the work supported in Edinburgh is Building Bridges, a major new programme from Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians that will make connections with and for people with complex disabilities, addressing their experience of isolation and marginalisation, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis.
The programme will be centred on art reaching people in their homes and communities as part of newly established creative networks, with cultural productions that create exciting challenges for a diverse group of artists.
Jan-Bert van den Berg, Director, Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians, said: “Artlink are very pleased to receive this major support from Creative Scotland at such a challenging time.
“The experience of the pandemic has had a devastating impact on people with complex disabilities and their carers. The Building Bridges programme will continue to build on the incredibly inventive work that artists have supported over the last 11 months and strengthen the growth of creative community involvement.”
Edinburgh-based Neo Productions will develop a new play with music, written by Neo Vilakazi, about black American anti-slavery hero, Frederick Douglass.
Born in 1818, Douglass became an eminent human rights leader and the first Black citizen to hold high rank in the U.S. government. To an American audience, Douglass is perhaps the most famous fugitive from slavery, but in Britain and Scotland in particular, he is less well known, despite the fact he achieved great celebrity status in the mid-19th century, including while on a two year speaking tour of Great Britain and Ireland.
Neo Vilakazisaid: “I’m delighted to be given the opportunity by Creative Scotland to bring to life the story of Frederick Douglass’ time in Scotland, at a point where Scottish history is being closely re-examined to find BAME voices that have been suppressed in the past.
“We hope that telling this story will shine a light not only on Mr Douglass’s time in Scotland but will contribute to making Scotland a much more tolerant place for all who live in it.”
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotlandsaid: “As we face ongoing challenges resulting from Covid-19, the Open Fund supports Scotland’s arts and creative community to continue to innovate and engage with people across the country.
“These awards also help enable individual artists, creative practitioners and organisations to develop and present new work, and sustain creative development.
“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, and funding from the Scottish Government, these awards are helping to sustain the great value that creativity brings to our lives.”
The fund has no deadlines, and full eligibility criteria and application guidance can be found on the Creative Scotland website.
Image credit: Work from the Art Games project Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians have been running in St John’s Hospital, Livingston with artist Vanessa Lawrence and The Collective Matter range produced by KMAdotcom.
Emergency Scottish Government relief funds reach grassroots music venues in Edinburgh
16 Edinburgh venues have received over £932,000 through the Scottish Government’s Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund delivered by Creative Scotland.
Bannermans, Henry’s Cellar Bar, LaBelle Angele, Leith Depot, Opium, Sandy Bell’s, Sneaky Pete’s, Stramash, Summerhall, The Banshee Labyrinth, The Bongo Club, The Caves, The Jazz Bar, The Mash House, The Voodoo Rooms and Whistle Binkies in Edinburgh are among 82 venues across Scotland which have received a total of £4million.
Aimed at providing grassroots live music venues with emergency support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and prevent closure, the £4million fund closed for the second round of applications on Wednesday 3 February 2021.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for the live music sector and it is important that we support our grassroots music venues – which are key to our rich and diverse music scene – to survive until they can reopen.
“This fund, part of our ongoing commitment to support cultural sectors during the pandemic, aims to do that by ensuring financial support reaches a wide variety of music venues across the country.
“I thank the music sector for continuing to work with us to identify the most effective ways to help it.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotlandsaid: “We’ve now been without live music for much longer than anyone could have imagined. Covid-19 has hit the music industry hard, and we all look forward to the day when musicians and audiences can get back together – in the same place, at the same time – to ignite the special spark of live performance.
“Grassroots venues are where talented musicians test and perfect their original material, where careers are borne and local scenes have their deepest roots. The first round of awards from this fund covered the length of Scotland, from Dumfries to Kirkwall.
“The second round broadens that support, reaching Arran and the East Neuk of Fife. These awards are proof of the confidence that the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland have in our music sector, its artists, its audiences, its technicians and, of course, its much-loved grassroots venues.”
This is the second of two funding rounds. To date, over both funding rounds combined, 85 venues across Scotland have now received a total of £6.2million through the Fund. £2.2millon was awarded in the first round in September 2020.
Rowan Campbell of Summerhall said: “Summerhall is immensely grateful for this award which will help to secure our staff, our ongoing costs while closed and our ability to reopen in the coming months.
“It is a welcome lifeline that recognises our place as an important venue in the live music landscape of Scotland.”
Henry’s Cellar Bar owner/manager, Claire Grandemange said:“Thanks to the Creative Scotland’s Grassroots Music Venues Fund and all the help from the team of the Music Venue Trust, the uncertainty over our ability to carry on paying staff and other fixed costs has been removed, and we are confident about our future reopening as a music venue once restrictions are lifted.”
Recipients of the £4m Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund are:
Monday 22nd at 9am.
