Edinburgh’s hottest new bar in town, Counter at Native, has revealed a new take on a night out in the city; a creative ‘Paint and Sip’ workshop. With a delicious drink in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, guests can create their own piece of abstract artwork while enjoying Counter’s classic cocktails.
The Paint and Sip Class is part of Counter’s cultural programming, bringing the best of the city’s eclectic scene to the bar’s plush surroundings and supporting local artists.
Open to all, including non-residents, the Abstract Paint and Sip Class takes place on Wednesday 10th August, 7pm – 9pm. Spaces are limited – book tickets from £35 now www.classbento.co.uk
Partnering with Class Bento, a creative workshop booking platform which supports local artists, Counter will offer a series of workshops – bringing a few hours of peace and inner bliss to Edinburgh’s city centre, in Counter’s sophisticated surroundings. First up in the series, the Abstract Paint and Sip Class will see guests guided by an expert art tutor, taking inspiration from Native’s Scottish landscape-inspired surroundings.
The perfect way to unwind after work or embrace your creative side, the tutor will guide guests to create a beautiful piece of art on canvas using acrylic paints while they enjoy some of Counter’s blissful cocktails.
From wall scrapers to cooking spatulas, guests will try out a range of tools to experiment and find their perfect match, soaking up Counter’s idyllic aesthetic. The class is completely beginner-friendly, and guests can take home their artwork to adorn their own homes, and perhaps find a new way to unwind and channel their creative energy.
Recently revealing an impressive venue refurbishment, Native Edinburgh’s new aesthetic takes its inspiration from the city itself; from the new lobby space with luxurious green hues and botanical themed prints influenced by the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, to the wall plaques nodding to the venue’s heritage-steeped history, commemorating the birthplace of great Scottish inventors like who lived within the city.
Following the epic refurbishment, Native Edinburgh revealed the jewel in their crown, the one of a kind Counter – coffee by day and cocktails by night. Open 11am – 1am to all, including non-residents, the speakeasy serves up cocktails and wine as well as artisan coffee and bagels, ensuring guests can enjoy a nightcap before bed, or start their day with a hot coffee before setting out to explore the city.
Native’s aparthotel allows guests to ‘live like a Native’, with the freedom of a spacious apartment and the comfort and convenience of a boutique hotel, perfect for any stay in Scotland’s capital. Counter is set to host everything from spoken word poetry and DJ sets, plus record listening sessions every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Native’s stunning lounge.
Soundtracking an evening of well-crafted cocktails, Native’s upcoming record listening sessions include albums from Diana Ross and Earth Wind and Fire, as well as Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’ and The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’, ensuring an eclectic mix of the very best music.
Keen to encourage guests to unwind and enjoy the records the way they were intended, Counter’s listening sessions take place from 6pm – 8pm with residents and non-residents encouraged to enjoy the 12 “ vinyl spins. Whether sipping on a Whisky Sour or Espresso Martini or even enjoying an Edinburgh Whisky Tea, Counter’s record listening sessions will be the perfect companion to a late summer evening.
With 82 apartments comprising studios, one bedrooms, and ground floor leisure and co-working spaces, Native Edinburgh provides the flexibility and amenities of a design-led boutique hotel, coupled with the space, comfort and privacy of a home from home.
Native’s show-stopping new rooms are available to book now via www.nativeplaces.com and Counter is open seven days a week from 11am to 1am.
We are delighted to announce the participants of Satellites Programme 2022 following our open call and selection process earlier this spring.
Satellites is Collective’s development programme for emergent creative practitioners based in Scotland and lies at the core of our mission and creative vision. We aim to support participants to better understand and navigate the sector; equipping them to sustain a creative practice and foster criticality through peer development and reflection.
This year’s practitioners were selected by artist Rabiya Choudhry, curator Sara Greavu, and writer and artist Jeda Pearl:
Thomas is a Glasgow-based artist and curator. His work often focuses on complex questions concerning gender, race, sexuality and class, and centres around the challenging of societal power structures. Recent projects include The School of Abolition; You’re Never Done, and the Glasgow Seed Library.
Kaya is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Perth. Kaya works with analogue photography, film, writing and sound to explore the rose-tinted memories of working-class upbringings – her own included. Kaya has worked with Creative Dundee on the Full Picture commissions and held the position of Socially Engaged Artist in Residence 2021 at Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute.
Matthew is a Glasgow-based artist who creates succulent and vibrantly coloured sculptures, drawings and paintings concerned with the ideologies of nature. He also explores the relationship between plastic and queerness. Recent exhibitions and events include Shocked Quartz, Ugly Duck, London (2022); First Outing, Abingdon Studios, Blackpool (2021), and Air Diving, 16 Nicholson Street, Glasgow (2021).
Rabindranath X Bhose is an artist and writer based in Glasgow. He graduated from the School of the Damned D.I.Y. MFA in 2019. His work centres around sacred transness, spiritual transformation, and (healing from) trauma. Recent projects include In Touch, Embassy Gallery (2021) and group show Platform: 2020, Edinburgh Art Festival (2020).
We are excited to support these practitioners over the coming months. Some of the new works produced will be presented as public events, exhibitions, publications and workshops: watch this space!
Art_Buds_Collective will be holding their next Family Day on Saturday 9 July, 10.30am-12.30pm at Granton Beach, and you are invited to come along and bring your family to join in the creative fun. Free, simply drop in!
Art Buds in Muirhouse offer FREE outdoor art classes inspired by nature for children in Muirhouse (postcodes EH4 4, EH4 5, EH5 1, EH5 2) and the surrounding area, and they’re running their July Summer Camp from 18 to 22 July.
We have some final places for children aged 3 – 6 in our morning and afternoon groups.
MORE than one hundredyoung people with additional support needs have taken forward creative arts projects as a result of funding from the Access All Arts Fund, led by national charity Children in Scotland.
The fund, delivered through Creative Scotland’s Nurturing Talent Fund: New Routes programme, distributed £68,000 to young people across Scotland, supporting projects ranging from dance to drama and visual art to television.
As a result of the fund’s success, Creative Scotland will be supporting a second phase of the project from 2022-23.
A report on the first year of the Access All Arts Fund, capturing its aims, approach, impact and recommendations, is published today.
The Access All Arts Fund was established specifically to support children and young people with an additional support need or disability, a community who have experienced significant challenges during the pandemic.
Children in Scotland recruited four children and young people with a range of additional support needs as panellists to lead the design of the fund, make decisions about funding and support creative initiatives. The panel comprised young people aged 12-25 from West Lothian, Stirling and Glasgow.
With year one of the fund successfully completed, recruitment of young people to take part in the year two panel will begin shortly.
Activity in 2022-23 will have a strong emphasis on wellbeing and a continued focus on young people as project co-designers.
Ryan Cuzen, one of the panel members who took part in the projectover the past year, said: “Having young people with lived experience of a disability or additional support needs involved in the design of funds, training programmes and opportunities is vital.
“It shows we are being listening to, included and our ideas and voices are being heard.”
David Mackay, Policy & Projects Manager at Children in Scotland and Access All Arts Fund project lead, said: ““It’s been fantastic to work with the young people on our design panel over the past year and to see the incredible response to the fund.
“The Access All Arts Fund has had a significant impact on many children and young people’s lives – helping them to improve their wellbeing, learn new skills and open up new creative opportunities. We are delighted that Creative Scotland has announced it will be supporting a second round of the fund in 2022.
“We look forward to continuing to support children and young people with additional support needs or a disability to access the arts and realise their full potential.”
Sarah Mcadam, Youth Arts Programme Manager at Creative Scotland said: “The high demand for Access All Arts in 2021 showed us the important role that arts and creativity was able to play in the lives of children and young people who were experiencing significant challenges during the pandemic.
“We’re thrilled that through renewed support, this programme will give more children and young people opportunities to lead on decision-making and access the funding they need to bring their creative ideas to life.”
Recommendations in the report on year one of the project include:
Creative Scotland should continue to fund Access all Arts. The fund has been successful in reaching a previously under-represented community and evaluation suggests it has had a positive impact for many young people.
Creative Scotland and Children in Scotland should share key learning from the project with policy leads and decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence other initiatives designed to support children and young people’s learning and wellbeing following the pandemic.
In additional rounds of the fund, increased time and financial resource should go to outreach workand building relationships with organisations supporting specific communities (for example, deaf children and children and young people with a visual impairment). This would encourage a wider diversity of applications to join the design panel and an increased range of applications.
The fund was open for applications from 11 August – 13 September 2021 and received 236 submissions from children and young people aged 11 to 26.
A large number of applications included requests to purchase items ranging from drawing and painting materials to musical instruments or photographic equipment.
Funding allowed children and young people to attend music, dance or drama tuition classes, realise zine-making projects, progress their song-writing ability and learn silversmithing skills and clothing design.
Evaluation of the project concludes that the fund:
Provided opportunities for children and young people to explore their unique personal interests and passions
Gave them autonomy and agency to develop projects and learn new skills while supporting their wellbeing
Created opportunities for them to overcome barriers and try new creative experiences and, in some cases, supported career development opportunities.
Filmmakers taking part in this year’s prestigious Gaelic short film competition FilmG 2022 have been inspired by nature, environmental issues and the great outdoors – with many of the shortlisted films exploring these topics.
Many films followed this year’s competition theme Lorg, which means search, find or trace, it could even be interpreted as footsteps, with some shortlisted films exploring the outdoors, getting closer to nature and appreciating and protecting the environment.
Nominees have now been confirmed across 17 categories and all the shortlisted films are available to watch on the FilmG website.
The competition received 91 entries this year, which covered various different stories and current events, and the judges had a tough job whittling down the entries over multiple days.
On the environmental theme, eponymous Uilleam Uaine (Green William) is in Staffin to help the pupils to make the right choices for the environment, in a film of the same name which was written and produced by pupils at Staffin Primary School on the Isle of Skye. It has been shortlisted as the Best Production (Under 12).
And a film by pupils at Sgoil Bhagh a’ Chaisteil on the Isle of Barra called ‘Cosgais A Churaim’, (The Cost of Caring) which looks into the effects of disposable face masks on our environment, has been nominated for Best Documentary.
Dihaoinean airson Teachd (Fridays of the Future) tells the story of a scientist who wants to save the world with a potion she has invented to create an Eco Superhero. However, the wrong people keep drinking it!
Made by pupils at Craighill Primary School in Tain, this film has also been shortlisted as the Best Production (Under 12).
Gaelic Medium pupils at Oban High School have been nominated for ‘GOP 26’, which is about an environmental conference GOP26 taking place in Glasgow with leaders from all over the world making speeches, but one of the speakers mysteriously goes missing. The film was shortlisted for the quality of the spoken Gaelic throughout.
Several films explore the great outdoors including a film about hillwalking and scrambling as a way to get a new perspective on the world from beyond the cold, dark glens and high above the clouds.
Called ‘Thar Nan Sgòth – Beinn Eighe’ (Above the Clouds – Beinn Eighe) this film, made by Anndra Cuimeanach from Gairloch, has been nominated for Best Documentary and Best Young Filmmaker in the Youth Category (12-17).
Also in the Youth Category a film by Emma Rose Passmore from Harris called ‘Falaichte Ann an Roghdal’ (Hidden in Rodal) which looks at the secret history of Roghdal in Harris, has been nominated for Best Documentary and Best Young Filmmaker.
In the Open category a short documentary called ‘A’ Mhuir’ (The Sea) about wild swimming and the students at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the Isle of Skye who take part in the sport, has been nominated for Best Film, Film Duthchais, Best Performance (Somhairle MacIain), Best Student Film and Best Director (Anna Garvin).
‘Am Buaile Dubh’ by Eòghan Stiùbhart from Inverness, which takes a look around Am Buaile Dubh on the outskirts of Inverness, has been nominated for Best Film, Film Duthchais (which translates as best heritage or community film), Best Performance (Eòghan Stiùbhart), Best Director and Best Script.
While a spoof of outdoor programmes called ‘Rachamaid’ by Ross Young from Inverurie has been shortlisted for Best Performance (Ross Young) and Best Student Film.
And ‘Eilean Lois’ (Lois’s Island) by Somhairle MacIain from Glasgow, which follows him and his girlfriend, Lois, as they cycled the Hebridean Way in the summer and he teaches her to speak Gaelic on the trip, has been shortlisted for Best Student Film.
This is just a few of an array of fantastic films by talented filmmakers, schools and community groups from across Scotland that have made it to the shortlists for the FilmG 2022 Short Film Competition.
Karen Elder, a journalist for An Là is a Scottish Gaelic-language news programme broadcast on the Gaelic-language channel, BBC ALBA, was one of the judges this year.She said: “It was a privilege to once again be a part of the judging panel for FilmG. There was a wide variety of films entered, from strong documentaries to comedy. It was no small task.”
You can watch shortlisted films on the FilmG website. FilmG is the Gaelic short film competition, funded by MG ALBA and delivered by Cànan Graphics Studio on the Isle of Skye.
The winners of this year’s prestigious Gaelic Short Film Competition FilmG will be revealed on BBC ALBA from 9pm on Friday, February 25 via a new, specially created, awards programme broadcast from Stornoway.
The show will be hosted by FilmG and BBC ALBA stalwarts Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald.
Lorden, Bino and Ned have told the dinner ladies at Rockfield Primary School that their food is not good enough and they will make school dinners better.
The Gille Dubh, has lived in the Gairloch area for centuries.But after the laird had hunted him, he was not seen again … until he appeared in our own day
Finlay agus Calum Morrison
Glasgow
An Taigh-Òsta
Best Film (Fluent), Best Performance (Finlay Morrison)
It is the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of St Columba. The Comunn na Gàidhlig team works throughout Scotland and seven of our Iomairtean Cànain (language initiatives) looked for local links with Colmcille
A 10 metre tall puppet, STORM, will make an appearance in Glasgow and many projects are already well underway in the run up to the climate conference, including the launch of Climate Beacon hubs in seven locations across Scotland.
STORM is a huge sea-goddess puppet made entirely out of recycled materials with oyster shells for eyes and kelp for hair and is created by Vision Mechanics. She is due to walk in Govan on 10 November.
Led by Creative Carbon Scotland, the Climate Beacons project is a collaboration between climate change, environmental, arts, heritage and cultural organisations to stimulate long-term public engagement in climate change. The hubs throughout Scotland, including Argyll, Caithness and East Sutherland, Fife and Inverclyde, will provide information about climate change in each local area.
The hubs will be run as sustainably as possible with many of the projects and activities using recycled materials.
For instance the Message in a Bottle project in the Outer Hebrides will send messages to people at COP26 in plastic bottles washed up on the beach and the Midlothian hub at the National Mining Museum Scotland will feature outdoor clay sculpture that will eventually degrade back into the earth.
Creative Carbon Scotland’s film, Climate Action Needs Culture, made in collaboration with national cultural and heritage organisations, will be shown to a variety of cultural leaders and policymakers on November 5 as a virtual event.
Scotland’s five national performing arts companies, each receiving regular support from the Scottish Government, are among the many cultural organisations across Scotland organising events around COP26.
On 31 October, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will premiere Symbiosis, a new commission for strings in a 20 minute video. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra will give a pop-up performance at ScotRail’s Haymarket Station on 1 November to welcome delegates to COP26 while the RSNO Junior Chorus will perform a selection of specially commissioned Green Songs in the official COP26 Green Zone the following day.
Scottish Opera have launched an intergalactic view of climate change in The Last Aliens, an opera for primary children. Schools can access the production online now with live tours planned next year.
Schools and communities across Scotland and India have created 100 shoes for a digital shoe shop as part of Millipede, the National Theatre of Scotland’s collaboration with ThinkArts, a Kolkata-based children’s organisation. Launching on 1 November, the interactive art installation will explore personal responses to climate change and carbon footprints through a range of creative activities.
Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “With the world’s spotlight on Scotland, COP26 in Glasgow is a once in a lifetime event and our cultural organisations have risen to the occasion by programming an impressive line-up of live and online activities to engage audiences at home and abroad.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support the cultural and heritage sectors as they have a major role to play in encouraging debate around environmental issues.
“Climate change affects us all and it’s heartening to see so many communities taking part in these projects to create a lasting legacy for future generations.”
A dedicated website, Culture at COP, for all cultural activities around COP26 has been set up by Museums and Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Climate Heritage Network.
New campaign launched to help Fringe recover from devastating losses
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced the launch of a new £7.5m fundraising campaign to help aid the long-term recovery of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
‘Save the Fringe’ will serve as a starting point for a wider Fringe revival, following the devastating impact of covid-19.
As the campaign officially kicks off, Edinburgh Gin are on board as founding investors, with an estimated £150k investment to come from the sales of its Edinburgh Gin Presents Phoebe Waller-Bridge collaboration. Around £160k has also been raised thanks to the kind generosity of individual donors.
The fundraising campaign will be driven by seven principles, which aim to:
Support artists and venues who bring work to the Fringe
Break down barriers to participation in the Fringe
Build and support sustainable practices across the festival
Deepen engagement with Edinburgh residents
Extend engagement with young people – particularly from underrepresented areas of our city
Create opportunities for network building and professional development for artists and arts industry across Fringe platforms
Secure a new home for the Fringe Society to provide a year-round space for artists, community groups and schools.
The campaign – currently at the very beginning – is expected to take place over three to five years. The exact criteria for distributing the fund will be announced following a series of consultations, hosted by the Fringe Society in autumn/winter 2021, to better understand the individual needs of various stakeholders. Edinburgh residents, artists, venues, producers, local businesses and more will be invited to explore ways the festival can develop and improve.
The funding will then support a renaissance for the Fringe in the future, led by the Fringe Society’s findings. More details on the consultations will be announced in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the launch of Save the Fringe, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:“The last 18 months have been the most challenging in the Fringe’s history, and everyone – from artists and venues to the Fringe Society – has experienced huge losses.
“I’m so proud of what’s been achieved in 2021, and in so many ways, this year’s festival was a success. Over 940 shows were brought to life, incredible new venues were created in the most imaginative of spaces, and audiences flocked back to experience the magic of the Fringe.
“But it can’t be stressed enough: this does not mean the Fringe is back to health. 2021’s scaled-back event only happened because of emergency grants, and in many cases, loans that now need to be repaid. We want to ensure the Fringe that returns reflects the world we live in – not just those who can afford to keep going.
“Recovery isn’t about going back to how things were. It’s about reimagining the Fringe as the best version of itself and using this moment of pause to reflect and change. We want everyone – from residents and local business owners to artists, operators and audience members – to have their say on what that looks like. And we’ll need support to make that vision a reality.”
Benny Higgins Chair, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe is one of Scotland’s greatest cultural exports. It is recognised internationally as a landmark celebration of the arts and is an access point to culture for so many people. But the Fringe is not publicly funded in any meaningful way, and the last 18 months have shown us how much urgent investment is needed to protect this world-renowned event.
“An estimated £20m was lost in 2020 alone. To make 2021 a reality, many operators relied on loans and emergency grants. This is not sustainable, and this campaign is about undoing some of that damage, while building a more affordable and equitable Fringe. This campaign will give us a foundation to do just that.”
Neil Mowat, Brand Director at Edinburgh Gin said: “The Fringe has offered the world a stage – bringing arts lovers together, welcoming brave work and introducing new incredible talent. But it needs our help.
“Phoebe Waller-Bridge first debuted ‘Fleabag’ at the Fringe in 2013, so we need the festival to thrive so that stories like hers don’t go untold.
“It has been an honour to support the Save the Fringe initiative as founding investors, and we can’t wait to see the Festival return to its usual spectacular self as soon as possible.
“Every penny of profit from our ‘Edinburgh Gin Presents’ Phoebe Waller-Bridge collaboration bottle goes directly to support the artists of the Fringe festival – so if you love gin, the arts and Edinburgh, buy one while you can.”
Analysis has shown that University College London is the best university for those seeking creative careers.
Glasgow and Edinburgh have the highest number of creative businesses in each city.
University of Glasgow is the second best university for creative students, with University of Oxford being third.
With A-Level results recently released and students heading to university in the next few months, research has found that University College London (UCL) is the best university for creative students in the UK.
Creative resource DesignBundles.net collated university rankings and data from Companies House and ONS to establish an index score which would reveal the best university to attend for students who are studying creative degrees such as Art and Design at university in the UK.
University College London (UCL) tops Design Bundles rankings as the UK’s best university for creative students as it places second overall on The Complete University Guide (CUG) for artistic and creative courses and has a high number of 293 creative companies registered close to its campus in Westminster.
In addition, the average salary in the Westminster borough is £36,348 according to ONS data; the highest amongst the regions studied in the analysis.
Famous creative alumni from University College London include Christopher Nolan, who directed the Dark Knight trilogy, sculptor Anthony Gormley and illustrator Raymond Briggs.
The University of Glasgow was revealed as the second-best university for creative students, ranking 19th on the full CUG. Despite this lower score, the city hosts a massive 996 creative businesses, offering graduates that choose to stay in the area a large number of prospects within the creative industry.
The University of Oxford obtained the third highest index score due to its high placement on the CUG ranking, coupled with its location amongst 238 registered creative business in the arts and culture sector and an average salary of £27,012 per annum – one of the highest wages outside of London.
Overall, Edinburgh was revealed as the best city for creative students in the UK, hosting two of the top ten creative universities – University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University.
The city is home to a total of 685 business that are in the creative sector, with a number of annual cultural events such as Edinburgh Festival contributing to the city’s status as one of the UK’s top creative hubs.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for DesignBundles said: “A-Level results are at an all-time high so it is an exciting time for students heading to University. For creative students, it’s essential to be surrounded by a creative environment which any of these top ten universities appear to provide.”
The study was conducted by Design Bundles, which offers high quality premium design resources and a marketplace which allows graphic designers to register and sell their products.
Top 10 universities for creative students in the UK
Rank
University
Ranking on Complete University Guide
Number of registered creative businesses in the area
All of our grounds, shop, takeaway coffee Kiosk, and restaurant The Lookout will also be open so make some plans and let us welcome you back to Calton Hill. Opening hours are 10am-4pm Thurs-Sun throughout May, and 10am-5pm Tues-Sun from 1 June.
Collective’s events programme also resumes this month.
We’re really looking forward to fully opening our doors to visitors again.
Social distancing measures will be in place to keep you safe – if you have any concerns or questions about visiting Collective drop us a line at mail@collective-edinburgh.art
Booking is now live for our next creative ageing event Bringing art and creativity back to care homes. Book your place here.
This event, on 30th September at 11am, will bring together community artists with colleagues in health and social care to explore how we might bring art and creativity back into care homes over the coming months.
It will be some time before artist visits to care homes can resume, but what is possible? A small number of activities led or supported by artists are now happening at a distance using online and offline approaches, and usually building on relationships between artists and care homes that existed before lockdown. What can we learn from these experiences?
This online event is part of a series of Creative Ageing events from Luminate, focusing on how we can continue to support opportunities for older people to engage with the arts.
Art Buds in Muirhouse Family Day 
