Tag: Open Fund awards

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. 

National Lottery funds support Edinburgh creative projects

Projects and organisations across Edinburgh are sharing in £49,382 National Lottery funding in the latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards. 

Edinburgh contemporary composer, Neil Smith is developing two projects designed to inspire new audiences for contemporary classical music. 

A debut portrait album of chamber music and a new music-driven puppet theatre show follow fast on the heels of his collaboration with Tinderbox Collective’s recent Music For Bridges project. 

Photographer, David Grinly is developing new work for an exhibition at Sierra Metro gallery, Edinburgh in January 2022.  

Collaborating with six musicians, Grinly will perform and record works of “photographic music” composed via a method developed by the artist to translate colour into musical notation. 

The Edinburgh projects are among the 36 creative initiatives across Scotland sharing in over £772,000 of National Lottery funding in this round of Open Fund awards.

The full list of awards is available on the Creative Scotland website. 

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “These Open Fund grants are capable of making a palpable and positive difference to the lives and careers of artists, and more widely to those of us living within Scotland’s communities.  

“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every year, these awards continue to support communities the length and breadth of Scotland, inspiring generations and boosting overall wellbeing.” 

National Lottery funding support for Edinburgh creative projects

Fourteen creative projects from Edinburgh artists and creative organisations are in motion thanks to £303,559 National Lottery funding in the latest round of Open Fund awards from Creative Scotland. 

The former Fire Station at Edinburgh College of Art will house Edinburgh’s SpACE forum from 1 November to 4 December as part of COP26.

The public pop-up exhibition, event space and online venue will welcome leading designers, building environmentalists, architects and heritage organisations coming together to help raise wider understanding of the difference that can be made through more responsible approaches to design and construction.  

Rab Bennetts, architect and founder of Bennetts Associates and Chair of SpACE said: “There could hardly be a more appropriate moment to engage with the public about the impact of our buildings and places on climate change.

“As the world’s eyes are on COP26 in Glasgow, our parallel event in Edinburgh can show how the changes that are essential to our homes, workplaces and public buildings are not only possible but can also result in a cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable built environment.” 

Through a series of unique, site-specific, public video projection mapping artworks with original soundscapes visual artist and creator Mettje Hunneman will highlight and transform Edinburgh’s public green spaces and question our place in nature.

 Forest VIDEOLAB will see twelve immersive audio-visual displays over twelve months encouraging audiences to reconnect with nature in new ways.  

Mettje Hunneman commented: “Artistic collaborations that would not previously have been possible can now come about, and resources that were previously inaccessible are now available.

“Everybody on the Forest VIDEOLAB team is now very excited to launch these beautiful creations into the public realm.” 

Edinburgh-based theatre company, SALTYDOLLS – a partnership of Estlin Love and Fiona Oliver-Larkin will research and develop ABATTOIR.

A 50-minute feminist, two woman show, ABATTOIR is born from a provocation made by Morag Deyes of Dance Base during a SALTYDOLLS residency – “When are you going to make a show about the DARKNESS of MOTHERHOOD?” 

Surrogate Productions will adapt and stage the Scottish and UK premiere of Édouard Louis’ autofiction novel Who Killed My Father in association with Platform Theatre in spring 2022. 

Surrogate’s Artistic Director Nora Wardell said: “We’re excited to welcome audiences back to theatres with such a moving and empowering piece that resonates so beautifully with our changing lives today.

“A rare text for Surrogate’s second work – both a deeply personal story of love from son to father and a defiant call for social justice.” 

Shortlisted for the 2020 Phil Fox Award, Nibble Nibble Gnaw is a new play by emerging Scottish playwright Isla Cowan receiving further research and development, exploring hunger and consumption in contemporary society.

Inspired by the story of Hansel and Gretel, this twisted fairy-tale follows a brother and sister as they make their way in a monstrously middle-class world, battling addiction and disorder. 

POWA (Protection of Womxn in the Arts) is a musical collective run by Ashley Stein and Siobhan Wilson which provides paid opportunities for women-identifying and non-binary musicians and music industry professionals to create new commissions and access mentorship, guidance, and professional resources.  

Co-founders Siobhan Wilson and Ashley Stein commented: “The money we have received from the Open Fund will allow us to work with a diverse range of artists and share newly commissioned musical works with our members, helping our music and message to reach a wider audience and providing a platform where women can express their experiences.” 

Following the successful release of What We Might Know in 2018, Edinburgh based band Broken Records will record their 5th studio album which will be released on their own label, J Sharp Records.  

On receiving funding Broken Records’ Iain Turnbull said: “The album is due to be released in Spring 2022, and we’re looking forward to it building on our previous work by allowing us to show our audience a different side to the band.  

“After 14 years we have a dedicated following, and this album will allow us to carry on that interaction by sharing stories and our music from a different stage of our lives to connect to what is happening in their own lives.” 

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “It’s great to see so many projects continue to benefit from Open Fund awards.

“Thanks to the generosity of the National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, these awards are creating many invaluable opportunities for people and communities across Scotland to engage with the arts while enabling artists and creative organisations to develop and grow.” 

A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.

Edinburgh creative projects get go ahead with Lottery funding

Thirteen creative projects from Edinburgh-based artists and creative organisations are taking place thanks to more than £253,000 National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland.  

And If Not Now When? – a new audio-visual installation being exhibited at National Museum of Scotland; Open Book – a project aimed at making literature accessible to diverse populations and Positive Imaginings, an innovative outdoor show presenting the issue of climate change for young audiences are among 44 projects in total sharing in £903,734 of funding.  

And If Not Now When? (above) is a new work from sound-designer Philip Pinsky and film-maker Karen Lamond. The interactive audio-visual installation aims to inspire a re-imagining of our urban spaces and what our human experience of them is and can be. 

The installation will be on public display at National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh from 1st to 14th November 2021 (during COP26). 

Co-creator and sound designer Philip Pinsky says: “Through our work we are inviting the public to experience a transformed urban reality with the aim of inspiring social change and provoking answers to the question, how can we respond to the climate emergency?” 

Open Book uses literature as a tool for combating social isolation, supporting wellbeing, inspiring creativity and amplifying marginalised voices.  

Open Book’s co-founder and development director Marjorie Lotfi says: “Participants describe our groups as ‘a lifesaver’, an ‘oasis’ and a ‘way to connect’ with others when they feel isolated by geography, disability or circumstance. 

“Funding means we can continue this work from Shetland to Ullapool to Stranraer, in community groups, groups for the elderly and refugees and migrants, in prisons, and in public sessions in English, Gaelic, Scots and Arabic.” 

Speactram is the debut album from vocalist, lyricist and poet Marcas Mac an Tuairneir. This debut release will see Marcas embrace the Gaelic language whilst showcasing musical influences from the genres of pop, pop-folk, R&B and dance.

A key element of this new work will be an exploration of LGBTQ’s place within the Gaelic corpus.  

Marcas Mac an Tuairneir says: “I am grateful to Creative Scotland for seeing the worth in me as an artist and this new development in Gaelic music.

“As an urban new speaker of Gaelic, it is important to me that Gaelic arts represent the myriad experiences of the community across Scotland and in Canada too.”  

Finally, Positive Imaginings is a new outdoor show from Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education CIC.

Director Arran Sheppard said: “Creative Scotland funding will enable us to bring the Positive Imaginings show to communities in Edinburgh and Glasgow during COP26, giving children from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to engage with the Climate Emergency in a creative and empowering way.”

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players who raise £34 million for good causes across the UK every week, our Open Fund awards are helping artists and creative organisations develop innovative projects that enrich the lives of people across Scotland, while raising questions about the important issues of our time and ensuring our collective creative voice continues to be heard.”

A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.

National Lottery supports Edinburgh creative projects through Open Fund Awards

A series of innovative creative projects from Edinburgh artists and creative organisations have been set in motion thanks to funding awarded through Creative Scotland’s Open Fund. 

Over £150,400 has been awarded to nine Edinburgh based projects including a new dance platform from Dance Horizons; Page2Stage, a new writing night produced by Michelle McKay and hosted by Assembly Roxy and a family-friendly festival in Vogrie Park. 

These projects are among 45 across the country sharing over £1million of National Lottery funding.

These funds aim to support creativity across Scotland for artists, organisations and creative groups as they seek to build sustainability after emerging from COVID-19 restrictions.  

Innovations from Dance Horizons is a new contemporary dance platform that will support artists through the production process to share their creative practice as a high-quality finished work to audiences.  

CEO and producer Oliver James Anwyl says: “As we emerge from the pandemic, this funding is incredibly valuable to ensure the success of this year’s platform.

“Dance has been one of the hardest genres to present online during the last 18 months and we are so excited to bring work to the stage for our audiences to enjoy.” 

Glacial Narratives – a report from the Arctic is an exhibition that aims to raise awareness of the wonder of ice as a material and ask questions about its disappearance in the run up to COP26.  

Artist Mary Walters says: “As artists, we can add to contemporary climate change discussions by articulating the wonder we have for this amazing material that is fast disappearing.” 

Page2Stage Edinburgh is a new writing night produced by Michelle McKay and hosted by Assembly Roxy that will provide a supportive environment for playwrights to gain feedback on their work and offers the audience a unique insight into the writing process. 

Producer Michelle Mackay says: “We are working at grassroots level, building a network in Edinburgh and the funding means we can continue to build and develop Page2Stage providing further opportunities to create new work and partnerships.” 

VOGRIE POGRIE is a free, highly accessible and family-friendly festival taking place entirely outdoors in Vogrie Park from 11-12 September with pop-up performances from clowns and storytellers, activities and workshops and activities in the park and local community beginning from 3 September. 

Callum Ross, Creative Director says: “Trotwork Events is delighted to have received funding and have the opportunity to work with lots of great creative artists and groups again. 

“Vogrie Park will come alive, and it will feel like a lovely gift to us all to enjoy. We can’t wait.” 

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “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 continue to build resilience within Scotland’s artistic community as well as provide creative engagement opportunities to enrich the lives of people across Scotland”.  

A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.  

Creative Scotland: Latest round of Open Fund awards announced

104 projects are sharing in over £1.7m of National Lottery and Scottish Government funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Fund awards. 

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.   

With the live music scene paused due to lockdown restrictions, Glasgow-based music platform Tenement TV has received £14,954 to create TTV COLLECTIVE; an online space to support and showcase emerging Scottish musicians. Allowing artists to create new recorded live experiences for music fans, the project will provide a paid platform for musicians in the absence of live gigs and concerts. 

Chae Houston, Director, Tenement TV said: “After almost a year without live music, TTV are delighted to launch this brand-new project which will allow artists in Scotland to collaborate and create, in line with current guidelines.  

“We’ve curated a fresh live recorded content programme featuring new combinations and collaborations from up-and-coming Scottish musical talent across the country and we cannot wait to share it with our audience.” 

The Scottish BAME Writers Network has received £49,837 for its 2021 programme, ‘Staying Connected’. Founded in 2018 to engage, validate and connect Black writers and writers of colour, the network advocates for inclusive publishing and promotes diverse voices within Scotland’s literary sector.  

The ‘Staying Connected’ programme will sustain community connection at a time when many are living in isolation, and create paid opportunities for BAME voices across publishing, mentoring and editorial roles. 

Jeda Pearl Lewis, Co-Director, Scottish BAME Writers Network said: “This year we plan to provide writing workshops, paid work, submission opportunities and writer development initiatives for our community and integrate more accessibility into our programming. Taking a nuanced, inclusive and intersectional approach to our work will continue to be at the heart of our organisation.” 

Community art project Fun A Day Dundee has also received £6,963 to help children, hobbyists and ‘non-artists’ to get creative by making art or doing something fun every day throughout the month of January. This free initiative will culminate in an online group exhibition, showcasing work by participants of all ages and abilities. 

Samantha Sherriff, Co-ordinator, Fun A Day Dundee said: “By supporting artists and non-artists, we hope to encourage new patterns and habits of playful making that will improve mental health, grow small businesses and support artistic development.  

“We welcome all skills and art mediums, and it’s a delight to see this wide variety of artists and makers encouraging each other, as well as sharing ideas and techniques.” 

Other initiatives supported by the latest round of Open Fund awards include William Letford’s Unexpected Poetry project, which will bring poetry installations to the streets of Stirling, and writer Elspeth Lewis’s memoir ‘The Sun on My Skin’, which aims to explore nature writing through the lens of disability and identity. 

Joan Parr, Arts and Engagement Director, Creative Scotland said: “As we begin 2021, the Open Fund continues to support Scotland’s arts and creative community to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about as a result of Covid-19.  

“From championing Scottish BAME writers to reimagining live music for digital audiences, these projects are testament to the determination, resilience and imagination of creative individuals and organisations in the face of extremely challenging circumstances. 

“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.” 

A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.   

The fund has no deadlines, and full eligibility criteria and application guidance can be found on the Creative Scotland website.  

Capital’s creative projects share in over £1.6m National Lottery funds

The development of picture books for children with complex additional needs, a project to sustain community singing and an exhibition about life after lockdown are among the Edinburgh-based projects and research and development initiatives sharing in over £1.6million of National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Fund awards.  

These funds are supporting creative individuals, projects and organisations across the country to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by COVID-19, and helping to sustain people’s creative development at this challenging time. 

A project to develop picture books specifically designed for children with complex additional needs has received development funding.

Led by Edinburgh-based author Ailie Finlay and illustrator Kate Leiper, the project will explore how elements of movement, multi-sensory stimuli and musical interludes can help make picture books more engaging, ergonomic and cost-effective. The results will be shared with publishers, authors, illustrators and booksellers to help encourage accessibility in children’s literature. 

Ailie Finlay said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received funding and we’re very much looking forward to developing innovative books that are fun and inspirational for children with complex needs and their families and friends.”

Love Music Productions have received development funding for Connected Choirs to help local community singing groups find ways to successfully come together for distanced community singing. 

As part of this project, songwriters across different genres will be paired with a choir and commissioned to develop a creative response to the challenges of sustaining community singing in times of restricted social contact. The resulting choral materials will assist with distanced teaching and learning, and will be available for free to singing groups across Scotland. 

Talbot Rice Gallery have received research and development funds for a new exhibition exploring what ‘normal’ might look like following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Normal will look at how culture can shape the future, and examine ways in which individuals and communities can help ensure that whatever becomes ‘normal’ after the pandemic is founded upon equality, respect and ecological harmony. 

Tessa Giblin, Director, Talbot Rice Gallery said:“We want to look at what this pandemic year has meant to us from a variety of angles – from viruses and their relationship with evolution, to the asymmetry of this pandemic due to social and racial inequality, to its proof that we can step off the train of progress.”

A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website. 

Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: “The Open Fund is supporting the creative sector to explore new, safe ways of working, developing practices and reaching wide audiences.

“From poetry festivals to theatre programmes, these projects reflect the resilience, innovation and determination of Scotland’s creative community in the face of COVID-19.” 

“Through these challenging and unpredictable times, creativity, art and culture are bringing us together and supporting our emotional wellbeing. Made possible by the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, these awards are helping to sustain the value that creativity adds to our lives.”