Tag: performing arts

New Funding for Live Theatre & Dance Performances

From today, Thursday 10 December 2020, applications are invited from the dance, theatre and multi artform sector for a share in £600K National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland, for live performance tours from Spring 2021. 

In this latest round of theTheatre and Dance Touring Fund, applications are invited from Scotland-based dance and theatre artists, companies and organisations, independent dance and theatre producers and venues, for the making and touring of new work or the restaging of previous work for presentation to live audiences under Covid-19 restrictions, in a minimum of three locations across Scotland. 

Iain Munro, Creative Scotland’s CEO said: “Supporting Scotland’s theatre and dance touring infrastructure is important, helping high quality theatre in Scotland to flourish and creating opportunities for more people across the country to experience and enjoy it.  

“Made possible by the generosity of National Lottery players who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, this round of the Theatre and Dance Touring Fund responds directly to the challenging position that theatres, venues, producers, artists, companies and their audiences are in due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

Creative Scotland is also seeking five external panel members to work alongside Creative Scotland staff to decide the successful applications in this round of the Fund.

Panel members will be expected to hold credible professional knowledge and expertise of the Theatre and Dance Touring sector in Scotland, either from a programming perspective or as a maker/producer of touring work.  

The Deadline for applications is 12 noon, Thursday 7 January 2021 through the Scottish Government e-Tendering System, Public Contracts Scotland.  

Performing Arts Venues relief fund opens

Following yesterday’s announcement by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon of a £2.5m increase to the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund, taking the total available through the fund to £12.5m, Creative Scotland has, today, published guidance on how to access this fund.

Allocation of this fund is as follows:

· £7.5m targeted funding for performing arts venues in Scotland currently in receipt of Regular Funding through Creative Scotland

· £5m open fund for application from Scotland based performing arts venues not currently in receipt of Regular Funding. This open fund has been developed with input from the Federation for Scottish Theatre and opens today, Thursday 30 July 2020.

The Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund will help performing arts venues which cannot yet reopen to their audiences due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Scottish Government intends the fund to:

· Remove the threat of insolvency prior to the end of March 2021 to enable the development and delivery of activity as soon as practicable

· Allow for specialist / core staff to return from furlough or avoid redundancy to work on future sustainable activity plans

· Increase commissioning and employment opportunities for freelance artists and creative practitioners (between now and end of March 2021) to support continued public engagement while closed.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Our world-class performing arts venues have suffered immensely from the impacts of coronavirus. They were among some of the first businesses to close and sadly, will be amongst the last to reopen.

“We worked hard to get much-needed funding out as quickly as possible to the culture sector to help organisations cope with the immediate effects of the pandemic, and this new fund recognises the particular difficulties which continue to be felt by performing arts venues.

“I’m pleased to announce we have increased the fund to £12.5 million, which will ensure even more venues can get financial support to help them through this challenging time.”

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “We very much welcome this funding from Scottish Government which provides some much needed relief for Performing Arts Venues in Scotland, venues which are facing significant financial challenges due to their continued closure in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have worked at pace to open this fund for application as quickly as possible.

“Beyond this fund, we are also working closely with the Scottish Government on further measures to provide emergency support for the culture sector and further details will be announced as soon as possible.”

Costume for Stage and Screen students bring Edwardian style to Festival Theatre

Exquisite tailoring and elegant Edwardian silhouettes will be taking over Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre as Edinburgh College Costume students display their work in a new exhibition opening next week. Continue reading Costume for Stage and Screen students bring Edwardian style to Festival Theatre

Scottish Youth Theatre opens registration for 2018

034_382__750_x_400px_1501150599_standard

Fresh from a sold out performance by their first ever National Ensemble last month, Scottish Youth Theatre have opened registrations for the 2018 company.

The successful applicants will form the second ever Scottish Youth Theatre National Ensemble. 2018 is the year of young people, and the company are keen to find the best Scotland has to offer, so they will be travelling to Edinburgh to audition aspiring performers from the area.

The National Ensemble is a year’s commitment and is open to anyone aged 16 – 25 who lives, works, studies or has family in Scotland. Auditions and membership of the Ensemble is free and entry is based purely on ability.

Once recruited, Ensemble members will attend monthly development weekends led by top theatre practitioners taking place across Scotland. This will culminate in a flagship performance in August which will be devised and performed by the company.

When asked what qualities are required in potential members, SYT’s Artistic Director Mary McCluskey explained: “We are looking for creative, enthusiastic and dedicated young people. Individuals who display the potential are the ones who will most benefit from everything the Ensemble has to offer. As the Ensemble is a collaborative experience, those with an interest in theatre-making in all its forms, including writing, directing and performing are encouraged to apply.

“The Ensemble is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to study or pursue a career in theatre and performance. Our current Ensemble has worked with a range of practitioners including Frantic Assembly and BAFTA winner Kate Dickie. 2018 will see similar opportunities in the build up to the main production which will be a central part of SYT’s contribution to the Year of Young People”.

Ensemble 2017 member Stephen Quinn (23) from Falkirk is keen to recommend the Ensemble experience. Stephen said: “The opportunity to work with like-minded peers and with professionals is not one to be passed up. Scottish Youth Theatre cares about giving those with talent and drive the skills and knowledge they’ll need to become versatile, accomplished performers. Working with them is an opportunity you should definitely not miss out on.”

Auditions will be held on 14 & 15 October at Edinburgh Palette in The Drawing Room.

Those interested in being part of the Ensemble should register for an audition by Friday 22 September at www.scottishyouththeatre.org

Culture Project Fund: applications close 10 March

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture Project Fund will in its first year focus on support for the performing arts. Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded to organisations based in Edinburgh to help with the costs involved in developing new performing artwork. Continue reading Culture Project Fund: applications close 10 March

Electrifying talent on show in Let’s Glow festival

Let’s Glow festival shines a light on Edinburgh College’s creative talent

Dance Students

Edinburgh College’s dazzling creative students are about to light up the city with a two-month celebration of their luminous talents.

The Let’s Glow festival gives Edinburgh the chance to enjoy performances and exhibitions from college students covering everything from music, theatre and dance to photography, film, art, animation, textiles and design. The programme of events will showcase the skills and talents of the students, demonstrating the work they have undertaken at Edinburgh College over the last year.

Let’s Glow runs from 4 May to 22 June, with events taking place at venues across the city – including the college’s campuses, Summerhall, The King’s Theatre, The Traverse Theatre, The Edinburgh Filmhouse and The Queen’s Hall. Photography students are also taking their work to exhibit at Brick Lane in London.

The festival will feature students from all the college’s creative industries study programmes: Art and Design; Broadcast Media and Photography; Computing; Music and Sound Production; and Performing Arts.

The programme includes large-scale end-of-year shows by music, arts, photography, film and animation students; the PASS Cross Currents dance event choreographed by college staff and performed by students; an exhibition of make-up artistry; a graphic design exhibition; performances of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and contemporary Scottish play My Romantic History; the PASS Out showcase for final-year Acting and Performance students; a musical theatre revue; and the premier of an original musical about Scotland’s most revered and most controversial instrument – the bagpipes!

Acting and Performance Students

The festival launched last night with sneak peek performances at the city’s La Belle Angele.

Jon Buglass, head of the Centre for Creative Industries at Edinburgh College, said: “Following the success of the first Let’s Glow festival last year, we’re delighted to showcase the incredible talents of our current crop of students. The events at this year’s festival allow us to celebrate and share the remarkable work our students have been producing over the last year. We are constantly blown away by the quality of their work and the time, effort and dedication they put into its production.

“The diversity in the programme means there really is something for everyone on offer. So if you want to be inspired by the talents of our students, get along to one of our Let’s Glow events.”

The full programme of events – some of which are free – and details of where to buy tickets can be found at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/letsglow.

Keep up to date with Let’s Glow events on Facebook and Twitter.

#letsglow15