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 Grinlyis 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.
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotlandsaid: “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.”
Emergency funds from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland are enabling youth arts and music organisations to roll out new activities and initiatives for young people in the Edinburgh area.
Drake Music, Tinderbox Collective and Starcatchers* are among 18 youth music and wider youth arts organisations receiving a share of £1,053,000 to deliver a range of local and national projects, all of which target priority groups of children and young people and provide important work for freelance artists.
Thursa Sanderson, Chief Executive, Drake Music Scotland said: “This funding will enable us to forge ahead with Sound Explorers, a new programme of online activity. It responds positively to the changed learning landscape for young people with additional support needs – offering an interactive and fun way to make music.
“It will directly tackle the lack of access to music making for young people with disabilities and additional support needs caused by the Covid pandemic removing the barriers for those isolating at home and those in the classroom.”
Jack Nissan, Director, Tinderbox Collective said: “The Youth Arts Targeted fund is an invaluable support that will enable us to provide a range of music projects, youth clubs and creative opportunities to hundreds of children and young people at this time, both on-line and in person, as we adapt to the changing circumstances of the pandemic.
“It is so important that all young people have access to positive, social and creative activities like this, and that we do whatever we can to keep these going at this time.”
Rhona Matheson, Chief Executive, Starcatchers said: “On behalf of Starcatchers, Imaginate and Lyra I am delighted that we have secured the Youth Arts funding to deliver the Where We Are project together.
“As well as providing children and young people with the opportunity to engage with, and participate in creative activities in their own communities, it will also provide more than 15 jobs for artists and freelance practitioners over the next year.
“Given the challenges we are all facing as a result of the Covid pandemic, this is an exciting opportunity to initiate a new project that fosters collaboration, creativity and connection.”
Opportunities for young people are also being provided on a nationwide basis through other Fund recipients including Engage, Film Access Scotland, National Piping Centre, National Youth Choir, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Brass Band Association, Scottish Music Centre, Scottish Youth Theatre and Youth Theatre Arts.
Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop said: “Youth music and youth arts organisations across Scotland are playing an important role in the lives of young people during these difficult times.
“This funding will support these organisations to expand their work and provide creative opportunities to young people as well as work and income for the artists and practitioners working with them through these projects.”
These awards are the first to be announced from the Scottish Government’s £3million funding package for Youth Arts. Further announcements will follow regarding recipients of at least £1.2million through the Access to Youth Arts Fund, the £700,000 Small Grants Scheme and £50,000 assigned to the Time to Shine Nurturing Talent Fund.
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “All the emergency funds currently being delivered by Creative Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government are vital in addressing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m particularly pleased that we are able to announce today the first recipients of this Youth Arts funding which will reach some of the children and young people most adversely affected by the pandemic and provide important work for freelance artists whose opportunities have been so severely impacted by Covid-19.”
The full list of Fund recipients:
Organisation (Trading name)
Local Authority Area
Funding Amount
Drake Music Scotland
Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highland
£61,880
Engage
National
£40,744
Fèisean nan Gàidheal
Highland, National
£30,000
Fèis Rois
Highland
£64,820
Film Access Scotland
National
£40,744
National Piping Centre
National
£37,477
National Youth Choir of Scotland
Aberdeen, Glasgow, National
£64,820
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
Glasgow, Stirling
£30,000
Scottish Book Trust
National
£64,820
Scottish Brass Band Association
National
£50,680
Scottish Music Centre
National
£64,820
Scottish Youth Theatre
National
£64,079
Sistema Scotland
Dundee, Aberdeen
£50,805
Starcatchers*
Edinburgh, Fife
£193,605
Tinderbox Collective
Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross
£64,820
Toonspeak Young Peoples Theatre
Glasgow
£44,448
YDance
North Lanarkshire
£35,892
Youth Theatre Arts Scotland
National
£48,939
Total: £1,053,393.00
*Starcatchers led consortium working in partnership with Imaginate and Lyra.
Updates on all emergency funds are being published regularly on this website and publicised through media and social media communications.
Photograph: Anne Binckebanck, courtesy of Drake Music
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