This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Artistic 'partners' to take up residence
03/05/2005
A lottery funded project worth £1.4 million to enable
artists to take their work into communities was announced
today.
The 'PARTNERS' initiative is a series of artists'
residencies across Scotland which will give those
communities with little experience of the arts new
opportunities to participate alongside experts.
The residencies include a music project for adults with
disabilities to perform swing music, circus skills courses
for schools in the Glasgow area, and developing a
community-led internet channel in Aberdeen.
At the launch at the Glasgow's Arches, Culture Minister
Patricia Ferguson said:
"Giving people the opportunity to encounter others with
expertise and enthusiasm can be truly inspirational. And
the 'Partners' scheme will allow that artistic experience
and expertise to be shared and help participants discover
new skills and new ways to improve their local
environments.
"The arts can boost young people's educational and
creative achievements and play a big part in increasing
self-worth and self-confidence. They also play a
significant part in regenerating economically disadvantaged
areas and communities.
"Partners is a significant and imaginative step forward,
building on work that is happening across Scotland's
communities to address barriers to participation in
cultural activity. I believe that the artists and
organisations that take part will experience real and
lasting changes in their own lives and the lives of their
communities."
Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council Richard Holloway
said:
"One of the things we have learned from all the research
that has been done into what is now called social exclusion
is that the people caught in that particular trap are not
only money-poor, they are culture-poor. That's where this
brilliant new programme 'Partners' comes in.
"Since the culture-poor find it almost impossible to
access the transforming possibilities of art, art has
decided to come to them. Like most brilliant ideas, it's
simple, but offers a genuine opportunity to change
lives."
Writer and artist-in-residence Mamie Lang added:
"My life story expresses all of the joys and
transformations that the arts can bring to people. I went
from being a cleaner to a television script writer in what
seemed like a moment, and now I am able to pass on those
experiences, I hope in all their richness, to those who
take part in my residencies."
The purpose of this new fund is to support artist
residencies lasting from three months to two years. The
artist will be based in, and work in collaboration with, a
local community. As part of the residency, the artist will
also have time to develop their own work.
Priority will be given to proposals which are in Social
Inclusion Partnership areas or which involve people who
have few or no opportunities to participate in the
arts.
Partners residencies, which will also support artists by
providing a period of reasonable financial stability, will
provide a further opportunity for communities to learn how
artists work as well as to enjoy sharing skills with top
class artists in their own fields.
Residencies may be in any artform - the term 'artist'
could be an actor, animator, composer, crafts practitioner,
dance artist, choreographer, director, film-maker,
musician, playwright, visual artist or writer.
Applications are now invited from communities, schools,
workplaces who wish to host a residency.
A toolkit for prospective applicants is available. The
next deadline for partners applications is July 4.
Examples of Partners residencies
Peacock Visual Arts, in partnership with
Great Northern Partnership: A visual artist will work with
local community members and the Station House Media Unit to
produce a range of publications in various media and
developing a community led internet channel. The artist
will be housed in vacant council housing in the
community.
Aberdeenshire and Angus Councils. These
two councils are joining to host 3 artists in residence in
electronic urban music, street poetry and large scale
installation work. The artists will work with pupils of 4
secondary schools across the area, bringing urban culture
to this rural community.
West Dunbartonshire Council (library
service) A team of three artists, a writer, graphic artist
and web-designer, will work with children and young people.
They will learn to write, illustrate and electronically
publish their own stories, producing animated stories,
e-stories, illustrated stories, poem posters and
cartoons.
Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust. This 2
year dance residency in Clackmannanshire will work with
schools and community to develop a range of workshops and
classes, supported by training for teachers. The work will
be showcased in performances in the community.
Dance House: A two-year dancer in
residence will allow Dance House to create opportunities
for people of all ages to participate in classes and
workshops. This follows successful work with elderly people
and after-school clubs.
Glasgow City Council: A writer will work
with the newly formed Artists in Exile group; refugees and
asylum seekers in all artforms. They will: support a forum
for the group; give master classes to writers, and feed
into the city's programme of events, festivals and
show-cases.
The Arches: A two-year resident circus
performer will work with young graduates of previous summer
schools to provide a programme of workshops for young
people in up to 30 schools in the area.
Hidden Gardens: Building on the success of
this garden venue at Tramway, a resident artist in visual
arts/drama will develop a programme of events with the
local community, resulting in exhibitions and events
presented at Tramway.
Benchtours: Three artists will work with
adults with learning difficulties to develop several new
works: a large scale sensory installation which the
participants will be able to spend time in; a video by a
small group - from storyboard to film; a musical
performance and taster sessions.
Drake music project: A musician will work
closely with the Antonine Court centre for adults with
disabilities, working towards an exciting project with the
RSNO - a performance of swing-time music. The staff, cares
and family members will also have an opportunity to get
involved.
Renfrewshire Dance Project: A
dancer/choreographer will provide a range of opportunities
for people in Renfrewshire to try out dance, and for young
dance professionals in the area to develop a new company
and perform their work. Introductory classes will be held
in schools and community centres; at least 4 new youth
dance groups will be formed.
Fife College: The Xpress project is a
partnership between Fife College, FRAE Fife and YMCA/YWCA
Glenrothes. A photographer and writer will work with groups
of people of all backgrounds in the area to produce new
work which will be showcased in a touring exhibition and
on-line.
Dance base: A professional
dancer/choreographer will work with groups of disabled
adults, tailoring programmes to their specific needs. They
will also work with professional dancers at Dance Base to
develop new work. Both the groups' and the professionals'
work will be showcased at Dance Base.
Stirling Council: The Tolbooth will host a
musician in residence to work with: primary school pupils
and their parents; a homeless persons centre and youth club
in the Raploch area. Taster sessions will be followed with
development of work by the groups and new composition
clubs.
Clackmannanshire Council: A writer/story
teller will be based at the new Art House; a hard-to-let
house which will be transformed into a centre for arts
activity. The writer will explore the built and natural
heritage of the area. Workshops and events using radio, web
video and other media will develop the themes.
Visual Statement: A dancer and musician
will provide taster sessions for up to 6,000
schoolchildren. This is great timing, as the organisation
re-locates to a new purpose built arts centre in
Easterhouse in 2005. Individuals will then be able to join
the new programmes of evening classes, and the artists will
work with some schools to develop their work.