Places with Under 10,000 Residents (award £100,000):

Winner: West Kilbride

West Kilbride has retained its sense of place in the face of decline and dereliction, and contributed to a more creative Scotland in the process.  Local volunteers formed West Kilbride Community Initiative with a remit to position the town as Craft Town Scotland. A model which has promoted crafts at ‘grass-roots’ level; it has supported, and will continue to support, makers of all disciplines at all levels. Its inclusive and varied programming ensures its continued engagement with existing and new audiences for craft. The project currently operates a number of craft studios, gallery retail space, and a gift shop. 

The award will allow Craft Town Scotland to develop a new series of exhibitions for Barony Centre and develop new programmes to involve younger, and older, members of the community in their creative programme.

Nominees:

Huntly

Creativity is a way of life in Huntly. Catering for locals and tourists alike, cultural events and festivals take place on a regular basis throughout the year. Deveron Arts is a key player  and others involved include Huntly & District Pipe Band; Dudendance Theatre;  Jessiman Dance School;  Music Centeral; the Tin Hut Sessions;  Huntly Community Film Club; Strathspey and Strathbogie Fiddlers; Aurora Choir; Huntly Folk Club and Huntly Writers.  Many of these organisations collaborate on projects and there are strong international links with individual artist residencies and exchanges taking place on an ongoing basis.

Prestonpans

Since 2001 the Prestoungrange Arts Festival has produced a wide range of artworks in and around Prestonpans.  Today it has 55 public artworks throughout the area.  The town’s murals have been the catalyst for a series of community arts festivals and events that now run all year round.  Annual events include: the 3 Habours Arts Festival; a Seafood Festival; various music festivals; and the Battle of Prestonpans Re-enactments. The most recent success has been the Prestonpans Tapestry; which is 104 metres long; has involved over 250 volunteer stitchers nationwide and has attracted over 100,000 visitors since its launch in July 2010.  The hub for this activity has been the Prestoungrange Gothenburg, a social enterprise, where 95% of profits are invested back into the community through the Arts Programme.

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