Published: 27 Feb 2017
41 Open Project Funding awards of between £1,443 and £99,767 made in January 2017
Creative Scotland has awarded over £850,000 through the Open Project Fund in January 2017 to 41 recipients, including individual artists, musicians, dancers, writers, theatre makers, festivals and organisations working across the arts, screen and creative industries. Over £800,000 of these awards are supported through National Lottery Funding.
Glasgow-based AyeWrite! Book Festival, 9-19 March, has received funding towards this year’s programme which includes Ian Rankin, actor Peter Davison, Jenni Murray, Val McDiarmid, AL Kennedy and Frank Gardner.
Literary magazine, the Scottish Review of Books has received funding to strengthen its editorial infrastructure.
Novelist Jackie Copleton, historical fiction writer Margaret Skea, Graphic Novelists Metaphrog and David John Lumsden have all received funding towards new work.
Aly Barr, Acting Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland said: “The breadth of projects that we’ve been able to support in this round is breath-taking. Scotland’s other national book festival, Aye Write, has secured funding for another packed edition whilst the Scottish Review of Books plan to expand their team; new writer Margaret Skea - from the Scottish Borders - will research a new work of historical fiction whilst David John Lumsden heads back to the future with the 3rd of his dystopian graphic novels, the eagerly anticipated Blood in the Water.
“While, as always, there are many more good applications than we have the funds to support, these latest awards do provide invaluable support to the successful applicants and we look forward to seeing their work develop as a result.”
Among the music awards, HebCelt, 19-22 July 2017, and the Aberdeen Jazz Festival, 15-19 March 2017, have received funding towards their respective programmes.
The Scottish Music Industry Association has received funding towards the Scottish Album of the Year Awards to be held in Paisley in June.
Saxophone and piano ensemble Mckenzie Sawers Duo, singer songwriter Roddy Woomble, dark pop/alt rock band Mt. Doubt and composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Paul Russell (Human Pyramids) have received funding towards new material.
Mt. Doubt said: “We're really excited and grateful to have the support of Creative Scotland, going forward this year, to record and release lots of new music! We believe these songs are the best we've written to date and we can't wait to share them!"
In theatre, Playwright Martin Travers has received funding towards Annville a new Scots language play adapted from the novel The Flourish by Canadian artist, novelist and poet Heather Spears.
Scottish Theatre Producers have received funding towards The Sunshine Ghost, a new Scottish musical based on the 1930s film The Ghost Goes West. The Sunshine Ghost will be directed by Ken Alexander, written by Andy Cannon and Richard Ferguson and music and lyrics by Richard Ferguson.
Theatre maker Ellie Griffiths has received funding to research and develop new approaches to making theatre for young people on the autistic spectrum.
Scottish Theatre Producers said: “Scottish Theatre Producers is delighted to be co-producing with the Festival and King's Theatres Edinburgh to bring this new musical to Scottish stages. Touring to small and mid-scale venues in autumn 2017 and then large scale in autumn 2018, The Sunshine Ghost will be a fast paced, funny and very entertaining musical for all ages.”
Jewellery designer Misun Won has received funding to participate in a Scottish showcase curated by Craft Scotland at the American Craft Council’s show, 22-23 February 2017.
Craft maker Laura Spring has received funding to research, develop and produce a series of rugs, prints and wall hangings inspired by the Finnish form of weaving called Täkänä. The subsequent work will be launched as part of an interiors collection, at design junction at the London Design Festival, 16-24 September 2017.
Campbeltown Picture House has received funding to support its ongoing refurbishment to improve the back of house facilities and make them more accessible.
Glasgow-based audio production company Bigmouth Audio has received professional development funding to inform their work on project, Once Upon A Time In Zombieville – an audio cartoon designed to help bridge the gap between visually and non-visually impaired children.
Jane Mayo, Chairman, Campbeltown Picture House said: “We are grateful for this important funding for the nerve centre of Campbeltown Picture House. This renovation work will enable the restoration of our historic 104 year old cinema and deliver our Centenary Project with the aim of bringing a state of the art, modern cinema building to a remote community in the west of Scotland.”
Among the dance awards, Stammer Productions have received funding to support the development and presentation of a new choreographic work by Colette Sadler, Learning from the future. Funding will also support the research and development phase of a sequel to Sadler’s performance work for young audiences, We Are The Monsters.
Dundee-based Joan Cleville Dance has received funding towards the creation and touring of a new dance theatre work, The North, co-commissioned by Tramway and The Place.
Joan Lopez-Cleville, Artistic Director, Joan Cleville Dance said: “The support from Creative Scotland comes at a crucial state of development of the company. The funding will allow us to build on the creative momentum and the extraordinary national and international interest that our inaugural piece Plan B for Utopia has gathered since 2015. We are also delighted to be working with Tramway and The Place as co-commissioners of our new work.”
East Lothian-based North Light Arts has received funding towards The John Muir Way - an interdisciplinary arts programme that will include the creation of new site-specific public art work by Scottish artists Dalziel + Scullion, Alec Findlay and Hannah Imlach, participatory art workshops and a range of cultural events along the John Muir Way in East Lothian.
Stills: Centre for Photography has received funding towards a programme of activities to mark its 40th anniversary. The project will include a series of exhibitions and creative learning activities at the gallery in Edinburgh, throughout the city, and in other parts of Scotland.
Grampian Hospital Arts Trust has received funding towards a contemporary arts programme at Grampian Hospital Arts Trust. Funding will support a series of exhibitions, public events, published material, and training opportunities for arts graduates. It will also support the creation of new work for exhibition in The Suttie Arts Space.
Moving image artists Florrie James and Christine Jones have both received funding towards the creation of new work.
Ben Harman, Director, Stills: Centre for Photography said: “Stills is delighted to have this support. It will enable us to mark our 40th anniversary year with an exciting programme of new activities. Most crucially, the funding will allow us to provide opportunities and support for new talent, strengthening the future position of the photography sector in Scotland.”
Open Project Funding is available to a wide range of organisations and individuals working across Scotland in the arts, screen and creative industries. It supports a broad spectrum of activity including creative and professional development, research and development, production, small capital requirements, touring and collaborations, festivals, arts programming, audience development, etc. A full list of activities supported through this route is set out in the Open Project Funding application guidance. Support is available for projects of different scale and duration with the maximum period of award being set at 2 years. Awards are made in the range £1,000 to £100,000 (or up to £150,000 by exception).
Please note the funding awards remain offers of funding until such time as all terms and conditions have been formally accepted and fulfilled by the award recipient. If an award recipient fails to accept any offer, the funding award will be withdrawn and credited to future Open Project Funding Panels.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
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