Published: 23 Aug 2021
45 projects are sharing in over £1million of National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Fund awards.
Image credit: Bloody Scotland, image by Gold Images - from left to right: Alistair Liddle (author), Bob McDevitt (Festival Director), Jess McGoff (Festival Digital Manager), Marion Todd (Author), Marisa Haetzman (Author), Craig Robertson (Author), Chris Brookmyre (Author), Mark Wightman (Author).
From Scotland’s international crime writing festival to personalised playwriting workshops and city-wide grass roots community projects, these funds support creativity across Scotland for artists, organisations and creative groups as they seek to build sustainability as we emerge from Covid-19 restrictions.
Running from 17-19 Sept, this year’s international crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland will host a combination of in person and live online events showcasing international names and upcoming talent.
Director Bob McDevitt says: “We’re so grateful for this National Lottery Funding through Creative Scotland. It’s allowing us not only to return to Stirling for a physical event, bringing our devoted Bloody Scotland followers back to enjoy the hotels, bars, restaurants and shops in the town, but to include those who aren't yet able to travel by making the festival available to watch online. We think it's the best of both worlds!”
Throughout September, the Glasgow Open House Arts Festival will fill windows, car parks, gardens, parks, balconies and other unexpected outdoor locations with new and surprising artworks.
Amalie Silvani-Jones, Creative Director and Co-Founder says: "Since the festival's founding in 2013 it has always been our ambition to move away from a voluntary model and further our support for the city's much loved and important grassroots arts scene.
“With this funding we will introduce the small Artists Supporting Artists bursary pot, in tandem with professional filming and more professional development, which we hope will mean that artists from all backgrounds will be able to take away tangible benefits to help develop their practice after the festival."
RESONATE is a year-long programme of drama and playwriting workshops for adults with experience of long-term mental ill health from participatory arts organisation Art Angel. This project will be delivered in-person and online and will culminate in performances in Dundee as well as live and pre-recorded online screenings.
Rosie Summerton, Artistic Director of Art Angel says: “Receiving the Open Fund for our drama project will open many exciting opportunities for people with mental health issues in Dundee. It will improve the mental health and wellbeing of all who participate.”
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, alongside equally welcome funding from the Scottish Government, these Open Fund awards continue to build resilience within Scotland’s artistic community whilst providing creative engagement opportunities to enrich the lives of people across Scotland.”
The National Lottery has raised more than £41 billion for more than 565,000 good causes across the UK since 1994. Thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600 million has been made available to support people, projects and communities throughout the UK during the Coronavirus crisis. https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/
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 distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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