Published: 01 Apr 2022
Rubble Theatre, Manaf Halbouni, St Enoch Square, Glasgow, Refugee Week Scotland, Counterpoints Arts Production (Photo by Basharat Khan, 2019). Commissioned by Creative Scotland.
Scotland based migrant and refugee artists are invited to take part in an initiative designed to enable artists with first-hand experience of displacement, to sustain and develop their practice.
In a partnership with Creative Scotland, Counterpoints Arts is running the Mutual Affinities Learning Lab Programme which is offering individual grants of up to £1,250 for artists to come together with Scottish arts and community organisations including Alchemy Film and Arts, Art27, Deveron Projects, Govanhill Baths and Highland Print Studio as well as international practitioners from Poland, Beirut, Lebanon and Berlin to help stimulate new ideas and models of mutual support including future opportunities for collaborative work and residencies.
Creative Scotland’s CEO, Iain Munro added: “Our social and cultural fabric is enriched, and communities more inclusive and vibrant, when they truly reflect their many diverse and varying voices.
“Through the Mutual Affinities programme with Counterpoints Arts, migrant and refugee artists will be working with Scottish cultural organisations to develop a deeper understanding of migrant’s perspectives, the barriers they face when trying to further their creative practice in Scotland, and what progressive support structures might look like for the future.”
Áine O’Brien, Curator of Learning and Research and Co-Founder, Counterpoints Arts commented: “We’re looking forward to exploring a range of interconnected areas related to challenges and opportunities emerging through the creative practice of artists who have experienced displacement and the work that organisations might do to support artists’ interests and ambitions.
“The Learning Lab provides a unique opportunity for artists and organisations to collaborate in a dedicated learning programme – for artists to take this learning into their creative practice and for organisations to apply this learning to their everyday programming strategies/ways of working; and for artists and organisations to imagine together new projects and ways of working.”
Full details of the Mutual Affinities Programme and how to apply are available through Counterpoints Arts.
Counterpoints Arts is a leading national organisation in the field of arts, migration and cultural change. Based in London and working nationally and internationally, Counterpoints Arts supports and produces the arts by and about migrants and refugees, seeking to ensure that their contributions are recognised and welcomed within British arts, history and culture.
Creative Scotland is a member of the implementation group for The New Scots Integration Strategy 2018-2022 to support refugees, asylum seekers and our communities to enable everyone to be active citizens, and to share cultural rights afforded to the people of Scotland more equally.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
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