Creative Opportunities

1 Aug 2011

IT WILL not come as news to anyone likely to be reading this Editorial that public funding of the arts is not in a buoyant phase.

GIVEN that fact, Creative Scotland’s announcement of a new three-year programme of funding at Edinburgh’s Dancebase last Thursday was a welcome development.

The package is being presented as an ambitious three-year world-class celebration of Scottish culture and creativity, aimed at taking advantage of opportunities that will arise around the twin behemoths of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Inverness-based singer Coca Tenorio is on the bill at Belladrum

Inverness-based singer Coca Tenorio is on the bill at Belladrum

Scotland’s Cultural Plan “aims to promote Scottish culture and creativity on the world stage, increase international and domestic tourism and develop Scotland’s creative sector” (you can read the full press release here).

The multi-strand, £6.5 million scheme should open up some opportunities for artists and organisations in the Highlands and Islands (and the Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, did officially launch the scheme at Ballet West at Taynuilt, which should be a good omen).

For one thing, there is a package of Creative Places Awards which will celebrate communities with a strong track record of creativity and cultural tourism. There has been plenty of that in these parts.

A second strand, First in a Lifetime, will offer opportunities for what Creative Scotland’s Andrew Dixon described as “mass participation in high quality ambitious artistic experiences” for people who have not had the chance (or only limited opportunity) to participate in the arts and culture.

There are Culture and Tourism Initiatives designed to support new cultural tourism activity, and to build collaboration between the culture, tourism and heritage sectors. The hope is that this will both encourage attendance at cultural events from local audiences and visitors, and improve the trading position of our cultural businesses.

Finally, an initiative going under the title One Step Further (Festivals & Events Growth Scheme) will allocate some £450,000 to “enhance the offering of existing cultural festivals and events during the Year of Creative Scotland 2012”, again with the aim of boosting visitor numbers.

Further opportunities are promised for later in the year in the lead up to The Year of Creative Scotland, which begins on 1 January 2012, and is the latest Focus Year (we are currently in the Year of Scotland’s Islands, as I am sure you are all aware), leading in turn to a second year of Homecoming in 2014.

If all of this is a further reminder that the principle of art for art’s sake has long been subservient to issues of social inclusion, tourist spend and all the rest of the range of targets which those wishing to avail themselves of some means of making their work must consider, it is a welcome opportunity for a bit of an injection of extra funding in a difficult time.

Further information on the fund and how to apply can be found on the Creative Scotland website, and guidelines for applications can be downloaded here. Good luck to anyone who decides to try their luck.

Back here on Northings, we unveil the second installment in Right Lines’ Hi-wireless series, Ian Hector Ross’s Harris Tweed and Golden Slippers. Reaction to Angus Dunn’s opening effort was very positive, and we look forward to hosting the unfolding series in the months to come.

Festival action focuses on Belladrum and the very successful Tartan Heart Festival, now well-established as a major event in the calendar.

Kenny Mathieson

Editor

© Kenny Mathieson, 2011