Scotland’s arts links with Europe are being boosted by over £138,000 of support from a partnership between British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland. Following an open call for proposals, which attracted 89 responses from individuals and organisations working across the Scottish arts sector, 16 projects have been selected to receive a share of the funding.
The successful bids represent several art forms, including dance, theatre, craft, music, visual arts and cross disciplinary practices, and a wide geographic spread, taking in Caithness, Dumfries & Galloway, Argyll, Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Each of the projects will involve at least one European partner in its delivery, ranging from Italy to Norway and Estonia to Greece, with a total of 15 countries involved overall.
Edinburgh Printmakers project ‘In From the Margins’ will bring together printmakers from Scotland, Greece, Ireland and other European nations to establish ‘Studios of Sanctuary’, offering residencies to refugee and asylum seeking artists, and artists whose lives have been shaped by migration. Shân Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Printmakers, said, “We’re completely delighted that our project has been supported through this exciting new programme. With Edinburgh Printmakers about to open our new home in the former rubber factory in Fountainbridge, with world class facilities, it’s vital that we have the opportunity to share it with print makers across Europe and beyond, as well as the communities around us. Printmaking is one of the most accessible and democratic art forms and a great way to tell stories and share ideas with people from other cultures.”
Cove Park in Argyll will run a new series of parallel residencies for artists based in Scotland and European Union countries. Alexia Holt, the organisation’s Associate Director & Visual Arts Programme Producer said, “'We are delighted to be part this programme and look forward to welcoming artists from throughout Europe to Cove Park this year. Working with artists specialising in a wide range of art forms, Cove Park's European Residency Programme will be developed in partnership with organisations and companies in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden, amongst others. At a time of considerable political uncertainty, this programme expresses our commitment to ongoing dialogue and exchange with artists and partners based in EU countries.”
North Lands Creative in Caithness will develop a project to strengthen its connections with Abate Zanetti, a glassmaking centre of excellence in Italy. Karen Phillips, Director at North Lands Creative said, “We are delighted to be a recipient of this funding. Our Origin Project explores conversations on contemporary glass and aims to provide a myriad of opportunities for Scottish glass in Italy. The funding will allow us to continue to support our vision to help build a stronger European glass community and inspire audiences to engage with this artform. We look forward to growing our network in Murano with our partner Abate Zanetti, and are extremely grateful to the British Council and Creative Scotland for their support.”
The value of each award is from £6,000 to £10,000. The full list of receiving individuals and organisations is: Cove Park, Deveron Projects, Edinburgh Printmakers, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Feral Arts, Highlight Arts, Luminate, Luke Pell, North Lands Creative, Paragon Music, Project Ability, Starcatchers, Street Level Photoworks, Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill, Take Me Somewhere Festival and Wide Events.
The British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland partnership is a longstanding agreement between the organisations to develop international relationships in order to ensure Scotland’s creativity is recognised around the world.
