TAKING place across the UK from 12 – 20 May, Voluntary Arts Week shines a light on all the wonderful amateur arts and crafts activity carried out each week – and encourages others to join in.
Run by Voluntary Arts, this very special week is an opportunity for the thousands of drama groups, choirs, orchestras, painters, quilters and more to show people what they’re up to.
‘Come and try’ sessions, open rehearsals, special performances and exhibitions are all taking place.
This year, for the first time, we also asked people across Scotland to display something in their window, to celebrate the art or craft form they love.
It could be a painting, a piece of knitting, an instrument, a photo of them singing – or just a simple sketch. Examples are being posted on the website: http://www.voluntaryartsweek.org
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture & External Affairs had this to say about Voluntary Arts Week: “Scotland is a creative nation with arts and crafts thriving in communities across the country. The voluntary sector makes an enormous contribution to the cultural activity taking place across Scotland and Voluntary Arts Week is a fantastic way to showcase this. It’s also a great way for people to get involved and learn new skills in this, our Year of Creative Scotland.”
Andrew Dixon, chief executive of Creative Scotland, added:
“Voluntary Arts Week 2012 is a great opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the thousands of volunteers in the arts, from music groups to friends of our theatres and participants in community projects and festivals and feisean across Scotland.”
For more information about Voluntary Arts Week and the ‘What’s in your Window?’ campaign, please visit http://www.voluntaryartsweek.org
For press quotes, please contact Fiona Campbell on tel: 07951 918366.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Voluntary Arts is the national development agency for arts participation. The organisation raises awareness of the contribution voluntary and amateur arts and crafts make to the well-being of individuals and communities. Visit the ‘Take Part’ section of the website http://www.vascotland.org.uk to find out details of local arts and crafts groups which take place year round.
- Voluntary Arts Week has been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- In Scotland, Voluntary Arts Week is supported by People Making Waves. People Making Waves is part of The Scottish Project, a programme of activity to celebrate the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Scotland supported by Legacy Trust UK. Legacy Trust UK is an independent charity whose mission is to support a wide range of innovative cultural and sporting activities which celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and which will leave a lasting legacy in communities throughout the UK. The Scottish Project is managed and jointly funded by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
- The photo attached shows activity at the Launch Event for Voluntary Arts Week which took place on Saturday 12 May in Falkirk – more are available if you require them.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Voluntary Arts Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Fiona Campbell
Phone: 0795 191 8366
Email: fiona@vascotland.org.uk
Website: http://www.voluntaryartsweek.org
