Luminate: Scotland’s creative ageing festival celebrating our creative lives as we age
A nationwide programme of over 200 arts events and activities
1st-31st October, 2012
Perth & Kinross to host nine events
Sign up for updates and view full programme: www.luminatescotland.org
THROUGHOUT October, Perth & Kinross will host nine arts events as part of a new nationwide celebration of our creative lives as we age.
Luminate: Scotland’s creative ageing festival is set to throw a spotlight on over 200 inspirational arts activities – many of them free – with, and for older people, as well as events for audiences and participants across the generations.
Across the Perth and Kinross area, film screenings, play readings and exhibitions will take place alongside theatre shows, playwriting workshops and a national day of storytelling.
A cross-section of Perth & Kinross events includes the following:
A Creative Minds film screening on 1 October at The Soutar Theatre in Perth. Creative Minds is a joyful and moving film showing how puppetry, art, singing and storymaking boosts communication, confidence and relationships in care settings. This is followed by a talk by Karrie Marshall of Creativity In Care, on the importance of positive interactions for people living in care homes, staff and relatives.
On 2 October at Perth Theatre, a rehearsed reading of Sylvia Dow’s It’s Only Words, a radio play written especially for veteran actress Edith MacArthur will be presented by Greyscale, Stellar Quines and Luminate.
After a lifetime working in the arts as a teacher and an administrator, 73 year-old Dow graduated with distinction in a Playwriting Masters degree from Glasgow University, just three years ago. She says: “I’ve loved the theatre from a very early age, when I was taken by my mother, who bought us season tickets every year.”
The reading of It’s Only Words (a title taken from the famous Bee Gees song), coincides with a tour of the Greyscale company’s production of Dow’s first full stage play A Beginning, A Middle and End and Neil Diamond Saved My Life, which is also being performed at the Riverside in London this month.
At 7pm on 2 October, Dow will host a friendly and relaxed Playwriting Workshop when she is looking forward to “introducing writers to the craft of playwriting, helping you with the nuts and bolts of how to sustain a story and deliver a full length play”.
At the Pitlochry Festival Theatre Arsenic and Old Lace runs from 3 October to 3 November.
Immortalised in the 1944 film by Cary Grant, Joseph Kesselring’s hilarious black comedy is one of the most popular plays in the history of American theatre.
Full listings of all Luminate events in Perth and Kinross, below and at www.luminatescotland.org
Luminate director, Anne Gallacher, explains: “There is already a wide variety of creative work with and for older people taking place across Scotland, and Luminate looks to celebrate and build on this.
“The inaugural Luminate programme includes new collaborations, and international projects, and features a broad range of independently-run projects, including work led by arts, museum and heritage organisations, public libraries, residential care providers as well as community and neighbourhood groups.”
The cross arts festival includes dance, drama and music performances; film screenings, literary events and exhibitions. Festival participants range from nine years-old to 90, and feature professional and non-professional artists alike and opportunities are offered for people to become involved as participants as well as audience members.
Luminate is funded by Creative Scotland and the Baring Foundation in partnership with Age Scotland.
Iain Munro, director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said: “Luminate is the first festival of its kind in Scotland that celebrates creativity as we age and shares that passion across the generations.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Baring Foundation and Age Scotland to increase the numbers of older people enjoying high quality arts activities, whether as artists, performers, participants or consumers, and to enjoy a long and creative life.
“It’s an exciting new addition to the Year of Creative Scotland and further enhances Scotland’s international reputation as a festival nation.”
David Cutler, director, The Baring Foundation commented: “What an inspiring programme for the first year of the Luminate Festival! The Baring Foundation is proud to support a new chapter in the arts in Scotland.”
Age Scotland director of Charity and Community Services, Kay Hutcheson, said:
“Age Scotland has a positive, forward looking vision for our ageing population and is working hard to empower older people to demonstrate to themselves and others the continued value of their contribution to society.
“We believe that this value also encompasses the creative arts and that we should be doing our utmost to increase the number of older people enjoying high quality arts activities – whether as artists, performers, participants or consumers. Luminate fits the bill in this regard.”
To sign up for updates and view full Luminate programme listings visit: https://www.luminatescotland.org
And join in the conversation via twitter: https://twitter.com/LuminateScot and
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LuminateScotland
PERTH & KINROSS LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Creative Minds Film and Talk
1 October / 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Soutar Theatre, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP
Tickets: £7/ £5
Info: 07716 111585 www.creativityincare.org
It’s Only Words: Rehearsed reading
2 October / 2.30pm
Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth, PH1 5UW
Tickets: £7.50/£5
Box Office: 01738 621 031
info@horsecross.co.uk www.horsecross.co.uk
It’s Only Words: Playwriting workshop
2 October 7pm
Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth, PH1 5UW
Free
Info: 01738 621 031 / info@horsecross.co.uk
www.horsecross.co.uk
Arsenic and Old Lace
3 October to 3 November
Pitlochry Festival Theatre,
Tickets: £26-£32.50, £2.50 off matinees for senior citizens
£17.50 for disabled badge holders
Group booking available
Box Office: 01796 484 626
www.PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com
Time To Paint
6 October / 10am – 4pm
7 October / 12noon – 4pm
An exhibition of paintings in various media produced by Perth U3A
The Mission Hall, St Matthew’s, Tay Street, Perth
Free
Info: 01337 827 637
www.perthu3a.org.uk
THAT’s Creative
11 October / 2.30pm
A short film highlighting the positive experience of participants who
have taken part in creative activities
Norrie Miller Studio, Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth
Free
National Theatre Live – The Last of the Haussmans
A performance of Stephen Beresford’s new play The Last of the Haussmans, broadcast live to cinemas from the National Theatre on London’s South Bank. All-day drinking, infatuations, resentments and free love collide in this blackly funny drama. Julie Walters plays Judy Haussman, with Rory Kinnear and Helen McCrory as her wayward children, in a new production written by Stephen Beresford and directed by Olivier Award-winner Howard Davies.
Perth Playhouse PH1 5PJ
T: 0871 704 2068 www.ntlive.com
Dalginross House Pop Up Exhibition
19 – 20 October
An exhibition of arts and crafts created by the residents of Dalginross House care home in 2012 with the guidance of Remake Scotland artists. This pop up event will take place at Comrie Community Centre
Free
Info: 07505 576 361
www.remakescotland.co.uk
Travelling Tales Celebration
26 October / 2pm – 4pm
As part of national Tell A Story Day, storyteller Claire Hewitt will lead this celebration of Highland Perthshire’s rich storytelling and storymaking traditions, bringing together the generations.
Moulin Village Hall near Pitlochry, Perthshire
Free
Info: 01887 820339
www.clairehewitt.co.uk
FOR FURTHER PRESS INFO/IMAGES/INTERVIEWS/FOOTAGE, CONTACT:
Wendy Grannon T: +44 (0) 07916 137 632 E: wendy@wendygrannon.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Luminate: Scotland’s creative ageing festival is an initiative by Creative Scotland and The Baring Foundation and is being developed and delivered in partnership with Age Scotland. For updates and further information: www.luminatescotland.org
2. Creative Scotland is the national development agency for the arts, screen and creative industries. Our vision is that Scotland will be recognised as one of the world’s most creative nations – one that attracts, develops and retains talent, where the arts and the creative industries are supported and celebrated and their economic contribution fully captured; a nation where the arts and creativity play a central part in the lives, education and well-being of our population.
The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland.
More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
3. The Baring Foundation is a London-based independent funder. Founded in 1969, it has given over £100 million since then to support the voluntary sector to tackle discrimination and disadvantage. In 2010, the Foundation launched a five-year, £3 million UK-wide fund for arts by older people, following on the publication of a survey of the field, Ageing Artfully. So far 44 arts organisations have been funded from the Isle of Lewis to Cornwall, along with a series of strategic interventions of which, Luminate, is the most significant. http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk/
4. Age Scotland has a positive, forward looking vision for our ageing society. The charity works for a better later life for all of us – today and tomorrow, listening to older people in order to understand what they need to transform their lives for the better, challenging disadvantage and unfairness.
Age Scotland values older people and believes they have the power to change their lives for the better. Community by community, life by life, the charity is working towards a Scotland where older people are valued and respected for who they are. http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/
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Contact: Wendy Grannon
Phone: 07916137632
Email: wendy@wendygrannon.co.uk
Website: http://www.luminatescotland.org
