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
Highlands to host nine events as part of new nationwide festival celebrating creativity as we age
Sign up for updates and view full programme: www.luminatescotland.org
THROUGHOUT October, the Highlands will host nine 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.
A cross-section of Highland events includes the following: My Shrinking Life, a National Theatre of Scotland production at Eden Court Theatre, featuring, Alison Peebles, one of Scotland’s leading actors, directors and theatre/film makers who was diagnosed with MS twelve years ago.
The Scottish Ensemble is hosting a tea dance at Bishop’s Palace, Eden Court, featuring an afternoon of ballroom classics from 20s, 30s, 40s and dancing with musicians from the Ensemble.
Mary MacAlpine, a 90 year-old former actor and speech therapist is offering a masterclass in vocal coaching at Eden Court, while Merkinch Community Centre is hosting The Big Singaround – an opportunity for older people to enjoy community singing with Singing for Pleasure and The Silver Belles.
Full Highland listings below.
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
HIGHLAND LISTINGS INFORMATION:
The Big Singaround
1 October / 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Merkinch Community Centre Theatre, Coronation Park, Inverness
Free but advance booking required
Box Office: 01463 239563
www.Merkinchcommunitycentre.org.uk
Creative Minds Film and Talk
2 & 3 October / 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Creative Minds is a joyful and moving film showing how puppetry, art, singing and storymaking boosts communication, confidence and relationships in care settings. Followed by talk from Karrie Marshall of Creativity In Care.
2 Oct: Inverness Spectrum Centre, Margaret Street, IV1 1LS
3 Oct: Presidential Suite, Mercure Hotel, Church Street, Inverness
Tickets: £7/ £5
Info: 07716 111585 www.creativityincare.org
Victoria Hall of Fame
3 & 31 October / Tues to Sat: 10am – 5pm
Exhibition of poignant portraits showing nine Cromarty residents who were teenagers in the Ross-shire coastal town during the second world war. Images show contemporary portraits of the octogenarians interwoven with photographs and artefacts depicting their lives and loved ones from the 1940s.
Highland Print Studio, 20 Bank Street, Inverness
Free
Info: 01463 718999 info@highlandprintstudio.co.uk
www.highlandprintstudio.co.uk
My Shrinking Life
5 & 6 October / 8pm
National Theatre of Scotland production. Concept by, and featuring, Alison Peebles, one
of Scotland’s leading actors, directors and theatre/film makers who was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago.
The National Theatre of Scotland Eden Court Theatre, Bishops Road, Inverness
Tickets: £12/£10
Box Office: 01463 234234 www.eden-court.co.uk
Acting Masterclass: Voice Production
7 October / 11am to 5pm
Suitable for anyone who wants to develop their voice. Actor and speech therapist Mary
MacAlpine will help you warm up and protect your voice, and teach you how to project.
Bring along a pre-prepared speech (no more than two minutes long) to practice with.
Eden Court Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness
Tickets: £20 (Part of a series of three masterclasses, with the others taking place outwith Luminate
Purchase a ticket for all three masterclasses for £55
See Eden Court website for further details www.eden-court.co.uk
The Force and Form of Memory
From 30 October
Exhibition curated by The Compass Gallery. The Force and Form of Memory exhibits
Scotland’s leading artists’ responses to the theme of memory.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness
Info: 01463 237 114 www.inverness.highland
The Extraordinary Ordinary: Celebrating The Force and Form of Memory
16 October / 10am – 11:30am
Workshop I, a workshop for assistants who accompany people with learning disabilities.
23 October / 11am – 12:30pm
Workshop II, for people with learning disabilities and those who assist them taking
part together, in pairs. The Extraordinary Ordinary offers participants the opportunity to
experience ‘The Force and Form of Memory’ exhibition and to create responses to the exhibition, in sound and image.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness
Tickets: Free, booking required.
More Info and to book: in person at the Museum, by phone on 01463 237 114, or by email to cait.mccullagh@highlifehighland.com
www.inverness.highland.museum
Re-Collecting Home
20 October to 10 NovemberTo 31 October: Mon to Sat / 9am – 5pm
From 1 November: Thur to Sat / 10am -5pm
This exhibition, curated by members of the Highland Hospice Community through a series of workshops in October, celebrates unique contributions to our understanding of creating home, throughout every life passage.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB
Free
Info: 01463 237 114 www.inverness.highland.museum
Scottish Ensemble Tea Dance
28 October / 2pm
Choose your partners and be transported to a golden age of palm court orchestras, afternoon tea and gorgeous gowns.
Bishop’s Palace, Eden Court, Bishop’s Road, Inverness
£12 includes tea and cake
Box Office 01463 234 234
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.
3. 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.
4. 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/
5. 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/
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Wendy Grannon. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Wendy Grannon
Phone: 07916137632
Email: wendy@wendygrannon.co.uk
Website: http://www.luminatescotland.org
