Funding to improve arts and cultural facilities across Scotland
Over £700,000 distributed to 22 arts and cultural organisations
TWENTY-TWO arts and cultural organisations received over £700,000 today, Wednesday 28 August 2013, through Creative Scotland’s Small Capital Programme, to assist in the improvement of facilities across Scotland.
A new centre for creative activity at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary; new music making and ICT equipment for children and adults with learning disability across Scotland; development of a new retail area to house a selection of high-quality photography; a new performance space for Scotland’s national youth dance organisation and new equipment for community choirs are among the initiatives that will take place as a result of funding support.
Small Capital awards are distributed to help organisations undertake refurbishments and purchase equipment to improve access, presentation and enjoyment of the arts and culture throughout Scotland.
Supported projects include Eden Court and Feis Rois in the Highlands, Gable End Theatre in Orkney, the old Dumfermline Fire Station and Kirkcaldy Old Kirk in Fife, Edinburgh Contemporary Crafts and Stills in Edinburgh, Tron Theatre and The Glue Factory in Glasgow and Horsecross Arts in Perth.
Leonie Bell, acting director of creative development at Creative Scotland, said:
“The improvement of buildings and the purchasing of equipment that these awards will support will enhance the diverse and valued range of work being carried out by these organisations from across Scotland, from Orkney to Glasgow and will help ensure audiences, participants, artists and creative practitioners have access to the best possible facilities.”
Awards have been made in:
Aberdeen
- Grampian Hospitals Art Trust will use the funding to support the development of a new creative hub, dedicated to the Healing Environment, located in the centre of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on the Foresterhill Health Campus. The Suttie Space will be the headquarters of GHAT, and enable them to maintain and extend their programme of creative activities across NHS Grampian, involving exhibitions, displays, interactive events and education. (£56,000)
Argyll and Bute
- The Tarbert Arts & Leisure Centre will provide new creative digital media classes and events for young audiences, new skills learners and arts professionals. (£13,100)
Edinburgh
- Drake Music Scotland will purchase new music-making and IT equipment which will increase their capacity to deliver music-making opportunities for children and adults with disabilities across Scotland. (£25,000)
- Take One Action Film Festival show films addressing issues of global and environmental concern through festivals and an outreach and rural touring programme. Funding will purchase new equipment to create a bespoke pop-up cinema tent. (£13,375)
- Assembly Roxy will use funding to support building improvements and upgrading of equipment to create a permanent 200-seat theatre. (£30,000)
- Edinburgh Contemporary Crafts provides access to a high quality gallery space and workshop for new and established makers. Funding will enable them to offer improved facilities and equipment and expand their course programme. (£14,917)
- Stills centre for photography will purchase a range of equipment to offer enhanced facilities and resources for the development and creation of artists’ work and to increase public access. (£10,833)
Eilean Siar
- Rural Nations, an artist-led production company in Stornoway, will purchase cinematic quality film making equipment to enable the development of their short filmmaking programme. (£16,500)
Fife
- The historic town centre building, Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, is being transformed into a sustainable community arts and heritage centre and community music hub. Funding will contribute towards the first phase of design improvements being led by the Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust. (£31,500)
- The old Fire Station in Dunfermline’s town centre is being renovated into a cultural hub. Funding will go towards the creation of a ground floor arts resource which will include a gallery, cafe, classroom for artists, designers and the wider local community. (£30,000)
- The Cambo Stables Project will improve cultural facilities at the Cambo Estate. Funding is towards the creation of dedicated arts facilities within the Stables for the creation and appreciation of artists’ work to grow and expand its existing cultural programme for visitors. (£97,466)
- Fife Cultural Trust will develop the Lochgelly Centre with support of this funding. Work will include renovation of the main theatre and studio theatre, improved lighting, IT and film-making equipment. The provision of aerial facilities in the sports hall space will develop it into a centre for aerial theatre and circus skills, an area of low provision in Scotland. (£56,000)
Glasgow
- Glasgow’s Tron Theatre will upgrade its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning facilities and alarm system. (£47,433)
- Street Level Photoworks supported by this funding are developing a new retail area to house a selection of some of the finest Scottish photography alongside an International collection of prints for sale.(£13,811)
- The Glue Factory provides studio spaces for early career artists and creative companies. The funding will go towards improving the exhibition and performance spaces, increasing the functionality and usability of the venue spaces. (£29,995)
- Scotland’s national youth dance organisation, YDance, plan to create a new flexible performance space within the 1873 Hall at their home in the Briggait. Funding will support a new sprung dance floor, lighting equipment and storage space. (£17,296)
Highland
- Fèis Rois is a successful music tuition programme for children and young people in the Highlands. Funding will enable them to purchase two mobile recording units, computers and office furniture. (£10,223)
- In partnership with Scottish Opera, Eden Court Theatre is redeveloping their orchestra pit. Funding will support work to improve the sightlines between conductor and musicians, increase the area and headroom, and make the pit fully accessible. (£65,000)
- Fèisean nan Gàidheal supports the development of community-based Gaelic arts tuition festivals throughout Scotland. Funding will enable them to purchase new ICT equipment. (£23,764)
North Lanarkshire
- Soundsational Community Music offers tuition and runs events including junior and senior choir groups for the whole community. Funding will go towards purchasing new equipment so that even more people can take part in their activities. (£16,776)
Orkney
- Gable End Theatre on the island of Hoy will use funding to update the theatre’s sound, lighting and projection equipment so it can continue to encourage and support the performing arts. (£14,223)
Perth and Kinross
- Horsecross Arts will use funding to improve the lighting and sound systems within Perth Concert Hall to enhance the artistic experience and audience enjoyment of the on-going high-quality programme of work. (£77,540)
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Creative Scotland is the national organisation that funds and supports the development of Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland has four objectives: to develop and sustain a thriving environment for the arts, screen and creative industries; to support excellence in artistic and creative practice; to improve access to and participation in, arts and creative activity; and to deliver our services efficiently and effectively. In 2013/14, Creative Scotland will distribute over £100m in funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information on Creative Scotland, please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
- The purpose of the Small Capital programme is to provide and improve cultural facilities, refurbishment, and equipment which deliver access to, and presentation and enjoyment of, the arts and film across the country for the population of Scotland. The programme aims to achieve high standards of design. Individual awards are made in the range £10,001 – £100,000. For further information about the Small Capital Programme, please visit – www.creativescotland.com/funding/capital
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