LEADING Gaelic musician, Allan MacDonald, will be commissioned by Stirling Council to create a piece of new music titled, ‘The Bruce 700’, thanks to £22,000 support from Creative Scotland’s Traditional Arts Commissioning Programme.
The new commission will draw on the history and literature of the time of Bannockburn to reflect the themes of nationhood, identity, and Scotland’s place in an international context. The piece will be performed as part of the Battle of Bannockburn commemorations – a key element of Stirling’s programme of events for the 2014, Year of Homecoming – alongside other venues to be confirmed.
Commenting, Provost of Stirling, Mike Robbins, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this funding from Creative Scotland for this commission promoting traditional Scottish music. It will feature prominently in Stirling Council’s programme of events for 2014, which is set to be a fantastic year.”
The commissions are supported with a total of £148,470 through Creative Scotland’s Traditional Arts Commissioning Programme, which aims to ensure Scotland’s traditional arts are recognised and celebrated nationally and internationally.
The purpose of the fund is to support new commissions of Traditional Arts activity – of various scales and art forms – that can be performed or exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally – reflecting local diversity, and Scots and or Gaelic where appropriate.
Leonie Bell, acting director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said:
“Traditional arts play a unique role in Scotland’s cultural identity, communities are bound by the stories and music around them, our history is kept alive, our future shaped. These diverse commissions draw on different strands of this country’s vibrant musical and literary traditions, creating work that has its own place and meaning in the 21st century.”
ENDS
EDITORS NOTE
- 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, we 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
- Creative Scotland works with an external advisory group made up of organisations rooted in Scotland’s traditional arts. This group, including the Scottish Storytelling Forum, the Traditional Music Forum, and Voluntary Arts Scotland, meet regularly to discuss the key issues facing the sector, and in previous years their work has led to the development of specific funding initiatives for the traditional arts such as the Small Traditional Arts Fund, the Traditional Arts Mentoring Fund, and Traditional Arts Commissioning Fund. In 2013/14, Creative Scotland increased the financial support available to the traditional arts from £250k to £500k. This money is intended to support specific activities that will strengthen and develop the traditional arts sector in Scotland.
- In 2013/14, the total budget available for Traditional Arts Commissions is £320,000. Awards will normally be in the region of £5,000 – £30,000. The next deadline for application is 7 January 2014.
Media Contact
Sophie Bambrough
Media Relations & PR Officer
E: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
T: 0330 333 2000
D: 0131 523 0015
M: 07747 606 146
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Creative Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Sophie Bambrough
Phone: 07747606146
Email: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com
