Fourteen regional arts projects across Dumfries and Galloway are set to share £75,000 from the Regional Arts Fund for arts projects taking place in 2018/19.
Competition was very strong with applications for just under £190,000 made to the fund, which is financed by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Awards are made on the recommendation of Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts (DGU).
The fund supports projects that deliver on at least one of the following arts priorities:-
• Promote and increase access to the arts, in particular for the most vulnerable in our communities;
• Help young people fulfil their potential through the arts;
• Contribute to the economic wellbeing of the region.
Among the projects to be supported are Massive Outpouring of Love (MOOL)’s ‘Moving Stories’, based on the stories of refugees who have moved to Dumfries and Galloway from other parts of the world.
The Ryan Youth Theatre will tour Dumfries and Galloway with a theatre piece devised by young people about growing up in Stranraer following a performance at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness at the invitation of the National Theatre of Scotland.
Upland Arts Development (the organisation behind Spring Fling) will work with Elmbank Special School in Dumfries to help young people with additional support needs to work with an artist to create graphic novels reflecting their life stories.
Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chairman of the Council’s Communities Committee said:
‘Taking part in the arts is linked to good health, increased confidence and positive self-esteem for people of all ages, and helps strengthen our communities. I am delighted to see such a wide range of excellent arts projects being supported across the region’.
Councillor John Martin, Vice Chair of the Council’s Communities Committee said:
‘It is good to see that as well as providing significant benefits for those taking part, these projects will help raise the profile of Dumfries and Galloway as a great place to live, work and visit.’Cathy Agnew, Chair of DGU, the independent charity which champions the region’s arts, said: “DGU is delighted to be working in partnership with the Council to deliver the Regional Arts Fund, which once again confirms the talent and ambition of Dumfries and Galloway’s arts sector. The projects supported cover a wide range of art forms from cinema and performance to traditional music, photography and the graphic novel, and have the potential to make a real difference by providing new opportunities to experience and enjoy the arts – particularly in this current Year of Young People.”
Details of Regional Arts Fund 2018/9 Awards:
The Regional Arts Fund is provided by Dumfries and Galloway Council and awards are made at the recommendation of Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts (DGU). The successful bids are shown below.
The funding recommendations were made following an open call for applications during late 2017. Applications were assessed by a panel convened by DGU.
Awards, which are subject to terms and conditions including the requirement to secure agreed levels of match-funding, are as follows:
Massive Outpouring of Love (MOOL): £5,670 for Moving Stories
Moving Stories will chart the stories of refugees who have moved to Dumfries and Galloway from other parts of the world. Combining interviews with individuals, photography and original songs inspired by their stories, performances will be created to share these stories across the region.
Ryan Youth Theatre: £5,880 for Performance Collective Stranraer
A regional tour of a theatre piece devised by young people about growing up in Stranraer and what it means to grow up in an isolated, rural community.
Upland Arts Development CIC: £5,500 for Life Stories
A group of young people with additional support needs from Elmbank Special School will work with artist Hope London over a number of intensive art sessions and out-of-school visits to create graphic novels reflecting their life stories.
Institute of Local Television Ltd: £5,350 for Merz Art Camps
A mural project for primary school aged children in Sanquhar led by a professional mural artist during a series of ‘art camps’.
Driftwood Cinema Ltd: £8,000 for Community Cinema
Support for five rural communities to start to show films locally, including low cost loan of equipment, training, marketing, booking, licensing and ticketing.
Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust: £5,000 for Staged!
Staged! is an exciting performing arts event at Dumfries Academy which will form a major part of Moat Brae’s Dreams for the Future program. The event will celebrate the amazing talent of young people from Dumfries and Galloway and feature the work of musicians, writers, actors and dancers.
Knockengorroch CIC: £2,000 for Festival Launch and Live Music Event
A creative networking event and public musical performance to promote the Knockengorroch Festival.
The Stove Network: £6,820 for Reaching Out in NW Dumfries
Opportunities for young people in NW Dumfries to work alongside professional photographers, sound system designers, mural artists and signwriters; and establishment of regular traditional music sessions in NW Dumfries.
Absolute Classics: £4,000 for Absolute Participation
Performances by international artists and an education programme for young people at locations across the region.
Tricky Hat: £2,000 for The Flames
Performance events by people over the age of 50, developing a project at The CatStrand to other interested communities in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Bakehouse (Galloway): £1,500 for Big Lit the Stewartry Book Festival
Support for a four day book festival in Gatehouse of Fleet with over 20 events and a schools programme.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival: £13,500 for Arts Live
Support for the delivery of Arts Live, a year-round performing arts touring programme and promoters’ network for Dumfries and Galloway.
Cample Line: £3,000 for Activity Programme 2018
Artist film screenings and associated activities including a young assistant programme in collaboration with local secondary schools. Cample Line is a new arts venue in the Thornhill area.
Oceanallover: £6,780 for Orographic
Outdoor performances in Dumfries and Galloway fusing choreography, live music and sculptural costume design inspired by the landscape and golden eagles.
