As Nithsdale Area Arts Hub Convenor I have been meeting with artists, craft makers and others working in the creative industries. I have also been looking at ways of supporting and nurturing their talent, while working to promote membership of the Chamber of Arts and engaging the creative community in working together.
There have been big changes to the funding landscape nationally with larger organisations being invited to apply for three years’ funding from Creative Scotland, as part of their Regular Funding stream. This meant that some larger organisations, three of which are based in Dumfries, had to pull out all the stops to get their applications in on time.
We hope that a large influx of national funding to support Dumfries & Galloway arts organisations will help boost all arts activities in the region, and give more support to individual artists, whether through direct paid work, business support or commissions.
Recent discussions on potential funding streams have meant that all the hubs, not just Nithsdale, have been recommending ways forward. There has been some debate in Nithsdale about what we could achieve if we looked at the current gaps in provision and tried to address them. Discussion has ranged from setting up a rural touring programme for music and performance to help smaller venues cover costs, to looking at current events marketing to see whether there is an easier and simpler way to let people know what’s going on. Certainly, members in Nithsdale are as concerned about infrastructure as about funding for individuals.
Details about the new funding streams will be released in the autumn.
Meanwhile Nithsdale Arts Hub has held meetings in Dumfries, Moniaive and Sanquhar with more meetings to come. There is a Facebook group that anyone can join and post their news. You can sign up to the Nithsdale mailing list by clicking this link.
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| The Nithraid is back next Saturday, 13th of September as boats race from Carsethorn up to the centre of Dumfries by the Whitesands. The event is organised by The Stove Network, full details of the day available here |
• You can contact Belle directly by e-mail – belledoyle01@gmail.com or by phone 07513 946972
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