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From Clare Melinsky

Hello
Please see and like my new professional Facebook page: click on the Like button.
The more Likes I get, the more my page is visible. No, I don't understand it either.

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Does Practice Make Perfect in Place?

From Urban Pioneers

Imagine yourself in Switzerland. The land famous for progressive, sometimes radical architecture, with its keen attention to detail, precision, craft skill and an excellent system of education and technical training. You are in the North of Zurich, walking through a park, beautifully designed by a well-known, talented practice: a clear spatial structure, hundreds of new trees planted in a tight grid, with pavillions to rest in and playgrounds to discover. You marvel at the expensive finishes, wonderfully designed benches and furniture, soft-sounding water features and meticulously maintained lawn. A masterpiece in architectural circles. But soon you notice that the park feels new, even now, years after it’s first opening. And you become aware of the absence of the boisterous life the park should be filled with and you decide to move on.

Glasgow Think Piece 2.4
Switzerland © Uta Gerhardt

This time you find yourself strolling through a former airfield turned parkland in Berlin. It seems that the airfield hasn’t changed since the airplanes stopped taking off. The proposed development of the park is on hold since the locals have vetoed its implementation. Berliners like understatement, they feel the airfield is already perfect. Some at least. And for a moment so do you. The park is wide, open, flat and young, sporty Berliners are whizzing past you on their roller blades and bikes. In the distance you see some kites against the cloudless sky, and a group of runners just past you. You feel out of breath just watching them and crave a bench to sit down observing the young and fit, this transformation from inner-city airfield to biggest park in town, a new oasis in the centre of two of the Berlin’s densest districts. You also crave a tree to provide shelter from the blistering heat and harsh winds and you crave...some diversity. The park seems to cater for the loudest audience, the predominately young, fit and male. You wonder where all the immigrants, women and elderly are and you feel it’s time for your last stop.

Glasgow Think Piece 2.1
Berlin ©Stefanie Ruff

You are looking for something smaller, more intimate and before you know it you cross the Baltic Sea and find yourself on a small green space in a residential neighbourhood in Copenhagen. You suddenly tread carefully to not step on dog poo. You think to yourself, enough is enough, and decide to mark each individual poo with flags ...79, 80, 81. You decide to hang around to see what happens next. And so the bin men come and clear the space, some artists appear with table, chairs and a free breakfast. You talk and before you know it turns to night and a movie is on, the next morning benches, raised beds and even a hut gets built! There is a party, more free breakfasts, the artists say goodbye - a new cafe settles into an empty shop across the road, vegetables keep growing and people meet.

Glasgow Think Piece 2.2
Copenhagen: Art Installation Benches Hut ©Marion Preez

Its time to leave and come home to Scotland. You stroll to your local park with its wide lawn and fenced-in playground, scruffy appearance: no architectural masterpiece, no people whizzing past and no free breakfast - only a cold metal bench to think of your travels.

Glasgow Think Piece 2.3
Scotland © Marion Preez

You wonder who you would invite to make your park a better place:

A well-known designer to give you a masterpiece, to stimulate the mind and encourage better finishes? Berliners, who so love to occupy and activate newly available spaces turning them into beach bars, allotments or adventure playgrounds? Or do you bring chairs, table and a cake, invite your neighbours and designers and start a discussion harvesting everybody’s expertise?

Marion Preez and Liane Bauer founded Landscape Architecture Practice UrbanPioneers and both have been working as landscape architects for a total of 16 years, with vast experience in public realm design, housing developments, public art projects, regeneration, parks, public squares, and playgrounds.

Read the article in full here

Creative Business Survey - Speak Up

From Stephen Connolly

There is still time to have your say in this survey before the end of the week.

Opportunity to Contribute - Business Support Needs of Creative Industries in Dumfries and Galloway Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Business and Enterprise Team have commissioned DC Research to carry out a Review of the Business Support Needs of the Creative Industries in Dumfries & Galloway. The findings of this review will be used to inform future support to the sector.

As part of this review, we are keen to gather the views of businesses located in Dumfries and Galloway that fall under the umbrella of the ‘creative industries’ – which includes: marketing and advertising, architecture, visual art and crafts, fashion and textiles, design, performing arts, music, photography, film & video, computer games, radio and TV, writing and publishing, and IT software and computer services.

It is very important that the views of businesses are gathered and form a key part of this review – to ensure that any future support reflects the actual needs of creative businesses.

If you are a creative business or practitioner, this is your opportunity to tell us your business support needs and influence future provision by completing the following questionnaire. It should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete, and your input is greatly appreciated.

The survey is available here 

Should you have any questions about the survey or about the study, please contact DC Research via Stephen Connolly: stephen@dcresearch.co.uk 01228 402320/07501 725114 or alternatively contact Lesley Rogers, Business Development Officer at Dumfries and Galloway Council via lesley.rogers@dumgal.gov.uk

Artist Scam Alert

From Will Levi Marshall

Artist Scam Alert
Contact the helpline if you have had emails or do receive emails from EITHER Aidrian or Gregory Carleton
101 GEORGE STREET
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia OR other Australian addresses
adriancarleton84@outlook.com OR similar named emails

Please call: Tel 0300 123 2040
Or, if outside the UK +44 161 234 9230
Reference to quote : NFRC 140800746388

The Fraud squad have explained to us how these scams normally work:

The supposed buyer arranges a cheque to pay you for items plus shipping. This is likely to be a stolen cheque from a large company.
The cheque clears, you then release the goods to their supposed shippers.
Several days/weeks or possibly months later.... the company report money being drawn from their bank account, cheques discovered as stolen.
The company's bank then recalls the money from your bank account.
You are left with no money, no pictures and NO knowledge of where they have been taken to by these supposed shippers.

IT’S A REAL SCAM.......Don’t get caught - Make sure you report to Action Fraud.

Creative Industries Business Support

From Belle Doyle

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Business and Enterprise Team have commissioned DC Research to carry out a Review of the Business Support Needs of the Creative Industries in Dumfries & Galloway. The findings of this review will be used to inform future support to the sector.

As part of this review, we are keen to gather the views of businesses located in Dumfries and Galloway that fall under the umbrella of the ‘creative industries’ – which includes: marketing and advertising, architecture, visual art and crafts, fashion and textiles, design, performing arts, music, photography, film & video, computer games, radio and TV, writing and publishing, and IT software and computer services.

It is very important to us that the views of businesses are gathered and form a key part of this review – to ensure that any future support reflects the actual needs of creative businesses.

As such, we would be grateful if you could complete this survey by no later than Friday 12th September 2014. It should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete.

The survey is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/creativebusinesssupportneeds

We look forward to receiving your survey response.

If you are aware of any other businesses or practitioners working in the ‘creative industries’ that have not been invited to take part in the survey, please do pass this email onto them – we are keen to get the views of as many businesses and practitioners as possible.

Kind regards,

Stephen

Independence - For voluntary organisations and charities

From Paul O'Keeffe

Dear Commonty,

Next Tuesday impartial academics from the Future of the UK and Scotland teams and members of the SCVO are holding an special referendum event that we wanted to let you know about.

Here are details of the event:

Academics from the Future of the UK and Scotland research teams are working with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to hold an impartial event looking at the independence referendum, next Tuesday in Dumfries.

The half-day event: Everything you want to know about the referendum but were afraid to ask is free and open to everyone, but will have a particular interest for those working in the third sector—charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. It will be held on the 2^nd September from 9.30am-12 noon at the Easterbrook Hall. Booking at http://www.scvo.org.uk/events  or phone: 0131 474 8000.

Professor Michael Keating

Professor Michael Keating and colleague Dr Bettina Petersohn of the SCCC are part of the major Future of the UK and Scotland research project involving universities and think thanks across the UK, which aims to help inform the referendum debate, and look at its consequences whatever the outcome.

Dr Petersohn said:

“Voters are hungry for impartial information and analysis. There is an understanding that issues are rarely black or white and I think that we, as academics, have an opportunity to help inform the discussions. We can't predict the future, but we can share our research results, provide factual information where possible and explain why sometimes facts can't be provided.”

Dr Bettina Petersohn

We would love to see you there. 

Changing Room - A Call for Participants

From Jo Hodges

Artists Jo Hodges and Denise Zygadlo invite women to join them in a creative day exploring what it means to move towards, through and beyond the transitional time of 'menopause'. Led by facilitator Lee Seekings-Norman the workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the issues in a supportive environment, to experiment with cross art form techniques and to contribute to an interactive art installation, which will be exhibited in Dumfries and Galloway in October. 

We'd love anyone interested to come along; chat, eat, experiment, create and contribute. We'll be working with art-forms such as collage, image transfer, photography, simple printing, writing, audio recording and more..... 

Sunday 14th September in Dumfries - 11am-4pm  OR  Sunday 21st September in Dumfries - 11am-4pm

All refreshments, a light lunch and materials will be provided. No art experience necessary.

Each session will be held in the welcoming and private rooms of Mrs Green's Tea Lounge, 16 Queensbury St Dumfries. (closed to the public on these days).  

For more information and to book : http://thechangingroom.eventbrite.co.uk

Changing Room is an innovative artist led project commissioned by Luminate Festival of Creative Aging aimed at exploring the process of aging for women, specifically the menopause .The project aims to recognise and acknowledge the many changes and challenges of the menopause as well as creating a inspiring space for a positive celebration of this new life phase.

The Role of Art?

Here at Commonty central we do like a bit of debate and discussion as well as being kept up to date with the comings and goings around D&G (and beyond)

This week's thoughts come from the lovely Michael Riddle - add you're thoughts to the comments below!

"Much as i appreciate the creativity of artist cooperatives and the cultural enrichment of lives and locations, art can't exist in a vacuum. And all the time art is promoted and grant funded within the auspices of establishment influence and moderation, inevitably it will serve as another distraction in similar vein to hollywood movies, pop music and 'click share' pictures of cute kittens, just another product to hype and add value. While distracted, in our name and by our working and paying taxes, we contribute to the conflicts our leaders engage in.

Arts role should be to shine a light on different perspectives that the established status quo dont want highlighted. To challenge power, to provoke, to go beyond a contractual obligation to provide a product and to speak of and bring about a 'better' world. 

Sorry for the vague rant, I'm not coalescing to some meaningful point or idea for a common good event...much as i'd like to. 

Much respect to you and all at the commonty and common good.

M Riddle"

The Voice of the Makers

From Applied Arts Scotland

Dear Maker

Applied Arts Scotland (AAS) was set up to give a voice to the professional needs of the sector.  AAS has a voluntary Board made up of professional makers living and working in Scotland.  We are considering a variety of opportunities to develop and support the sector, including discussion forums, events, encouraging collaboration, and professional development activities such as intern and apprenticeships and the development of accredited standards.

To represent, develop and deliver on behalf of the professional makers in Scotland we need your views.  Please take part in this short survey and also forward the weblink  on to other makers to encourage them to give their views.  AAS will publish overall findings and the survey gives you the option to be contacted directly to give further input, and to register on our new website to get regular updates.  

Image credit: Erik Almas' Land Surveyor series

The survey closes on 23 June so please do give your views by clicking on the weblink here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AppliedArtsScotland

There are also some great wee videos on the Applied Arts Scotland resource page, covering online selling and social media.. one featuring Spring Fling jeweller Alison MacLeod - have a look-see here

Poetry for Politics/Politics for Poetry

From Carolyn Yates
Rab Wilson, poet, rants in true Burns tradition about corrupt power. This robust rhyme is addressed to Dave Prentis of UNISON. Rab was hung out to dry when he whistle blew on NHS with no support from his union (long story). Rab was on the short leat for the Ayrshire global humanitarian's award 2014 for his NHS campaign for transparency and accountability. Poetry is for people and politics not just for Burns night!

Arts geographic funding balance in England

Sourced artinfo.com

The debate is growing south of the border as the state of England's arts funding balance is questioned. The subject has been banded about up here for some time as Creative Scotland promise to address the issue of geographic funding issues, but it seems the issue is only coming to the fore down south in more recent times. Expect more updates on the debate as we go!

Geographic Arts Rumblings Down South

Keen Commonty-Watchers will remember that a while back we published news of a sensational report into the distribution of arts funding in England - a report produced by our good pal Peter Stark.....see original post- here.
Well our ever-vigilant parliament of the UK variety has picked up the glove tossed by Peter and today announced a "parliamentary inquiry" into the extraordinary truth that arts spend per head of £64 per head in London compares with a princely £4.50 per head in the rest of Engerlandshire.

Arts Professional takes over the story: 'Arts Council England (ACE) is to be the subject of a Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry which is seeking views on whether the geographical distribution of arts funding is fair, and whether there is any justification for the current weighting of this towards London. The  inquiry will also examine the scope, scale and remit of ACE and will be examining the economic and artistic criteria that underpin funding decisions. The committee is inviting written submissions from those who wish to contribute. Written submissions can be sent online via a web portal which will be open for submissions until 24th February.'

Full story - here

D&G - the place for Quality of Life

The National Office for Statistics has just published its findings on the best and worst places to live in the UK - these are measured according to indicators for 'quality of life' such as 'lack of stress', 'self-worth', 'life satisfaction' etc.

The optimistic and stress free folk of D&G will be unsurprised to learn that we came out pretty well in the findings:

Life Satisfaction - 3rd place in UK
Happiness - 2nd place in UK
Stress Free Living - 1st place in the UK

Bizarrely we only found out about these amazing findings because Saskia Coulson saw them in a Metro paper in London and sent us a photo:

Of course this stuff needs to be taken with a sizeable pinch of salt......BUT we in the arts are in a continual fight to justify our existence......we are constantly being asked to produce 'evidence' of what we do.

So..... 

The South of Scotland Competitive Strategy 2008-2013 outlines the vision of the South of Scotland Alliance for supporting the growth of the economies within the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
The strategy outlines priorities for the region- which include:
•    retain and attract more people of working age
•    Improve micro-business support and growth potential (arts businesses are micro-businesses)
•    build a distinctive high quality sustainable place to live, work and visit and enjoy
•    develop the coastal and land based assets of the South of Scotland.

It is pretty well established (anyone out there got any 'evidence'?) that the arts, heritage and culture score really highly when people are asked what makes D+G a good place to live....being a good place to live is listed as one of the factors for economic growth (and definitely a key way to 'retain and attract more people of working age')

So, this survey in a newspaper in London is further evidence that the arts are contributing to the economic success of the region....QED - simples

Gasland - Screening at RBFT Centre

Dumfries Friends of the Earth is sponsoring a screening of Gasland, an award-winning documentary film about the dangers of 'fracking' for shale bed gas, at the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre in Dumfries on Thursday 3rd October(7.30pm).

The film is based on the experience of fracking in communities in parts of the USA, and a post-screening discussion on fracking and the problems of meeting UK energy needs will be led by Friends of the Earth Scotland. A licence for exploratory drilling has been awarded for part of east Dumfriesshire.

Special Jury Prize: Sundance Film Festival

Friends of the Earth Scotland will lead a post-screening discussion.

“An absorbing, level-headed documentary exposing the way in which nothing is allowed to stand in the path of corporate greed.” – Daily Express

Thursday 3rd October at 7.30pm

Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, Mill Road, Dumfries

Tickets: £6.30 (£4.70 concessions)

Box office: 01387 264808

www.rbcft.co.uk

*Hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ is used to access unconventional sources of gas (eg shale gas and coal bed methane) and involves drilling deep into the earth, pumping in a high pressure mix of water, proppants (eg sand) and chemicals (including carcinogens) to create fractures in the rock and release the gas.

A licence for exploration has been granted for part of east Dumfriesshire.

Newcastle - funding cuts update

If you remember back to last November - when Newcastle Arts funding hit the press with their total cut of to arts organisations in the city, 'doing a Newcastle' threatened irreparable damage to arts in the North East. Since then it's gone a little quiet - now Newcastle City Council are speaking up, with a new plan labelled the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund. 

"Put money for culture in the general revenue pot and the funding will always be vulnerable, particularly at a time of severe austerity. What politician worth her or his salt will fund arts and culture over potholes or dog dirt? It’s hardly a guaranteed election winner.

So the trick is to take it out, fund it from other sources and get an independent body to look after it. That is the premise of the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund. Put simply, we put in the core funding of £600,000 a year (50% of their previous spend) – from a complex mix of income from loans and some public health money - and then institutions apply to it.

Our aim is grow the fund through private sector and individual donations. We want to create a culture of philanthropy towards the arts and an idea that you give to a place rather than an institution. And institutions that do apply must tell us how what they do with the cash will help the council achieve its objectives and make Newcastle a healthier, happier and wealthier place."

Interested? The rest of the article written by Senior Communications Advisor for the Council, Will Mapplebeck is available on the website comms2point0 which happens to also be full of information about effective communication and social media...

Scruffy Buzzards + Zoe Bestel @ Mill Sessions

Mill Sessions is delighted to have local band Scruffy Buzzards headlining the first of our sessions for 2013. Scruffy Buzzards are a dynamic rising band producing a driving, rootsy, acoustic sound, with original songs from the yearning to the foot stomping. With Zoe Bestel opening it promises to be a fabulous evening in the company and outstanding talent of some of Galloway's very own rising stars. 

Telephone 01557 814458 or 814647 to reserve tickets (£8)

What a Bum Note

This weeks Tabloid Art Watch has revealed the following harumph from our old pals at the Daily Mail.....Bizarre-taxpayer-funded-art-project-make-music-bird-droppings-comes-unstuck-lack-muck......not their finest hour re suntax....but you get the idea:

Artist Kerry Morrison, it seems, has been having a few problems with her plan to get pigeons to compose music by pooing on musical notation paper.....full story here

Wha's like us

Attentive Commonty watchers may remember an announcement about a survey of the Creative Industries in South Scotland. Here are some of the main findings of the research by EKOS

Kettleholm challenges BT Broadband...

Posted by MMac

Roofless in D&G - call for artists

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Roofless is Scotland’s biggest, most ambitious new street arts programme, designed to engage directly with local and regional communities across the country.  In its first incarnation this year, Roofless will create five large-scale participation events specifically tailored to 5  locations in Scotland.

Roofless will be working with 4 village halls in Dumfries and Galloway in a celebration that will raise their roofs! At each hall an interactive music and dance installation will be created by the community with a team of professional artists.

UZ Arts are seeking expressions of interest from artists across all art forms experienced in collaborating with other artists and the community who are in working with us to realize this project. 

Based in village halls throughout Dumfries and Galloway, the principle work period will be from July until its conclusion on 18^th and 19^th September 2012.

There will be some planning meeting prior to these dates.  Fees will be negotiated individually based around time commitment and availability.

Please email your cv with images of your work and information regarding similar work to Jennifer@uzarts.com

The deadline for expressions of interest is Friday 13^th April.