The Future of The Commonty

From Team Commonty

Celebrating the Commonty's fourth birthday this week marks a change in the wind for team Commonty, as we look forwards to the future of the blog which has thus far had over 350,000 views and over 2,700 blog posts – thank you to everyone who has contributed over the past wee while! As DG Unlimited continues to grow into the region, weekly news and opps can now be found across on the DGU website available here. But fear not, Commonty reader! It is important to the Commonty and the wider region that there remains a space for unofficial and unclassifiable stuff to be voiced, shared and aired, the collective or independent voices of everyone from the Upland Shepherd and Amy Able, to Ray Gin Pedant, Philipa McSoiree and the very many anonymous lot.

The Commonty continues on in this spirit of debate and discussion.

The Commonty has always been a completely uncensored and free space for debate – we would love to hear from you. You can add your voice in two ways:

a) send an email to thecommonty@gmail.com with something you want to say and we will post it on the blog as a new article
OR
b) comment on any article already on the site (creative alias’ welcome!)

The arts in D&G are what you make it. 

In particular, The Commonty will be place where the comings, goings and doings of the Regional Arts Hub are reported and dissected. WTF is the Regional Arts Hub you cry...well thank you for asking, RAH is:
a) every arts organisation in receipt of support from DGUnlimited and/or Dumfries and Galloway Council
b) all arts D+G arts organisations that form part of the Creative Scotland National Arts Portfolio (errr currently that is The Stove Network and Wigtown Festival Company)
c) the four Area Arts Convenors

The RAH Working Group is meeting on Monday 30th March and the agenda for the meeting is:
· Round table discussion of Working Group members working priorities – with particular    emphasis on regional working/development
· Working with the DGU Board – strategy for AGM
· Specialist Art-form groups – priorities/process
· Developing a ‘Charter’ for Events regionally (including a Clash Diary?)
· How to approach Scottish ‘Years of..’ and other national/international opportunities as a region
· Regional Focus – Conveners reports (5 bullet points from each convenor about current concerns/needs/themes in their area)

I'm sure other will have thoughts about any/all of these subjects....do your worst in the comments section below this post!


Notes from the meeting will be posted as soon as we have them

Edible Spring Fling

From Spring Fling

From paintings made with pomegranates and coffee to huge stone pears – Spring Fling marks the Year of Food and Drink

An abstract painting created using tea, coffee, liqueurs, fruit and mustard powder has gone on show in an exhibition inspired by Scottish food and drink.

Spring Show: Art, Food & Drink, has just opened at the McGill Duncan Gallery in Castle Douglas and runs until 23 April. It also features giant stone pears and pictures made from kitchen garden herbs and petals among an abundance of paintings, jewellery, woodwork, photography and ceramics. The theme for the exhibition, which takes place in Scotland’s national food town, was specially chosen as part of the celebrations for Scotland’s 2015 Year of Food and Drink.

Around 90 artists and makers, mostly from Dumfries and Galloway, were invited to submit pieces inspired by the edible for the show, which acts as a taster for the Spring Fling visual art and craft open studios weekend in May.

Painter Annirose Ansbro decided to take the theme literally for her own work entitled Drool. “I thought it would be fun to take the food and drink theme all the way, so I scoured the kitchen for ingredients I could use as well as conventional paint. “In the end I used a pomegranate, a tangerine, sloe gin, melon liqueur, orange squash, herbal teas and fresh coffee. The smell of the painting was absolutely wonderful.”

In the gallery garden are three huge stone pears made by sculptor Max Nowell. The distinctive drystone sculptures Max makes have been commissioned for gardens and landscapes all over the UK.

Suzanne Stuart Davies had been wondering what to contribute when she arrived home from the shops one day. She said: “I had bought the veg for a ratatouille and shoved it in a bowl – then I suddenly thought ‘that’s just right’.” Normally a landscape artist working in oils, the experience has led her to create a whole series of still life watercolours.

Another of those taking part is Jennie Ashmore who uses leaves, plants and flowers – often edible – to make intricate pictures.

Spring Show: Art, Food & Drink has also led to collaboration, like the one between Clare Dawdry who has made hand-thrown bowls that nestle in slender woven willow baskets by Geoff Forrest.

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “The artists really warmed to the food and drink theme and came up with some amazingly imaginative ideas. There really is something to suit every taste. “It’s great to be able to have such a lovely food and drink themed exhibition in Scotland’s food town for the national year of food and drink.”

Moniaive Shortlisted for Creative Scotland Award

from The Commonty

Great news from Upper Nithsdale that Moniaive has been shortlisted in the £50,000 category of the Creative Place Awards run annually by Creative Scotland. Our region has a brilliant reputation in these awards with Wigtown winning in the inaugural year (and a special award to Creetown the same year), both Gatehouse and Glenkens were shortlisted the following and Dumfries was shortlisted in the largest category in 2014. Congratulations to everyone in Moniaive connected with the bid and heres hoping you guys can bring home the prize for the South West......take no prisoners!

The amazing Cairn Chorus in full voice

The full story of the shortlisting etc is here

New Chorus Awards Launched to Celebrate Choirs all over Scotland

From Rebecca Giblin

Special stories from singing groups across Scotland are being hunted out for the newly launched Chorus Awards. Anyone can nominate a group, individual choir member or musical director for the Local Connection, Newcomer, Milestone, Unique Story, Inspiration and Young People categories.

Scotland Sings has launched the Chorus Awards to showcase the wonderful activities choirs are involved in and to celebrate the people helping to make great things happen. Anyone can make a nomination and choir members can even put themselves forward for one of the six categories.

Alison Burns, Scotland Sings Coordinator, says of the new awards, “What’s great is that this is not about the best singer or which choir has sung to the biggest audience, it’s all about the stories behind what makes each group so special. I know of one choir that has members from teenagers up to 80 year olds who sing together every week. What other awards would celebrate something like that?”

image by photographer Ros Gasson 

So, whether you’re part of a choir that is experimenting with new music or know an inspirational musical director who is bringing a community together, the Chorus Awards are the way to recognise and applaud this contribution.

Nominations can be made via an online form by the closing date of Friday 15th May (the event or activity being highlighted should have taken place between 16th May 2014 and 15th May 2015).

Winners will be announced online on Friday 19th June and will form part of a showcase on the Scotland Sings website. To find out more about the individual categories and make a nomination see the website here

Welcoming the Spring Fling Newbies of 2015

From Spring Fling

Spring Fling is welcoming a fresh crop of 23 new exhibitors to Scotland’s premier contemporary visual art and craft open studios event.

They range from sculptors, photographers, painters and jewellers to a theatrical prop creator and a violin maker who manufactures his own varnish using resin from local bee hives. Between them they offer the chance to see an amazing variety of highly skilled work – decorative, functional, intriguing, delightful and sometimes challenging.

Among the exhibitors to watch out for is Kate Knott who specialises in figurative paintings with curious narratives. She said: “Whether it’s vintage oddities, fascinating faces or curious animals, I enjoy discovering the best way to represent them. My paintings can feel quite romantic with considered colour palettes and a loose painterly style.” There is also Steven Burnie who loves the landscape of Dumfries and Galloway and said: “I work from the landscape to create paintings and drawings that detail the character of the region. My recent work has been informed by the changing light of the Solway Firth and the surrounding landscape.”

Jamie McLennan with a Vaughan Trower violin

Vaughan Trower, started instrument making when one daughter took up the harp and the other the violin. He said: “Violin making is technical and creative. Each musician and instrument needs to be carefully suited to the other. “I source the tonewoods from a sawmill in Mittenwald, Germany, where I select each piece. I make my own varnish to finish the instruments, this includes propolis from hives at John Mellis, local beekeeper in Dumfries & Galloway, this produces a rich golden varnish and is a distinguishing feature of my instruments.”

Edward Howat has made props for The National Theatre of Scotland, Tron Theatre and many others. Commissions have included dragons, prosthetic masks, aliens and 10 bionic eyes which moved and glowed blue.

Alien prop by Edward Howat

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “One of the ways Spring Fling stays fresh is to invite new artists to exhibit and 2015 is no exception with 23 out of 94 never having taken part before. “We are delighted to represent a hugely diverse and varied new group, a mix of established and emerging talent; from Vaughan's violins, to Edward's sculpted costumes and props, through to five new photographers, and three new installation artists. “We know that Spring Fling visitors like equally to see familiar faces and to be surprised and challenged by the work of new artists, and we hope that this will attract some new audiences to Dumfries and Galloway in 2015.”

The other new exhibitors are Annirose Ansbro, Anupa Gardner, Barry Young, Beth Watson, Davy Brown, Diana de Gruyther, Eric Pye, Evelyn Gray, Holly Goldsworthy, Kirstin Pilling, Laura Hudson Mackay, Laurie Campbell, Michael Pell, Michal Sur, Morven Browne, Natalie McIlroy, Sarah Stewart, Sarah Tew and Terri Campbell.

Big Country to Support Status Quo at Palmerston Park

From Sid Ambrose

As the build-up to their first concert project grows momentum, Queen of the South are pleased to announce another top band will perform at their home ground later this year, with Big Country booked to support headline act Status Quo.

Having previously played in Dumfries at the Big Burns Supper in 2014, Big Country, one of Scotland’s well known bands, make a welcome return to the town to play Palmerston Park on the 5 th of June.

The band now fronted by vocalist Simon Hough first hit the music scene over 30 years ago, and became globally known following the release of classic singles “Fields of Fire”, “Chance” and signature song “In A Big Country”, which all went onto become massive worldwide hits, selling over 2 million copies and driving their album “The Crossing” to three prestigious Grammy nominations in the United States of America.

The bands appearance at Palmerston will be sandwiched between gigs in Sale and the Let’s Rock Bristol Festival. Commercial manager, Victoria Thomson commented “We were all really excited when we made the announcement that Status Quo would headline the first ever concert to be held at Palmerston. Now that we’re in a position to start announcing the support acts, the excitement continues to grow”.

“For us to secure Status Quo and now one of Scotland’s top bands, Big Country, it’s just simply unbelievable. It is great for the regions music fans as well as our loyal football supporters. It really is a fantastic time to be involved with a club that are going places.”

Following the Club’s announcement, that Status Quo would top the bill in June, tickets for the concert have been selling well and can be purchased via Queen of the South Football Club’s official website here.

Further support acts will be announced in due course.

Spring Fling Reveals Biscuit Factory Five

From Spring Fling

Spring Fling has revealed the names of the leading artists and makers taking part in the new exhibition at Newcastle’s Biscuit Factory Gallery. The five topped a poll carried out among the 18,000 visitors who saw work by 95 artists at last year’s Spring Fling – Scotland’s most successful contemporary art and craft open studios event.

With the Spring Show taking place at The Biscuit Factory on from 7 March – 24 May (with a special preview from 6pm-9pm on 6 March) the exhibitors have been named as:
Heather Blanchard – a painter whose work follows the beauty of the changing seasons.
Suzi Plunkett – an illustrator whose intricate “Little Dot Creations” now feature on everything from cushions to mobile phone cases
Phil McMenemy – a colour-blind photographer, renowned for his exquisite use of colour.
Peter Wareing – ceramicist inspired by natural forms and woodland patterns
Rob Jarvis – a former nuclear physicist who discovered his true vocation as a craftsman creating wonderful bespoke furniture.
The show follows on from a highly successful exhibition by Spring Fling at the Biscuit Factory in 2014.

Peter Wareing Ceramics

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “We loved the idea of bringing the work of our most popular artists and makers to the Biscuit Factory. Last year’s exhibition was great and we thought people would really enjoy a second chance to see some of the amazing creativity that comes out of Dumfries and Galloway.
“The five winners offer a real mix of work – the one thing that unites them is that they are all highly accomplished, so we think this is something that people will really enjoy coming to see.” Describing his photography Phil McMenemy said: “I strive to be there for those special moments in time to celebrate the glories of Galloway specifically and Scotland in general – this is a fine land! “The majority of my images are planned meticulously to take into account the changes of season, the movement of the sun, the weather and the general ‘rightness’ of composition and ‘feel’ of a particular scene.
“My colour-blindness continues to baffle and intrigue people, however I continue to feel fortunate to be colour-blind as it means there is one less thing to confuse matters when I am out in the field creating work.”

Rooks by Heather Blanchard

Heather Blanchard said of her painting: “My recent work has been a journey through the seasons, from bright summer seascapes to crisp winter landscapes. “Changing light is endlessly exciting it gives every season its own magic. Simple gates or trees one passes every day, things hardly noticed at times can be completely transformed from one season to another and inspire me to paint.”

The exhibition is free to visit and includes a series of pieces from each of the exhibitors. Rachel Brown, Biscuit Factory General Manager, said: “It is a pleasure to host the work of the winning artists as voted for by visitors to the Spring Fling event in 2014.

“In this sense the exhibition is a publicly curated show which will be interesting for us to see how our particular audience responds. We are pleased to strengthen professional connections to Scotland and its artists and look forward to continuing our creative relationship.”

The Biscuit Factory is the UK’s largest independent art, craft and design gallery and is at 16 Stoddart St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1AN.

Theatre Royal final Funding Push

From the Theatre Royal

When the curtain falls on opening night, there will be a collective sigh of relief at the newly-refurbished Theatre Royal in Dumfries. Not least because now, 10 months before the building reopens following its renovation, there is no curtain.

But that is a minor hurdle for the volunteers who have already raised the £1.9m needed to fund the comprehensive facelift. In their final push to finish the theatre, The Guild of Players, the volunteers who own the building, are breaking with the fundraising norm.

They hope to raise about £20,000 in cash donations but they have also appealed for donations of the physical items they need to create a working theatre. In addition to a good quality stage curtain, the guild has drawn up a wish list of items including computers for a media suite, a washing machine for cleaning costumes and a industrial freezer for storing interval ice cream.

Group member Kristen Layne said: "In terms of props and theatre-type things, we have a tonne of that which will be going back in. We are certainly not starting from scratch. "What we need is things like tables and chairs in the bar. We have always just had folding tables because we had multi-use rooms. "And we'll have a much bigger lobby - we never had room before for chairs and counters."

The guild hope they can persuade businesses to donate large items and that individual supporters will make cash donations. They are also looking to make money from selling props, costumes and other theatre paraphernalia which has accumulated in the building.

In their first jumble sale they raised £800. Amongst the items on sale were ties in "50 shades of grey" and about 60 waistcoats. Ms Layne said: "Things like that get accumulated but it wasn't until we got it all accumulated at our new base at the Crichton that we realised we had so many duplicates." Built in 1792, the Theatre Royal is acknowledged as the oldest working theatre in Scotland but it has been closed for the last year.

The group received a series of grants and donations, including an award of £322,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to finance building work which will see the theatre expand into two neighbouring houses. They hope to open the theatre for the 2015 pantomime season, before an official opening in early 2016.

To make a donation head to the Theatre's fundly page here

Showbiz in Stranraer

From ITV

Dumfries and Galloway could be the setting for a new multi-million pound film about the flight of Bonnie Prince Charlie to Skye.

Filmmakers, including Producer Mairi Sutherland and Fight Arranger Seoras Wallace, have been in Stranraer today to discuss how the area could be used in the production of The Great Getaway.

They're hoping the area could be used to film the infamous Battle of Culloden.

The film will follow Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, from the moment his Scottish forces lost the last battle on British soil, against English troops.

Producer Mairi Sutherland was born in Dumfries, and is hoping to film in the region, and train extras: "The nearby West Freugh aerodrome hangers make this all a definite possibility, when travel to the Highlands could put up costs and add to the journey times of cast and crew.

Seoras Wallace Credit: Seoras Wallace

"Not only that Dumfries and Galloway has a certain quality of light that is good on film and is a popular destination with film makers."

Full story on the itv website here

Holywood Trust Grant boosts Arts Festival for Young People

From DG Arts Festival

A performing arts festival is singing the praises of a Dumfries trust fund after a £23,700 grant will help extend its programme to benefit younger festival goers.

As well as bringing the best in performing art to communities across Dumfries and Galloway, the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is always looking for new ways in which to attract younger audiences and involve young people in its programme.

The grant from the Holywood Trust has enabled the festival to expand its programme for younger audiences across the region by providing skills workshops and masterclasses;; underwriting events planned by organisations involved with young people; putting on events that will appeal to younger audiences; and by offering half-price tickets for the  under 26s.

Programme director Peter Renwick said: “The Holywood Trust has been a staunch supporter of the arts festival for a number of years and this generous grant will allow us to reach out further to attract younger audiences as well as nurture and support young performing artists in a number of ways.

“Young people have always been integral to our festival goals and this generous funding has allowed us to add a whole extra layer to the programme.”

“The grant has not only allowed us to secure a wide and varied range of acts for younger people, like the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Mimika Theatre, Des Clarke, Hardeep Singh Kholi and Stanley Odd, but it has also helped us to support events programmed by organisations who work with young people as well as develop a programme of workshops and masterclasses so that young people in our area get to learn from world class performing artists visiting our area.” A number of organisations will be working with young people promoting arts events supported by the festival.

Young people in Wigtown will host a concert at the town’s primary school by singer Lorna Reid, one of Scotland’s leading jazz singers, and organised by the Wigtown Book Festival; Music Beats will hold music industry workshops and gigs in Dumfries and Sanquhar; the Oasis Youth Centre bring young rapper Reece Robertson to their stage; Stranraer Music Town will present history-making duo Raintown to its local football club, supported by young Stranraer-based Artist Michaela Tennant; and Horse and Bamboo Theatre bring their visually stunning play to Loch Arthur’s Cresset Hall.

The festival will also host a number of engagement programmes in the form of workshops and educational sessions taking visiting artists to young people. These include masterclasses with the Scottish Ensemble; workshops with the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band; Stanley Odd rapping workshop; meet the artist sessions with local theatre groups; Robyn Stapleton workshop in Scottish songs; and how to master the art of performance photography with Castle Douglas photographer Kim Ayres.

Holywood Trust director Karen Ward Boyd added: “The trust is delighted to be supporting the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival once again in the programming of work for younger audiences in 2015. The festival has developed a fresh approach to help encourage and provide opportunities for young people across the region to engage with a range of high quality arts events and we hope as many young people as possible benefit from this.”

DGU Welcomes Suzi Kenny to the team

From the DGU team

Cheerful, loves paperwork and hugely fond of the arts community in D&G – meet Suzi Kenny, who has just been awarded the DGU commission for admin and comms. Members could hardly ask for more from the person who will be carrying out a host of vital tasks from taking minutes of Board and Regional Hub meetings through to running the website and helping to promote the region’s creative sector.

Many people may already be familiar with Suzi as she is the council’s Film Theatre Officer and she has worked front of house at the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre for 18 years. Cathy Agnew, Chair of the DG Unlimited Board of Trustees, said: “It’s great to welcome Suzi on board, she’s a well kent face in the area and has a passion for the arts. We were impressed when she arrived for interview and told us that she ‘absolutely loves admin’!

“This commission is hugely important in the evolution of DG Unlimited and will help push us forward into a new phase of development. I know Suzi is keen to get working as soon as possible, so I’m sure that members will be hearing from her very soon.” It may not just be Suzi whom members encounter, as she is often accompanied by her two beloved Border Collies, including Kali who is in the picture. Raised in Annan, but having lived most of her life in Dumfries, she studied media and photography at the George Street School of Art and graduated with an MA from the University of Glasgow last year.

Suzi says she is now looking forward to the chance to be part of the DGU story: “I’m passionate about the lovely creative community we have here in Dumfries and Galloway and how inclusive it is. “And DGU is an amazing organisation – it’s fascinating because it’s constantly evolving and I will enjoy being part of that.” Among her many attributes is that she has a good knowledge of social media and describes herself as a “workhorse” when it comes to getting administrative work done.

Photography and creative writing are two of Suzi’s out of work interests, and given her background it will be no surprise that she loves film. And if you are interested in what a film officer’s favourite movies are, we can tell you. Suzi says:

• “Breakfast at Tiffany's – the sweetest, romantic comedy that never fails to make me smile.”
• “The Princess Bride - action, adventure, romance and comedy ... You literally can't ask for more from a film.”

DG Unlimited would also like to thank all the other people who applied for the commission. The quality of applicants once again underlined just how much talent there is out there.
For full details of what the commission involves see the DGU website.

Artwork unveiled at Lockerbie Academy

From Spring Fling

A beautiful six metre long banner crafted by Lockerbie Academy students to celebrate their town was unveiled today (Monday).

It is made even more special by the addition of 52 individually designed coins, minted using The Stove Network's bicycle powered foundry, and hung from the bottom.

Image: Barry Young

The colourful artwork, which now takes pride of place in the school’s main entrance area, is the result of a joint initiative between Spring Fling, the academy, and Dumfries and Galloway Education Services. The project has been led by professional artists Morag Macpherson, Katie Anderson and Kirsty Turpie – a former pupil at the school. The aim was to give the students the chance to discover about life in the arts, learn new skills and contribute to a piece of artwork that will be enjoyed for decades to come. Morag, a renowned international textile designer based in Kirkcudbright, said: “We wanted to give the students a different perspective on art through getting to know working artists. We talked about our different practices and how they had developed. It gave them an insight into the lifestyle and career. “They really embraced the project and produced some very good work. Some of the young people were clearly very talented and clearly had a chance of getting into art school if that’s what they wanted to do.”

The banner is made up of dozens of 30cm squares, each with a repeating pattern based on line drawings the young people made of local buildings. They scanned the drawings, coloured them and created the patterns using specialised software.
At the same time Katie led the project to create a new currency for Lockerbie.
Katie said: “We wanted to know what they thought would be suitable for a currency for Lockerbie using designs based on their vision of their own town. And they came up with some really imaginative ideas.
“We also had a great day when I brought along the bicycle powered foundry which they could pedal to get it to the right temperature.”

Kirsty introduced students to the ancient art of paper collage. She said: “We used different types of paper to create collages and talked about different artists who the students might be inspired by. The results were really imaginative, I was very impressed.”
Each of the 32 collages has now been transferred onto a ceramic tile and will be displayed in the school. The project, which was funded by the Holywood Trust, gave the young people insights into life as a professional artist.

Image: Barry Young

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “This has been a great project which has produced a wonderful new piece of public art which the students and the school can be hugely proud of and which will hopefully be enjoyed for decades.
“The creative sector offers all sorts of fulfilling career opportunities for young people and is of growing importance to Scotland’s economy. This gave Lockerbie students a taste of what life as an artist could be like – and we hope it has fired their imaginations about what they can achieve in their own lives.”
The artists went into the school for five days in December and January and each worked with groups of pupils.

Carol Donnelly, art and design teacher at the school, said: “The artworks produced by our pupils are fantastic! Both the staff and the students have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!
“We would definitely recommend this type of collaboration to other schools as a way of enriching the classroom experience and accessing new skills, techniques and materials.”

The unveiling was attended by D&G’s Director of Education Colin Grant, who added: “I am delighted that students from Lockerbie Academy have had this exciting opportunity to work with professional artists, it will have no doubt added another dimension to their learning.
“What I am also pleased to see if a former pupil of the school coming back and sharing her knowledge and experiences with pupils and showing that you can succeed in life beyond school.”

Yarn Bombers take on DG Council

From BBC News

Colourful knitting left on a cycle path was "littering" and it will be removed, according to Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Dumfries was "yarn-bombed" on Tuesday night by a group known as the "Bollard and Chicane Protection Authority. They left knitted and crocheted items on bollards and railings.

In a blog post, the group said: "This is a town with some nice cycle paths but far too many invisible bollards (and chicanes)." They said they were designed to be seen in all light conditions. A reflective thread ensured they were visible at night.

But the local authority has condemned the move. A spokesman said: "If the positioning of bollards and other street furniture is an issue for people, they should raise the matter with the council directly. However colourful the yarn may be, it is littering and will be removed as part of ongoing maintenance."

However, a later statement seemed to soften that stance. "We appreciate arts and crafts in the region and this is certainly a very colourful way to draw attention to an issue," it said. "If the group contact the council we would be happy to listen to their thoughts."

News from Nithsdale

From Belle Doyle, DG Unlimited Nithsdale Area Arts Convenor

2015 looks set to be an exciting and momentous year for the Nithsdale Area, and a feeling of growing confidence about arts and the creative industries. We are all keen to nurture local talent and to see the ambitious projects grow; the recent awards by from the Regional Arts Fund for the Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival, the Globe Theatre performing at the Crichton, the Environmental Arts Festival, Electric Theatre Workshop and The Stove are a great indication of the scale of ambition that is present here in the area.

The year has started off with a bang with nine days’ worth of festivities from the Big Burns Supper who report a record number of tickets sold this year, and the development of a bookable performance space at their premises in Munches Street, Dumfries. Building works at 100 High Street are set for completion this month, with the Dumfries Music Conference (DMC) 2015 being organised in the building at the end of April. The DMC would like to know what people would like to see included in the next programme, and have put together a brief survey available here.

If you haven’t participated yet, and have ideas or comments about what would be useful to you and your music, please click on the link and do the survey. With The Stove Network planning the building’s grand opening at Guid Nychburris in June, and the newly refurbished Theatre Royal opening by the end of the year, the current problems about lack of suitable performance space and bookable venues in Dumfries may be over.

In Sanquhar, A’ the Airts has launched a major new knitting initiative thanks to an award from Santander Bank. The Upper Nithsdale Arts and Crafts Community Initiative won £10,000 in the bank’s Social Enterprise Development Awards (SEDA) which are given to social enterprises and trading charities to grow their businesses, to improve the local community both economically and socially. This award will support a long-term project to produce high-quality knitwear using the traditional, distinctive Sanquhar patterns: two-colour geometric designs that date back to the 17th century, as featured on Reporting Scotland on 10 February. For more details about the project, and about A’ the Airts in general, please see the website.

Meanwhile, in Carronbridge, where the award-winning Bunbury Banter Theatre Company CIC are now based, Phillip and Ali are bringing their considerable expertise in theatrical productions, audio drama, new writing and educational classes and programmes of all shapes and sizes. Over the past year, the company has already been involved with The Dark Outside, offering several of their pieces for inclusion in the sound installation project in the Dark Skies Forest, and The National Theatre of Scotland's Five Minute theatre festival. Bunbanter's (as they are known) first education project in the area is also now successfully up and running. The Young Theatre Groups, which run on Monday evenings during term time, are two groups based in mid/upper Nithsdale focusing on developing the skills, confidence and theatrical understanding of their participants. Please see their website or their Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates and information about all things 'Bunbanter'!

For more information about what is going on in the Nithsdale Hub, please keep an eye on the Facebook Group here or join the mailing list by contacting Belle at nithsdale@dgumlimited.com.

Chrys Salt - Dancing on a Rock

From Chrys Salt

“Chrys Salt, a wonderful and unique poet, reaches her zenith. The past comes alive again, where dreams and desperations come hand in hand. Her work is poignant, full of anger, desire, and dreams that entice you to enter that world. This book touched me deeply.”

Bernard Kops
Dramatist, Poet, Novelist

From The Bronze Age to recent conflict, Chrys Salt's new collection explores distillations of memory, moments, lives, experience - the image of a fossil dancing on a rock reminding us of those things that are recorded, yet transient. Dancing on a Rock is Chrys’ fourth full poetry collection. Her work is widely published, has appeared in anthologies all over the world, been performed on BBC Radio 3 and 4, UK wide, in the USA, Canada, France, Germany and Finland. It has been translated into French and Arabic and is currently being translated into Hebrew. In 2014 her limited edition pamphlet Weaver of Grass (Hattericks House 2013, artwork Deirdre Carlisle) was shortlisted for the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. She is a great supporter of Indigo Dreams and a frequent contributor (and winner!) to Reach Poetry magazine. IDP also published Chrys' previous collection Grass

90 pages of poetry, Dancing on a Rock can be ordered now online here. A taster of the poems included may be read there too. It's always good to work with Chrys and you will be able to catch her reading at a variety of places - a wonderful time will be had by all. Some venues below and many more to come.

March 7th/8th: Bath Literature Festival 
March 7th: Poetry Workshop 1:00pm – 4:00pm Holburne Museum
March 8th: Introducing Annette Badland who performs her script based on Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth 1:00pm – 2:00pm Guildhall
March 8th: Launch of new collection Dancing on a Rock with Rachael Boast. 5:00pm – 6:00pm Guildhall
April 14th: 'Whose Voice is it Anyway?' with novelist Margaret Elphinstone 7.30pm Scottish Writers Centre, Glasgow.
March 30th: Dancing on a Rock. Brioche, Hampstead 7.00pm
April 21st: reading from Dancing on a Rock with Bernard Kops 7.30pm Bar des Arts Guildford
April 23rd: Dancing on a Rock 7.30pm The Royal British Legion, The Quay, Wivenhoe:
May 2nd: Dancing on a Rock (time TBA) The Bank Bookshop, Wigtown, S.W Scotland.


Chrys was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for Services to The Arts. She receives this on Friday 6th February. Huge congrats from all of us Chrys - and don't forget that new hat!

Grants Worth £110,000 Will Boost Arts and Economy in Dumfries and Galloway

From DG Unlimited

The year ahead will be an exciting one for the arts in Dumfries and Galloway following the announcement that 19 fabulous projects are set to share £110,000 from the Regional Arts Fund. Competition was intense with over 30 applications being made to the fund which is jointly financed by Dumfries and Galloway Council and Creative Scotland through the Place Partnership. Allocations have been made on the recommendation of DG Unlimited. The fund aims to deliver and increase the impact of arts projects and boost the economy.

Councillor Tom McAughtrie, Chairman of Community and Customer Services Committee, said: “The council is delighted to offer this opportunity to increase the positive impact of the arts across our region through our Place Partnership with Creative Scotland and DG Unlimited. Arts projects like these enrich lives, build stronger communities, attract tourists and help create career opportunities. Our region is renowned for its creativity and this is something we are keen to support.”

Enclosure. Robbie Coleman. Part of Sanctuary and the Dark Outside 2014 event.

Among those who have been allocated funds are The Environmental Art Festival Scotland, which wants to build on the success of its 2013 event, and Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, which aims to support venues, promoters and artists across the region through a touring network and create more opportunities for people to experience top quality arts performances in their local community. And there is support for Wigtown Book Festival’s literature development work.

There are also projects to encourage young people to get involved with the arts and to support a range of community-based events and activities. Support is being provided for many different kinds of project, from traditional music to dance, theatre and film. Four examples are:

Wide Open: £3,800 to support Sanctuary 2015, a 24-hour event using digital and sound works, radio transmissions, digital video and performance in the Dark Skies Park which has been created by artists Jo Hodges and Robbie Coleman.

Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival: £2,115 to develop audiences and provide free tutor-led instrument workshops in the local community.

Moffat Book Events: £4,085 for Tolstoy and Scott-land. To expand the 4th international literacy conference being delivered in partnership with the All Russia State Library for Foreign Literature and other key partners.

Whithorn Trust: £3,500 for Dig TV, an archaeological film project for young people.

The Jaywalkers perform at the 2014 Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival. The Festival has been supported to develop audiences and deliver instrument workshops in the community.

Philip Deverell, Director of Strategy at Creative Scotland, said: “The Place Partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and the creative sector in D&G has already led to inspiring and innovative work. The Regional Arts Fund will support a wide range of projects, from professional development for creative people to new work and festivals. We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and wish the successful applicants well.”

The Regional Arts Fund is worth £110,000 and funding is available under six strands – reflecting the priorities agreed by DGU’s regional Arts Hub. These are:
Art and Place
Youth Arts/Early Career Development
Supporting Practice Next Stages
International Ambition - Reaching Out and Bringing In
Touring
and Programme Enhancement and Audience Development.

Alan Thomson, Regional Policy and Development Co-Ordinator for DG Unlimited, the independent charity which champions the region’s arts, said: “Dumfries and Galloway is earning a national and international reputation as a powerhouse of creativity. We are attracting people to live, work and visit the area because there is so much to do and see, and such a vibrant creative community. The projects that are being funded will give many more people from every part of the region the chance to get involved with the arts. They also help us nurture talented young people and set them on the right course for positive and fulfilling careers.”

Jan Hogarth, of arts production company Wide Open, said: “It’s great that funds are being allocated in this way – it marks out Dumfries and Galloway as an exciting and creative place. We are particularly delighted at the funding to support a third annual Sanctuary event. Jo and Robbie have succeeded in creating an event that is hugely innovative and attracts people from all over the country to the region’s Dark Skies Park.”

The value of applications totalled more than £260,000 and many were of a very high standard, presenting the three panels which carried out the scoring with a tough set of decisions. In most cases the funding allocation depends on the applicant meeting agreed terms and conditions.