Regional Arts Hub

The Regional Arts Hub (RAH) is one of the key groups within the communication systems of DG Unlimited. Here information, ideas and questions are shared amongst creative practitioners from around the region. The RAH develops concrete proposals for the region’s arts sector and passes these to the DGU Board who then support their implementation with key partners like Dumfries and Galloway Council and Creative Scotland.

 

So what the heck is a Hub?

Good question – ‘Hub’ seems to mean all things to all people – in the case of RAH we define our Hub as being the centre of a wheel – a centre of gravity that gathers information, opinion and need from the world around it (our small world being the region’s arts sector)

Who is on the Regional Arts Hub?

* Any individual or organisation who is in receipt of in excess of £3000 funding via DG Unlimited is on the Regional Arts Hub (it is a condition of their funding that they participate in RAH)

* The four Area Arts Convenors

* DGU Policy and Development Worker

* RAH can also co-opt people to join the group to bring specialist skills into the Hub.

How does the RAH work #1?

Since February 2015 the status of RAH within DGU has changed significantly. RAH is now a Sub-Committee of the DGU Board this means that the work of RAH has an official status within the constitution of DGU. Also, the Chair and Vice Chair of RAH automatically become members of the DGU Board, to be an effective channel of communication between the two groups.

The RAH elects three officers from its membership, currently these posts are held by:

* Chair – Matt Baker

* Vice Chair – Anne Barclay

* Secretary – Simon Davidson

How does the RAH work #2?

The RAH has appointed a working group to undertake day-to-day activities on our behalf.

The RAH Working Group:

* Meets monthly

* Communicates with RAH by email and full group meetings

* Communicates with the wider sector via Area Arts Convenors, The Commonty and DGU website

* Commissions specialist groups to explore particular areas of interest (eg individual artforms, audience development, youth arts etc)

* Is supported by the DGU Policy and Development Worker (Alan Thomson) to develop strategic priorities and projects on behalf of the arts sector in the region.

* Coordinates full RAH gatherings

The RAH Working Group currently comprises:

Sid Ambrose (Wigtownshire Area Arts Convenor)

Matt Baker

Anne Barclay

Leah Black

Simon Davidson

Belle Doyle (Nithsdale Area Arts Convenor)

Sara Lockwood

Graham Main

Alex McQuiston

Cate Ross (Stewartry Area Arts Convenor)

Alan Thomson (DGU Policy and Devt and Annandale & Eskdale Area Arts Convenor)

How does the RAH work #3?

It is planned that the full RAH meets twice a year – the format for these gatherings will evolve over time. They will involve a mixture of formal business, arts activity and networking. It is proposed to widen the invitation to these gatherings to all in the sector who would like to attend.

Contact

If you want to know more about the RAH or contribute ideas/comments please contact our Secretary Simon Davidson - simon@catstrand.com

Latest from the Regional Arts Hub Working Group

The first meeting of the RAH Working Group was held on 30th March 2015 at Electric Theatre Workshop in Dumfries – it was attended by:

Sid Ambrose, Matt Baker, Anne Barclay, Leah Black, Simon Davidson, Belle Doyle , Sara Lockwood, Graham Main, Alex McQuiston, Cate Ross and Alan Thomson.

As this was the first meeting and seen as a new start for many of us within DGU we agreed to spend our two hour meeting going around the table each outlining our priorities and programme for the next year. In advance of the meeting the four Area Convenors circulated a list of the five key priorities identified for their area though contact with the local sector.

What followed was a very productive and positive exchange – where many areas were identified of strengths and weaknesses in the arts provision for the region. Youth Arts, in particular, was clearly an area which good progress is being made – after previously being identified as a clear weakness regionally at the beginning of the Fresh Start for Arts consultancy.

Notes from the conversation and further contributions from the group after the meeting are now being collated by our Regional Policy and Development Worker Alan Thomson – to inform further development of a new regional arts approach.

If you have anything you would like to contribute to this conversation please contact Alan Thompson directly: alan.thomson25@gmail.com

The next meeting of the RAH Working Group is on 6th May the draft agenda for this meeting is:

* Working with the DGU Board

* Update on regional strategy following previous meeting

* Forming specialist art-form groups – priorities/process

* Developing a Charter for Events regionally

* Regional Focus – Conveners reports (5 bullet points from each Convenor about current concerns/needs/themes in their area)

* Date and format for next RAH gathering

* Proposal to Co-opt Pete Renwick for DGArts festival to working group

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.”

Rura at Dalry Town Hall

From Kirsten Ansell at The Catstrand


Rura will be playing at the Dalry Town Hall on Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm. Details available here

Rugged yet disciplined, heartfelt whilst rousing and anthemic, refreshingly contemporary but rooted in tradition… Rura are a band inarguably at the forefront of Scottish folk.
Internationally renowned for their punch-packing mix of highland pipes, whistle, flute, fiddle, bodhran, guitar and voice, Rura are one of the most exciting bands of their generation. Steven Blake, Jack Smedley, David Foley and Adam Brown create muscular, yet intricately arranged and lyrical instrumentals to match singer/songwriter Adam Holmes’ haunting songcraft – a perfected mix that has seen them rise to headline status at festivals throughout the UK and Europe.

Since bursting on to the scene in 2010, as award winners at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival, Rura have firmly established themselves as a major force. The release of their heralded first album, Break It Up, in 2012 (produced by Lau and Kan fiddler, Aidan O’Rourke) was accompanied by multiple award wins and nominations – including the running for the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award 2013 - and now the five-piece’s second release is just around the corner. Due for release in spring 2015, it is one of the most hotly-anticipated albums in recent years – and from a band of the very same.

“What every festival needs…barnstorming!” BBC Radio Scotland
“Scotland’s hottest folk prospects” The Scotsman

www.facebook.com/ruramusic
@RURAband

Bunbanter’s Young Scottish Theatre Groups, Carronbridge

From Philip Anderson-Dyer

Bunbanter’s Young Scottish Theatre Groups, Carronbridge.

In January 2015 The Bunbury Banter Theatre Company CIC started a theatre group in Carronbridge (Nithsdale) with the aim of bringing the young people from Sanquhar, Thornhill and surrounding areas together and to develop student’s confidence, creativity and imagination through the medium of theatre, the use of storytelling and a variety of other creative practices.

So far this has been a huge success, attracting young people from both areas and forming the beginnings of an exceptionally solid, supportive and friendly group dynamic.

The first term's work has been focused on introducing basic theatrical skills, games and exercises, encouraging group bonding in order to create an 'ensemble'. In the course of this, students have explored many things including the ideas behind storytelling (such as fairy tales and Roald Dahl) and examined the origin of the chorus in Greek Theatre. Next Term, they will be moving onto a media project during the early weeks and have visitors popping in, later on in the term, such as a professional Lighting and Sound designer, who'll be exploring the technical side of the theatre.

The Bunbury Banter Theatre Comapny's main aim as an organisation is improving the access to theatre and when forming their groups locally, it was quickly discovered that transport is a recognised issue for many people living in rural areas. So, to counteract this, Bunbanter quickly organised a private bus service to and from the class, for the students from Sanquhar Academy and also arranged to open up their venue early, to accommodate those studying at Wallace Hall Academy; so they are able to get on the public bus from Thornhill which arrives at 4pm. Money and financial constraints can also be a block to young people accessing such classes but again Bunbanter have a number of resources in place, so they can offer scholarships and assistance, should that be needed by any of their students.

In addition to the younger group, next term Bunbanter is also going to open the second group for ages between 16-25 years. More information is to be released over the Easter break but similarly to the earlier class, their artistic director, Ali Anderson-Dyer, will be using all the disciplines and practices found within the theatre to further the students both individually and as a group, exploring many different performance styles and practices, whilst developing a fun and welcoming place to make new friends and learn new skills.

The Bunbury Banter Theatre Company CIC has a successful background of running fun, enjoyable and interesting classes across London and the UK; and as with all their work, the groups in Carronbridge exist to challenge and inspire young creatives in a safe and supported environment, regardless of personal circumstance.

See the Bunbanter website here for more information

Email info@bunbanter.com or Call 01848 330493

Festival Forecast In The Heart Of Galloway

From Sid Ambrose Wigtownshire Area Arts Convenor

Nostalgic acts booked for several of the regions festivals

Music lovers and festival fans may have noticed a strong nostalgic vibe emanating from some of our region’s major events being held in deepest grooviest Galloway this summer.
Lulu, Status Quo, Grandmaster Flash, Squeeze, the Waterboys and Big Country are like a who’s who of bygone rock royalty. In search of meaning l read some tea leaves and consulted with the bones to find out why, it appears that a frothy cloud of nostalgia has been snagged on the lofty peak of the Merrick and looks to be settled in place for our northern summer. However fans of contemporary and new music need not be alarmed as strong westerlies have blown in a smattering of current acts such as Example, Tom Odell and The Cat Empire.

This retro and newbie mash up may have been influenced by the Gulf Stream which flows northward past our shores, but it is more likely that the population demographic of ageing stalwarts and bright young things have championed for a series of line up’s that reflect the eclectic musical tastes of our collective shires and dales. Wickerman, Eden and now Palmerston Park may have secured some of the music industry heavy artillery but let’s not forget the likes of Knockengorroch who have booked timeless acts such as Shooglenifty and the Peatbog Faeries for their World Ceilidh in May. Electric Fields who champion new Scottish music have just released their line-up of new pretenders and our "way out west" event Park Fest in Stranraer will probably combine a weekend of Young Guns and veteran performers in late August. Youth Beatz are building a national reputation amongst a tween audience whilst Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival continue their 30-year run of bringing quality and diversity to pocket sized venues all along the A75 corridor.

So what’s the long range forecast for the regions festivals and events l hear you ask. Well barring external factors such as those that affect the economy and travel l feel that future of our festival industry is so bright we are probably going to need shades, the combination of niche market events, family friendly gatherings and rock offerings means that we must be several isobars above other comparable regions when it comes to outdoor live music. In my experience live performance can never be matched by pub jukeboxes or in- car stereos and luckily for us you can hardly swing a selfie stick in Galloway without hitting a festival.

Treats in store from The Bakehouse

From Chrys Salt


Warm yourself up for Big Lit with the rare opportunity to hear Hungarian poet and translator George Szirtes - one of the UK’s most respected poets. You’d have to travel a long way to see George, but he’s at The Bakehouse on March 28th. Don’t miss him. He’ll be joined by one of our best local poets and translators, Donald Adamson reading from A Landscape Blossoms Within Me his stunning ( and sexy) translations of Finnish Nobel Nominee Eeva Kilpi. For more details see the Bakehouse website here  (Maybe this will inspire you to come to Booker Prize nominee, Michèle Roberts’ BIG LIT workshop on Friday April 17th The Pleasures of the Text.....!?) Followed by an open mike session. I’m sure George would love to hear what the region has to offer. Come and read! The evening will not disappoint! 

TICKETS: Tel: 01557 814175 or email: chrys@chryssalt.com

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

DGU in the Stewartry

From Cate Ross, Stewartry Arts Hub Convenor

Cate Ross

Hello dear The Commonty. It is my turn for an Arts Hub update from DG Unlimited (nee The Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts or DGU for short). So this is Cate Ross, Stewartry Arts Hub Convenor reporting for duty! Though it is no chore.

Arts activities, cultural information sharing, banter and mutual support is more apparent across the region that I’ve ever seen, in many ways Dumfries and Galloway is also more ‘outward facing’ than it was when I was drawn to live here eight years ago. This is all to do with its abundance of artists, heritage and culture, forces to be reckoned with nationally and internationally in my opinion. To talk about all this and more, maybe, you are cordially invited to our next SAH gathering is on Sunday 29th March from 2-5pm in Mossdale Village Hall. All welcome, bring food, refreshments, entertainment and your ideas and ears please!

The interface that D&G has developed to connect our heritage and creative culture locally and with the outside world has grown enormously through Creative Scotland’s Place Partnership Fund (2013-2015) and DGC contributions, which have helped form a solid foundation for sustainable and inclusive developments that are deeply nourishing. The more people who become members of DGU the more representative the organisation becomes. Win for you and win for your community, that’s the purpose.

One element of the Place Partnership developments included a commission to build online information sharing platforms, social media networks, press relations and documentation. The recent DGU website is built to respond to the input it receives including all members of its creative community. One of the features is Unlimited People, which gives members the chance to showcase their work. You can be featured here, and on our Facebook page, if you download the form, answer some questions and return them with a photo.

Early Autumn Swirl by Dave Currie - one of the DGU Unlimited People

These PR and media developments have been implemented by Matthew Shelley with Russell Milligan of Bright Eye Design in Dumfries, and Katie Anderson supporting DGU info-shares with The Commonty, so very many thanks to them for helping to make our region’s cultural developments more transparent and treasures easier to connect with than ever. That commission is coming to a close now and DGU’s new and smiley administrator (part time!) is Suzi Kenny who will be channelling information via the DGU website and other networks over the coming months among other things - like taking and sharing the minutes of DGU’s voluntary Board of Trustee meetings (which are published on the web) and Regional Arts Hub and Working Group meetings.

And thanks to you for taking part, reading this and contributing to these developments. Hopefully we can all continue to grow the information and support networks that are enhanced by your input and exist to support you.

Even closer to home, you can get in touch with your area Arts Hub Convenor through our new and shiny DGU email addresses, mine being stewartry@dgunlimited.com, the other Convenor and useful addresses are on the DGU Website. Contact us with any query, ideas, creative, cultural or heritage enquiry or information share, because we want to help support and promote your creativity, event, venue, place, activity and your good self!

Thanks to all!

PS - Cate's picture is by Kim Ayres.