SCENE STIRLING ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF SECOND ROUND OF GRANTS
Stirling Photography Festival is one of seven local creative projects to receive funding. The image above shows ‘Forth Sunset’ by 2019 festival entrant Chris Elder.
Seven local creative projects will benefit from over £10,500 of funding this month, as Scene Stirling – Stirling’s Place Partnership - distributes its second round of grants.
Collaborative projects backed by the region’s place partnership scheme include Stirling Photography Festival, a local food heroes photography exhibition, plans for a craft school in Dunblane and a virtual dance performance trail at the University.
Kevin Harrison, Scene Stirling programme manager, said: “Thanks to Creative Scotland and Stirling Council we’ve been able to fund seven more creative projects, helping keep culture alive at a critical time for the arts. We’re excited to see these projects come to fruition in 2021.”
OPEN GRANTS OF UP TO £2500
Stirling Photography Festival - £2500
Social entrepreneur and Stirling Photography Festival founder, Janie Meikle Bland said: “Like many festivals last year, our live events programme and exhibition plans were dashed, and our festival had to go online. We’ll use the grant to build our digital capability, redesigning our festival website and social media platforms ahead of this year’s festival to allow us to reach and attract new audiences. We’ll also be offering paid opportunities to local creatives to get involved in this year’s festival from web designers and photographers, to content writers and project coordinators.”
Virtual Performance Dance Trail at the University of Stirling - £2500
Dancer Grace Turner will team up with University of Stirling Art Collection to create a virtual performance trail on the campus. She said: “The ‘Art-Walk’ will take audiences on a physical and choreographic journey of the University’s grounds through the medium of an interactive map. While on their walk, audiences will watch dance films inspired by the locations on the route that have been captured by filmmaker Michael Rea. A narrated piece of creative writing, will accompany each film, illustrating how different mediums capture the same inspirational environments. The project will encourage people to engage with dance and embrace the wellbeing benefits that can be gained from exploring Stirling’s beautiful natural spaces.”
The funding will also be used towards online dance workshops for two isolated groups, students living on campus and young carers, as a way of enhancing their well-being during the pandemic.
Central Scotland School of Craft - £2400
Jewellery makers Rebecca Wilson and Jo Pudelko have been awarded £2400 to help launch Central Scotland School of Craft, a new initiative coming to Dunblane in Spring 2021. The school will offer a comprehensive programme of craft workshops, ranging from one day to week-long courses, accessible to everyone - from complete beginners to established professional makers.
Rebecca said: “We have an impressive array of ‘A list’ crafters from all over the country lined up to deliver a range of courses with a focus on heritage and endangered crafts, and skilled hand-making. Although based in Dunblane, the Craft School will be an asset to the wider Stirling community providing a creative hub for continued learning and employment opportunities for local creative freelancers. It will also draw visitors from outside the local area, contributing to the district’s profile of creative facilities and enhancing the cultural profile of Stirling and the surrounding areas.”
Constant Follower Music Videos - £1940
Musician Stephen McAll of Constant Follower has been awarded £1940 to film three music videos with local filmmakers for the band’s debut album with renowned US label Shimmy Disc.
Stephen said: “The videos will be promoted internationally, bringing attention to the band, the filmmakers and Stirling. As well as helping us reach a wider audience with our music, the grant will allow us to continue to promote our Golden Hum nights, where we bring our favourite international artists to Stirling to play alongside local talent.”
MICROGRANTS UP TO £500
Three local creative businesses have also received support in the form of a micro grant:
Julie Howden – Food Heroes
Stirling based photographer Julie Howden has been awarded £438 for a photography exhibition showcasing the local food heroes who kept communities going in lockdown 2020.
Julie said: “I hope my photographs can help in some real way, regardless of how small, to spread the message wider of what great food producers we have on our doorstep and make more people think about where their food comes from and the impact of their shopping choices.”
She added: “I hope the exhibition will spark wider discussion and raise awareness of local food production, food security and the impact our food choices have on our health and environment; as well as the local economy.”
Jo Pudelko
Dunblane Jewellery maker and sculptor Jo Pudelko has been awarded £449 to give her business a digital boost, including new photography and an ecommerce site to enable her to sell online whilst galleries and non-essential shops are closed.
Jen Bradley
Artist Jen Bradley has been awarded £498 towards materials for the new ceramics studio she is building in her garden to allow her to continue to practice during the Covid-19 crisis. The studio will also allow her to host community events in future.