We are delighted that the next meeting of the CPG - Culture and Communities continues in person at the Scottish Parliament. The Cross Party Group on Culture and Communities encourages the exchange of knowledge and understanding between the Scottish Parliament and arts, culture, heritage, and historic environment communities. Learn more about the group on our website here.

Convener: Foysol Choudhury MSP

Secretariat: Culture Counts

The past few weeks have seen our artists, performers, writers and producers deeply unsettled by threats to key funding. Whilst there is relief that these decisions have been reversed the focus of the next Cross Party Group will look at the impacts and vital work our artists do in our communities and what is at risk if this work is not valued, understood or supported. We will hear from four guest speakers, who will provide insights into their work in this area and what it means for our communities.

Speakers:

Virginia Radcliffe is Artistic Director/CEO of Licketyspit a charity whose vision is that child-centred, inclusive theatre and drama-led play become an integral part of children’s daily lives. They believe that theatre and drama can empower children, increase their capacity to flourish and support their wellbeing. Virginia is a theatre director and children’s playwright who began to specialise in early years theatre in the mid-90s, after an extensive career as an actor. She founded Licketyspit in 2004, after leading the pioneering Wee Stories Early Years Project. Her very popular children’s plays put early years children at the centre of large, inclusive audiences of 0-12 year-olds and adults. Virginia is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of theatre and performance to open up playworlds for children, families and early years professionals. Her work aims to empower children and nurture a more equal and flourishing society.

Vibrant and tactile, Laura Aldridge's work engages, indeed embraces, all our senses. Taking many forms and scales, her work derives from her deep-seated instinct for colour and texture, and from the knowing and intuitive approach she takes to making and to materials and their possibilities. Recent solo exhibitions include LAWNMOWER, Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh (2023); sumVIGOUR, Cample Line, Cample (2021); fromKStoyou, Kunsthalle Stavanger, Norway (2020 –2021). In addition to her own practice Laura works with Artlink, Edinburgh (who have a 40 year history of removing barriers to participation, supporting innovation in the arts in collaboration with disabled people and the systems that support them.) And is one of the founders and Lead Artists of Sculpture House - a long term artist run project in Ferguslie Park. The Sculpture House is being redeveloped to place the artists’ studios at the heart of the community with facilities and spaces that support a range of inclusive activities. It will provide opportunities for teaching and learning as well as new pathways to access the visual arts for those who may normally experience financial, cultural or other barriers. The goal is to work alongside community partners such as local residents, community Council, local schools and other council services.

Max Alexander from Play Radical is an artist, play worker and thinker. Max’s work centres play and connection with a particular focus on autistic, neurodivergent and disabled experiences. Max creates spaces for play using a mix of his skills as a maker, visual artist, writer, facilitator, communicator and play worker. These spaces might be short quiet pockets of time shared between just two people in a living room, in a park under some trees or in a nondescript room in a day centre playing with strange sounds, exploring tactile sensations, or engaging in slapstick repetitive imaginative play. They might be bigger installations with playable sculptures, dens, big bodily movement and raucous ever evolving games. They will often exist somewhere in between, but regardless of scale, time and who is in the room they tend to hold space for silliness and sincerity in equal regard. 

Raisah Ahmed is a Screenwriter and Director working across film and television and 2024 Screen International Rising Start Scotland. Currently developing feature 'Half-Moon Camp' with Producer Zorana Piggott and Film4, and adapting Mahsuda Snaith's book 'The Things We Thought We Knew' with Mahsuda co-writing and Producer Shirine Best. Other credits include directing on CBBC’s 'Sparks', 'Princess Mirror-Belle' and 'Molly & Mack’, BBC3’s 'The Break' and writing on BBC The Social’s award winning phone drama 'Control' and WB Discovery animated series ’Toad and Friends'. She was in the writers room for Season 1 and 2 of CH4 Series ‘We Are Lady Parts’. She is currently adapting Martin Sixsmith’s ‘Ayesha’s Gift’ for television with Freedom Scripted, on which she’s also an EP, as well as developing ’Nur’ a 6-part original romcom for television with Channel X Hopscotch. Raisah is on the BAFTA Scotland Committee, the Scottish Youth Film Foundation Board, and chairs the Glasgow Film Festival Industry Advisory Group.

There will be an opportunity for group members, guests and MSPs to ask our presenters questions and we will also have time for a general discussion.

This meeting will also incorporate the AGM of the Cross Party Group - Culture and Communities.

Attendance

You must be a member of the CPG Culture and Communities to attend. If you are not a member then please join the group here. Booking information will then be sent out to you directly via that mailing list. If you have any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact us via the details below.

On-line

This is an in-person event however we are hoping to make an online option available. If you would like to join us online, you will be able to register for an online ticket and joining details will be sent to you on the morning of the event. Any issues please contact us via the details below.

Contact details:

If you have any questions about the event, the Cross Party Group, or any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact Lori Anderson: lori@culturecounts.scot

Please sign up to the CPGs here, and booking information will be sent out to you directly via that mailing list.

This year's Festival of Politics 2024 will take place from Monday 19 to Friday 23 August.

The Cross Party Group - Culture and Communities is delighted to host an event in the programme: Think local, act global? - international cultural ambition in perilous times

With the publication of the Scottish Government's International Culture Strategy and the international audiences and artists attracted to Edinburgh's Festivals the event will bring together a panel to consider how can Scotland’s culture sector fulfil its global ambitions during unpredictable times?

Think local, act global? - international cultural ambition in perilous times

• Friday 23 August 2024

• 1:15 - 2:45pm

• Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh (online unavailable)

• Tickets: £7.50 full price and £5 concession

Working on the global stage allows Scotland to showcase its creativity and wield influence. However, in a world grappling with post-pandemic challenges, Brexit repercussions, climate crises and shrinking budgets, international working is increasingly difficult.

Panellists:

Alex Reedijk OBE FRC joined Scottish Opera as general director in February 2006, following four years at the helm of The NBR New Zealand Opera. Prior to that he was executive director of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. He is currently acting chair of the Citizens Theatre and Chair of Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock.

Dr Anthony Schrag is a practicing artist and researcher, and reader at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. His work examines the role of art in participatory and public contexts, with a specific focus on social conflict, agonism and ethics. He is published widely and known for his use of creative practice research methods.

Dr Lynne J Hocking is chair of Applied Arts Scotland SCIO (AAS), a membership organisation run by professional craft practitioners to support the making community in Scotland. AAS deliver projects where knowledge sharing and craft thinking explore ideas around sustainability and identity as they relate to local and global concerns.

Please note booking for this event closes at 1800 on Tuesday 27 February

We are delighted that the next meeting of the CPG - Culture and Communities continues in person at the Scottish Parliament. The Cross Party Group on Culture and Communities encourages the exchange of knowledge and understanding between the Scottish Parliament and arts, culture, heritage, and historic environment communities. Learn more about the group on our website here.

Convener: Foysol Choudhury MSP

Secretariat: Culture Counts

With increasing interest in local decision making, the ongoing Local Governance Review and Democracy Matters conversations, the CPG will focus on Cultural Democracy.  We will hear from three guest speakers, who will provide insights into their work in this area and what it means for our cultural communities.

Speakers:

Pauline Smith is the Chief Executive of Development Trusts Association Scotland, an independent, member-led organisation which aims to promote, support and represent development trusts in Scotland. DTA Scotland now has over 350 development trust members – community-led organisations using a combination of enterprise and creativity to improve the quality of life for local people in urban, rural and island communities across Scotland.  DTAS also provides help and support to community enterprises through it's Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) and the Community Shares Scotland programmes. Pauline will provide an overview of the recent Scottish Government work around Democracy Matters and the role of DTAS in this.

Lewis Hou is founder and Director of Science Ceilidh, an intermediate organisation making connections between communities, education, research and culture across Scotland. Lewis is passionate about engagement approaches that put people first, challenge institutional hierarchies and disciplinary silos, and supports social justice. One of their current projects is the Culture and Well-being Community Network Scotland. Through free community focused monthly discussions, it aims to support conversations across sectors, from grassroots individuals to larger institutions and pool insights, challenges and resources together on a practical level to support cultural democracy in Scotland, fundamentally valuing and celebrating everyone's culture and well-being.

Helen Trew is Co-Director of Art27, made up of artists and activists that take their mission from Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to freely participate in the culture of their community. They see cultural rights as indivisible from human rights and a driver of citizenship and democracy. Helen is originally from Belfast, where her lived experience of the Conflict instilled a commitment to arts activism in peacebuilding. She is an experienced cultural producer and practitioner over 25yrs in theatre, film, museums & heritage and multi-arts socially engaged projects. She is a specialist in equalities, diversity and inclusion, most recently with the public body for arts, screen and creative industries, Creative Scotland. She trained in theatre performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and in Film at Napier University Edinburgh. Helen is also ex Director and now Board member for Just Festival and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts Scotland.

There will be an opportunity for group members, guests and MSPs to ask our presenters questions and we will also have time for a general discussion.

Attendance

You must be a member of the CPG Culture and Communities to attend. If you are not a member then please join the group here. Booking information will then be sent out to you directly via that mailing list. If you have any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact us via the details below.

On-line

This is an in-person event however we are hoping to make an online option available. If you would like to join us online, you will be able to register for an online ticket and joining details will be sent to you on the morning of the event. Any issues please contact us via the details below.

Contact details:

If you have any questions about the event, the Cross Party Group, or any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact Lori Anderson: lori@culturecounts.scot

Please sign up to the CPGs here, and booking information will be sent out to you directly via that mailing list.

We are delighted that the next meeting of the CPG - Creative Economy returns in person at the Scottish Parliament. The Cross Party Group on Creative Economy encourages the exchange of knowledge and understanding between the Scottish Parliament and arts, culture, heritage, and historic environment communities. Learn more about the group on our website here.

Convener: Claire Baker MSP

Secretariat: Culture Counts

At a time of considerable change, standstill budgets and the continued ’perfect storm’ for the culture sector, these challenges are impacting on our people, cultural workers and freelancers.

This meeting of the group will focus on the culture sector as a creative workforce and we will hear from three guest speakers, who will provide an overview of the current issues and experiences.

Speakers:

Irene Kernan joined Craft Scotland in 2018. Craft Scotland is the national development agency for contemporary craft in Scotland, supporting makers and promoting craft. Previously, she was Director of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop where she oversaw the development of a major capital project to create a new purpose-built sculpture facility. In that role she also set up Scotland’s Workshops, a national network of 11 open access visual art production facilities spanning sculpture, print-making, film and glass. Before that Irene worked in the theatre sector in Dublin, at Dublin Theatre Festival and for the independent theatre company, Bedrock Productions, which established the Dublin Fringe Festival. The recently published Craft Sector Report provides an analysis of the current craft landscape.

Heather Parry is a Glasgow-based writer, editor and publisher. She is the author of two books of fiction with a nonfiction book forthcoming. She is the editorial director of Extra Teeth magazine and co-created the free-access Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide with artist Maria Stoian. She works for the Society of Authors, a trade union for writers. 

Janie Nicoll is Campaigns and Project Manager for Scottish Artist’s Union. (SAU is a registered Scottish Union for artists which believes that artists should be valued as the root of creativity in our communities and in wider society. Value starts with recognition of artists as creative and highly trained individuals whose skills and experience underpin ALL arts programmes, organisations, infrastructures and activities.) Janie is also a visual artist with a socially engaged as well as a studio based practice. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Painting from Edinburgh College of Art, and a Masters of Fine Art (MFA) from Glasgow School of Art. Working across a range of media she is interested in making artworks out-with regular gallery spaces and exploring possibilities created through collaboration or interaction with other people. Janie has exhibited nationally and internationally.

Attendance

You must be a member of the CPG Creative Economy to attend. If you are not a member then please join the group here. Booking information will then be sent out to you directly.

On-line

This is an in-person event however we plan to make an online option available. If you would like to join us online, you will be able to register for an online ticket and joining details will be sent to you on the morning of the event. Any issues please contact us via the details below.

Contact details:

If you have any questions about the event, the Cross Party Group, or any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact Lori Anderson: lori@culturecounts.scot

Please sign up to the CPGs here, and booking information will be sent out to you directly

We are delighted that the next meeting of the CPG - Culture and Communities returns in person at the Scottish Parliament. The Cross Party Group on Culture and Communities encourages the exchange of knowledge and understanding between the Scottish Parliament and arts, culture, heritage, and historic environment communities. Learn more about the group on our website here.

Convener: Foysol Choudhury MSP

Secretariat: Culture Counts

Whilst much attention has recently been focused on Scottish Government support for culture the picture in Local Authorities is also a cause for concern.

This meeting of the group will focus on the culture sector and the impacts of local authority cuts at a community level. We will hear from three guest speakers, who will provide an overview of the current issues and experiences of our cultural communities.

Speakers:

Robin Strang is the Chair of Community Leisure Scotland, (Community Leisure UK is the members’ association that specialises in representing charitable leisure and culture trusts across England, Scotland and Wales). Robin was previously Chief Executive of West Lothian Leisure and Chief Executive of Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust. He is also a Board member of OSCR and Scottish Canals. As Local Authorities are preparing their budgets, Community Leisure UK is currently working with its members to further understand the challenges that culture and leisure trusts are facing with decreasing budgets and how this is impacting cultural services and their creative communities.

David McDonald is Scotland Policy and Partnerships Coordinator for Creative Lives (Creative Lives supports and champions community and volunteer-led creative activity, and works to improve opportunities for everyone to be creative.) David spent 15 years in elected office, holding senior political roles in Glasgow City Council and served as the Chair of Glasgow Life, the UK's largest cultural trust, helping to shape cultural and creative opportunities ranging from international festivals and events to supporting community activity. David is passionate about the power of communities, he is a Community Education graduate of the University of Strathclyde and has worked in the community, third and non-governmental sectors in Scotland and across Europe. He is on the board of Glasgow Film Theatre and is chair of painting Pollok a community arts and mural project.

Alison Reeves is Deputy CEO and Manager, Scotland at Making Music. (Making Music is the UK’s membership organisation for leisure time music, with around 3,850 groups representing around 228,000 music makers across the UK. They are dedicated to empowering everyone, whatever their background or experience to come together in their community to make or present music). Alison leads on access and inclusion and supports lobbying and advocacy work. She has been the Manager in Scotland since 2016, and also delivers UK online events. She plays the fiddle, mostly for ceilidh dancing.

There will be an opportunity for group members, guests and MSPs to ask our presenters questions and we will also have time for a general discussion.

Attendance

You must be a member of the CPG Culture and Communities to attend. If you are not a member then please join the group here. Booking information will then be sent out to you directly.

On-line

This is an in-person event however we are hoping to make an online option available. If you would like to join us online, you will be able to register for an online ticket and joining details will be sent to you on the morning of the event. Any issues please contact us via the details below.

Contact details:

If you have any questions about the event, the Cross Party Group, or any access requirements to enable your attendance, please contact Lori Anderson: lori@culturecounts.scot

Please sign up to the CPGs here, and booking information will be sent out to you directly

Culture Counts welcomes our core members to Adelaide Place, Glasgow to discuss Local Elections and Culture Investment

About this event

Tea/coffee & lunch provided

Agenda

• Culture Counts Strategy

• Local Elections Analysis

• Supporting Local Culture Conveners

• Percentage for Arts Scheme

• Transient Visitor Levy

If you would like to invite any non-member stakeholders, please give joseph@culturecounts.scot a note of their email address and we'll send them a booking link.

If you have any dietary requirements, access requirements or other general requirements that we can arrange to support your access and participation in the event, please contact joseph@culturecounts.scot

We're looking forward to seeing you at our first in person meeting in 2-years!

This meeting is for Core Members of Culture Counts and invited members of Senscot to discuss access to community space used for culture.

Many culture organisations use local buildings and spaces to deliver their work. Throughout the pandemic access to these spaces has changed. This results in impacts on production and participation.

This 1-hour meeting is for anyone facing these issues. We want to understand the current realities of working in local spaces. The information we gather in this meeting will inform future advocacy work.

Core Members have been emailed joining instructions. If you have any questions please get in touch.