East Dunbartonshire Arts Council


February 22nd 2008		Scottish Arts Council announce new "Inspire" funding stream >> On 12th February Scottish Arts Council "launched Inspire, a major new Lottery fund for the development of exciting, innovative projects to inspire and encourage the people of Scotland to participate in the arts and become creative, imaginative members of a confident, cultured nation. The Ł8 million fund has been developed as part of the Scottish Arts Council's commitment to increasing participation and aims to provide more, wider, better engagement with the arts: More - increasing the number and range of people enjoying and taking part in the arts, particularly arts activity for and by children and young people. Wider - making the arts available to those who have had little opportunity to participate in the past; ensuring a fair geographic spread of activities; and supporting projects across artforms and technologies. Better increasing further the quality of arts activities by supporting creative, ambitious projects. SAC News page re "Inspire Fund" >>
January 15th 2008		Affordable on-line ticketing for not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations >> "Launched in January 2005, thebooth online ticketing service, www.thebooth.co.uk, was developed by Highlands & Islands Arts Ltd to provide affordable, entry-level ticketing for charitable/not for profit arts and cultural organisations across the Highlands & Islands. Originally a project of Highlands & Islands Arts, thebooth is now an organisation in its own right - Booth Scotland Ltd was formed in mid 2007. We are now delighted to be able to offer the service throughout Scotland, to arts and cultural organisations in your area". More information (download pdf) >> info@thebooth.co.uk
October 20th 2007		New Music Group in Milngavie >> "Enjoy Music" >> is a group of enthusiasts who meet to develop their own musicality in a way that's active, sociable and fun. The group is led by Moira Jakobsson in musical activites involving movement, singing and playing instruments, based on the Carl Orff approach to education in music, his arrangements as well as a wide range of other music. Ability to read music is not needed.
October 17th 2007		New listing: Art Group at Milton of Campsie >> Milton of Campsie Art Club is a group of local amateur artists who meet weekly in the Village Hall to paint. They enjoy the company and the stimulation from discussing their work. There is no teaching involved but easels are provided. Membership ranges from young professionals to retired pensioners. The club has already staged several successful exhibitions.
August 24th 2007		Venezuelan Music Education system comes to Scotland >> Anyone interested in the potential of classical music as a powerful force for social good will be excited by the news that a pilot project based on the Venezuelan "Sistema" has been announced, targetted at Raploch, Stirling - "one of the most deprived communities in Britain, an estate of dilapidated 1930s terraces between Stirling castle and the Forth. Future plans evidently include "Glasgow, Aberdeen and North Lanarkshire." Short interview with Raploch Project Leader Nicola Killean (Download mp3) >> About the pilot Scotsman) >> About the pilot (Guardian) >> About the project >> Update November 2007, with details of early stages.
July 6th 2007		Book and Arts Festival 2008 >> Milngavie is to host its first Book and Arts Festival in June 2008 14th - 21st Jun 2008 in Milngavie Town Centre There will be a true festival atmosphere with: author events art and craft exhibitions workshops live music
June 6th 2007		Youth Music Forum As part of its Youth Music Initiative, The Scottish Arts Council invited Local Authorities to bid for funding to establish a Youth Music Forum. An application from EDC was successful, and a steering group has been formed as a means to establishing an East Dunbartonshire Youth Music Forum. The stated aims of the Forum are as follows: Establish a music forum in East Dunbartonshire to encourage and support the strategic planning and delivery of music activities, making best use of the resources both human and physical across East Dunbartonshire. Encourage and facilitate partnership working between the formal and informal sectors. Identify and take into account young people's needs Encourage young people to become involved in the organisation and advocacy of their own music making Enhance understanding of youth music Ensure all young people in East Dunbartonshire have access to instruments, facilities and expertise The first meeting of the Forum will be at Kilmardinny House at 7.00 pm on September 12th 2007. Known voluntary sector groups with youth involvement will be approached individually. Anyone interested in the work of this Forum should meanwhile contact EDC Arts and Cultural Services Department.
March 15th 2007		EDAC obtains funding for digital equipment Having received requests from several groups for help with digital projection, EDAC applied for funding from Awards for All. The application was funded in full, and will allow EDAC to purchase a digital camera, projector, laptop and screen which will be available for use by groups in the 07-08 session.
September 20th 2006		Youth Music Initiative (Scottish Arts Council >> EDAC wishes to draw to attention of music organizations involving young people, that part of the YMI funding stream is available direct to voluntary sector organizations. Jennifer McGlone has written as follows "I am the Informal Sector Advice and Guidance Officer for the Youth Music Initiative at the Scottish Arts Council, it is my role to help organisations wishing to apply to the Informal Sector Grants. As you may know there are three funds for the informal sector; Small Grants (Ł500-Ł5000), Large Grants for 0-5 years (Ł5000-Ł30,000) and Large Grants for 5-25 years (Ł5000-Ł30,000)".
September 18th 2006		Creative Leaders' Conference (See item of March 23rd) Two presentations from this conference are now available on line. They are strongly recommended for anyone involved in promoting arts events. Lorna Murray: Audience Development >> Frances Cairney: Marketing >>
September 18th 2006		Merger of Milngavie History Groups At a meeting in Milngavie Library on September 14th, it was announced that Milngavie Local History Group, and Milngavie Heritage Forum have amalgamated. The newly-formed group will be known as The Milngavie Heritage and History Group. A programme of afternoon talks in Milngavie Community Centre is planned, the first of which will be on Thursday October 12th. Contact for the group: Marjorie Thompson, 0141 956 1433.
September 1st 2006		Women's Fund for Scotland >> The Scottish Community Foundation is able to accept grant applications until 15th December 2006 for awards from the Women's Fund for Scotland during the 2006/07 financial year The broad aim of the Scottish Community Foundation is to assist charities and community groups (with charitable aims) working to improve the quality of life and life chances in Scotland, especially in circumstances where funding is particularly hard to find and where a grant can achieve significant impact in enabling groups to fulfil their own objectives. The Foundation established the Women's Fund for Scotland in 2002, dedicated to improving the quality of life of women in Scotland. Since then it has awarded over Ł600,000 in grants from the Fund to over 250 community projects, supporting the development, self-sufficiency, and economic and social equality of Scotland's women.
April 3rd 2006		Kirkintilloch Arts and Cultural Centre - update: Latest news of this project was presented today at an information evening in Tom Johnston House, Kirkintilloch. Joan Riddell writes that "we have reached the stage where we are close to achieving the second stage of the lottery bidding process which will secure the final budget, but.....have worked with the design team to make substantial changes to the outer shell design of the building. The internal spaces and quality of those spaces remain intact. The new shape is, we believe, an innovative design which will deliver a flagship for arts provision in East Dunbartonshire, and will ensure that the marina area at Southbank will be an exciting destination."
March 23rd 2006		Creative Leaders' Conference: For Music Directors and Committee Members of all amateur choirs, orchestras, operatic and music promoting societies. 10.00 - 5.00 Saturday 6 May 2006, Perth Concert Hall. Making Music has planned a series of talks on issues important to the success and long-term sustainability of amateur music organisations, open to Making Music members and non-members alike. These topics include the art of programming, press and marketing tactics, adapting to an ever-changing world and, most importantly, how all of these determine your society's ability to retain and increase your membership and audience. Guest speakers will include Garry Walker, Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Frances Cairney, Marketing Manager Scottish Opera, Former Head of Marketing at the Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times. For details please contact Lorna Murray, Audience Development Officer Scotland, Making Music on 0141 339 4891 or lorna@makingmusic.org.uk
February 17th 2006		Heritage Lottery Fund At a meeting convened by East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson, HLF Manager for Scotland, Colin McLean presented data showing that relative spending per head of HLF funding in East Dunbartonshire is far below (1/9th) the average for Scotland. This is evidently the result of a paucity of applications. It was emphasised that "heritage" need not be very old (minimum 10 years). Projects which have been funded so far in East Dunbartonshire are: New Kilpatrick Church: Urgent structural repairs to A-listed building. Peel Park: Restoration and interpretation Auld Kirk Museum: Refurbishment Kirkintilloch Town Trail Mugdock Castle and Country Park: Interpretation project
February 3rd 2006		G66 Live At an open meeting, Chair of G66 Live, Melanie Brickley, outlined plans for the second year of G66live community cultural festival. G66Live will act as an umbrella organisation for events volunteered by local groups, promote a small number of events itself, and organise extensive publicity. This will entail postal circulation of the Festival Programme to all addresses in G66 post code area. Deadline for inclusion of events and for advertising in the G66 programme is 30th April 2006. Events will take place chiefly in the week June 12th - 18th 2006 in and around G66. However offers of participation from groups based elsewhere, such as Milngavie and Bearsden, will be welcomed.