Scottish Traditional Boat Festival

Transcription

1 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival The Salmon Bothy Links Road Portsoy Banff AB45 2SS Tel No: Company Ltd by Guarantee with Charitable Status Approx.55 (Numbers extend beyond several hundred during the festival) 300k / 29% Roger Goodyear Established in 1994 and entirely managed by volunteers, The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (STBF) encapsulates the essence of a region s rich maritime and rural culture. Primarily an annual event which includes sailing and maritime skills, crafts, traditional music, and the region s food and drink, STBF also provides further outreach and engagement activities for the local community. Festival activities are wholly inclusive throughout the weekend, and are hosted in the old and new harbour areas at Portsoy, Loch Soy, Wally Green and the Salmon Bothy, with recent figures indicating that STBF attracts approximately 16,000 visitors each year, contributing an estimated 3,000,000 to the local economy. Recent secured funding from Creative Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council, along with inclusion into Creative Scotland s 2012: Year of Creative Scotland programme have afforded STBF the means to organise and manage year-round singing and instrumental tutorials for primary school children in the area, culminating in a performance at the festival. The hosting of a regatta of St Ayles Skiffs from members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association (itself a community project) has encouraged members of the community to become involved in boat building regardless of previous experience, and to participate in the regatta even further. Another boat building project has been successfully implemented in partnership with local primary schools, facilitating the build of 8 optimist dinghies which were used in a sailing tutorial programme and will continue being used by the new sailing club. During 2011, STBF completed the acquisition of assets of the former Portsoy Maritime Heritage, assets which include the Shore Street buildings and a number of boats of heritage interest has seen the acquisition of the Portsoy Caravan site, enabling an important alternative income stream, as recent reports (2011) indicate that approximately 35% of festival visitors cite camping as their form of accommodation. The Salmon Bothy at Portsoy is an important venue and is used as a museum, a genealogical research facility, and a community meetings and events facility. Full Museums Galleries Scotland accreditation has ensured that activities in the upstairs communities facility continue throughout the year, allowing local community members access to talks, presentations, workshops, music performances, and other group activities including visual art, knitting, crafts, Pilates and the camera club. After suffering disappointing visitor numbers in 2012, STBF is focusing its energies on freshening-up the content of its programme whilst maintaining its high standards. Certain measures are currently being explored in order for the festival not to experience similar results in 2013 and beyond, with one proposed option being the alteration of the Festival from an annual to a bi-annual event The trustees and directors at STBF are most receptive to collaboration and communication with external organisations, and are keen to engage in communication, information sharing, development and partnership with the Cultural and Creative SEN.

2 Greenock Arts Guild Ltd Arts Guild Theatre Campbell Street PA16 8AP Tel No: Charity Number SC Company Number SCO ,570,530 / 3.74% Julie Ellen Greenock Arts Guild Ltd has long been the primary venue and facilitator for the arts in the Inverclyde area, hosting a range of events from all disciplines including music, drama, dance, comedy, festival and visual arts. Thousands of people pass through the doors of the current theatre every month. And as well as the full programme of events held in the main theatre and studio theatre all year round, the Arts Guild Theatre also houses many local community groups and local arts projects, enabling a broad spectrum of residents and visitors to benefit from its facilities. In 2012 a new premises, The Beacon Arts Centre will open its doors and continue to build upon the already successful tradition of arts provisions in the area. Integral to the development of The Beacon Arts Centre is the furthering of the current arts programme, alongside the implementation of new projections for the Arts Guild s own social impact measures: The Arts Guild will be utilising funds and donations from numerous trusts and foundations in order to introduce more inclusive programming, special ticket rates and transport assistance to particular groups for inclusion purposes. This will be placed alongside a 2-pronged strategy which will see both resident artists and touring groups benefit from provisions as well as local groups from the surrounding areas. The aforementioned strategy encompasses the provision of in-kind support, practical mentoring from the Artistic Director and workspace to resident artists, whilst also helping touring performance companies to come to The Beacon Arts Centre and perform utilising the space and its resources. Additionally, Creative Scotland s First in a lifetime project funding will enable a programme of working with deprived communities, helping them to engage with artistic expressions of their experiences - initially within their own communities and following on to implementation of their projects within the new building. These socially-driven aspects of the coming agenda have high priority for the Greenock Arts Guild. The new premises have been the focal point of much of the Arts Guild s efforts in recent months, and it has had to overcome a number of challenges in order to keep much of its progress on track. The renegotiation of licenses and timescales with contractors and other parties, alongside the creation of contingency plans in the event of unforeseen changes has seen the Arts Guild navigate numerous problems whilst maintaining the standards of their arts programme and facilities. Current projections see The Beacon Arts Centre being open to the public in December As The Greenock Arts Guild undertakes these vast changes it continues to engage with the CCSEN. Julie Ellen the Artistic Director has a seat on the Cultural and Creative roundtable, and both the Office Manager and Director are active attendees to CCSEN meetings. The organisation sees its social impact again being furthered alongside the creation of its holistic support package previously mentioned, and it aims to do this through a strategic relationship with local community healthcare partnerships that will see them both developing projects attentive to community learning development and also working together through the local health authority for access to funding.

3 Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street Edinburgh EH6 8RG Tel No: Rob Hoon Company Ltd by guarantee with charitable status Company Number: SC Out of the Blue was established in 1994 as a small gallery off Edinburgh's Royal Mile, with the aim of making the arts more accessible. In 1996 it instigated the conversion of the old bus depot offices on New Street into a 13,000 ft² multi-disciplinary arts centre and subsequently relocated there. In 2003 Out of the Blue again relocated; leaving the New Street venue for the Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street saw major redevelopment work and a grand reopening of the Drill Hall, which strengthened the organisation s position as an important contributor to Edinburgh's cultural scene. Further improvements have seen more office/studio space available at Dalmeny Street as well as at the Powerhouse venue at Portobello, and explorations into the provision of further hot desking space are currently being made at the Drill Hall. The Bongo Club, an external venue and integral revenue earner generates income which supports Out of the Blue and it s other projects without cost to the government, council, taxpayer or lottery ticket buyer, but is currently in need of relocation. The Bongo Club and Drill Hall café are trading entities in support of the aims of Out of the Blue as a charitable trust. Besides keeping all of these areas running as smoothly as the conditions allow, Out of the Blue promotes and coordinates live music events involving groups and artists from Edinburgh and the world, a constantly changing programme of exhibitions of work by Dalmeny tenants to International artists, public and community art projects, ongoing educational programmes and more. The Drill Hall itself has finished 3 major phases of development, and now houses over 100 artists in studios across all mediums of practice, from singular artists to theatre companies. Some of the artists make use of a hub which allows them to work together and support each other through the running of events within the Drill Hall and other spaces. Out of the Blue itself participates in and supports joint promotion work, developing work and promotion throughout Leith Fest and Edinburgh Festival as a venue for performance and recreation, along with being a market venue at weekends year round, to hosting food events for the café, exhibitions and annual events such as the October Radical Book Fair. The Drill Hall building is owned by Out of the Blue, with funding provision from Triodos Bank and grant and loan funding.

4 The Drill Hall café provides training opportunities to local young people and is managed by Out of the Blue productions, the cafe has become a stand-alone social enterprise in its own right and broadens the provisions to both public visitors and artists alike at the Drill Hall. The major issue facing Out of the blue currently has been the withdrawal of the lease for the premises of the Bongo Club. The premises itself is owned by Edinburgh University, and Out of the blue are working with the council in order to establish a new location. The Bongo Club has long been a significant provider of entertainments for Edinburgh residents, with many people going through its doors each week. Therefore, not only as an essential generator of income for Out of the Blue, but its cultural value also has enabled Out of the Blue to swiftly act upon this issue. Working with potential funders and developers, Out of the Blue hope to relocate the Bongo Club swiftly after the end of year expiry on its current lease, and to be fully operational again by February of As a successful, multi-faceted enterprise in Edinburgh, Out of the blue participates in network activities through attendance to network meetings and utilising information and resources on current policy and legislation issues throughout the sector. In regards to practical support, Out of the blue values the expertise that is available to them via a number of partners throughout the network and is currently exploring the possibility of calling upon such sources to assist in the development of the café.

5 Media Co-op 406 White Studios Templeton on the Green 62 Templeton St Glasgow G40 1DA Tel No: Not-for-profit Media Co-operative 7 (5 members of organisation, 1 close to becoming a member and another currently FT for 6 months) 100% Louise Scott Formed in 2005 out of a group of media professionals wishing to come together to pool their skills and work cooperatively. Media Co-op is a social enterprise dedicated to creating DVDs and webclips for social enterprises, charities, co-operatives and the public sector. They view visual communication as a crucial tool in the fields of promotion, awareness-raising, training, lobbying, advocacy, campaigning, evaluation and fund-raising, and their award-winning team of media professionals holds genuine ethical commitments alongside their broadcast-quality production values. Unlike the average corporate production company, media co-op is a workers co-operative of individuals with a lifelong active commitment to social change and volunteering. They all hold Enhanced Disclosure for working with vulnerable people, and pride the organisation as the only social enterprise to be selected as one of NHS Scotland s preferred suppliers after rigorous assessments for quality and value for money. Current Media Co-op projects include the development of a message regarding safe contact with violent fathers, in partnership with Children First Scotland, and a collaborative project with ScotMid Co-op tackling issues of membership within co-operative organisations and the distinctions between co-operatives and other organisational models. The manner in which Media Co-op delivers its work enables members of particular groups and communities the opportunity to engage with productions directly. One recent example is members of Boys Against Violence being involved in post-production and editing of their film from the very start. Although not strictly service providers themselves, these accommodating measures that Media Co-op takes affords service providers to work with them in providing inclusion and participatory opportunities for affected individuals or groups. When forming in 2005, Media Co-op took full advantage of support services provided by Senscot, and they continue to participate actively in the CCSEN. During start-up, assistance was received to enable them to make the most of a Level 2 grant from Scotland UnLtd, along with help in moving to their current premises and the acquisition of professional equipment. The premises in particular has provided a flexible space for Media Co-op to settle and consolidate their current situation as a strong voice in advocacy and social change in Scotland, along with developing their infrastructure and taking on further projects. After initially problematic issues concerning roles and responsibilities within the co-operative model, Media Co-op now has clear guidelines on the definition of the co-operative model and what people s responsibilities are. The necessary investigation of the co-op s structure and organisation has led all members of Media Co-op to embrace the role of a business s owner, as well as its employee. Though difficult at first, this dedicated approach offers many benefits to a team which shares the core values of co-operative working. Media Co-op s adaptability is demonstrated by their participation in productions that may otherwise be difficult to achieve without collaboration with external partners. For example, a recent project investigating Private Finance Initiatives (using the Skye toll bridge as its focus) in partnership with the BBC, has allowed Media Co-op to continue with their commitment to 100% self sufficiency whilst working on larger projects also. Media Co-op s active participation in the CCSEN enables them to make use of the support that is still available to them, whilst communicating and assisting other organisations as they continue to grow.

6 Timespan Museum and Arts Centre Dunrobin Street Helmsdale KW8 6JX Tel No: Charitable Company limited by guarantee Company Number SC Staff 30 Volunteers (changeable) 163,019 7% Anna Vermehren Established in 1986, Timespan is a creative heritage and arts development hub based in Helmsdale, Sutherland in the North East Highlands of Scotland. It is a meeting place between the past and the future; linking culture, heritage, the arts, people and their ideas. From its founding, Timespan has had the aim of providing the community and visitors with an insight into the fascinating history of Helmsdale and its surrounding area, and was developed from a small local heritage centre into an award-winning museum and the only public contemporary art gallery in Sutherland. Subsequently, Timespan provides a high quality venue and outreach opportunities for researchers, artists, volunteers, audiences and participants. Timespan focuses on the people it serves; on pushing at the leading edges of creative exploration in and between arts and heritage; on access to excellence, collaborations, artist and researcher development and vibrant community engagement. Its persistent aim is to challenge perceptions of what can be delivered by a cultural organisation rooted in the distinctive, but fragile, social and economic ecology of this large, rural and remote area. Existing as a remote facility which embraces the digital age, Timespan curates innovative exhibitions and residencies which engage with the local community and beyond. They have an active outreach programme involving up to 30 volunteers which includes on average, 1 event per week tailored towards the entire community. Timespan also creates a substantial economic impact on Helmsdale, being the biggest employer in a village of 700 and bringing in approximately 13,000 visitors every year. Since its establishment, Timespan has undergone two major redevelopments, the first being in 1997 where a café and gallery were added to the space, and in 2007, where the whole building was renewed along with a revamp of existing services. Timespan now sits proudly as a popular, creative facility in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty. These two developments posed major challenges to Timespan, straining resources and operations. However, their successful implementation has enabled Timespan to reach new levels. Some problems still persist, in regards to covering core costs, but the commencement of an endowment fund appeal, alongside innovative approaches to service provisions should see Timespan continue to perform to its high standards. Past collaborations have included the receipt of advice on their arts programme from curators from the central belt and the Highland Games Committee. Partnerships have also included Inverness Museums and Galleries and Northlands Glass. Future projects for Timespan see the organisation aiming to make international connections in Iceland and countries of the Northern belt. The aim of providing more artists residencies whilst maintaining the exhibitions schedule hopes to be realised also, with Artists in residence taking an active role in community life. Collaboration and partnership working, knowledge sharing and outreach from the CCSEN is welcomed by Timespan, particularly during these further stages of its development.