Cross artform

Major arts festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow are to receive a share of the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund worth £1.8m.

Established in 2007, the fund aims to build innovation across the festivals and maximise national and international opportunities for the artists contributing to them.

The year, 14 festivals including Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Festival and Glasgow International Festival are receiving funding.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has received the most, totalling £550,000.

Glasgow Film Festival and the biennial Sonica visual art and sonic festival will receive funding for the first time. Creative Scotland Chief Executive Iain Munro welcomed the government’s decision to “recognise the distinct international profile and work” of the two events.

“The fund is vital in raising the international profile of these festivals and enabling them to enhance their programmes through exciting and innovative co-productions and collaborations,” Munro added.

Housing association Peabody is advertising a 52-square metre unit at Battersea Power Station for a cultural organisation, charity or business to move into.

The ground-floor premises, called Space 52, are situated at New Mansion Square in Wandsworth among a cluster of cultural and creative technology workspaces, featuring podcast studio and screening facilities.

The site is being made available at peppercorn rate for an initial 10-years. The lease comes with an additional £125,000 grant, to be paid to the tenant over five years. 

The Greater London Authority is also making £5,000 available to provide business plan support for individuals and organisations that are led by or will serve underrepresented communities.

Peabody says it is looking for a tenant that needs a base where they can grow and who will thrive in a busy residential environment.

“Space 52 is a fantastic opportunity for creatives looking for an affordable, long-term space who would benefit from extra funding,” Peadbody Deputy Executive Director of Development Angela Wood said.

“A new cultural anchor here at Battersea Power Station will contribute to a thriving creative community and we look forward to appointing and working with them.”

Organisations are invited to submit an expression of interest before 10 May. Three finalists will be asked to submit full proposals later in spring, before interviews take place in June, and the successful applicant takes up residence in October.

Southbank Centre in London has launched a new artist development initiative that will support ‘creative innovation and experimentation’.

The first stage of the Studio programme will invite nine artists to undertake individual residencies in its Purcell Room.

Each five-day residency is designed to help the artists develop existing ideas as well as inspire new ones.

The main focus will be on supporting collaborations across artforms to provide ‘a meeting space to create new ideas borne from collaborations between writers, visual artists, designers, choreographers and musicians’.

Mark Ball, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, said: “The launch of Southbank Centre Studio further underscores our commitment to making the art of the future, to developing bold artistic endeavours and providing artists with the opportunity to explore exciting and surprising new hybrid collaborations.”

Artists selected for the launch programme include Le Gateau Chocolat, voted by Time Out London as one of its Top 10 Cabaret Stars, and audio-visual artist GAIKA, self-described as a “hard-to-place person".

The residency programme begins in May.

Christina McKelvie has been appointed Scotland’s Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development by new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.

The MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse replaces Neil Gray, who had been in the post since January 2022.

Her previous Scottish Government role was Minister for Equalities and Older People.

As Culture Minister her responsibilities will include cultural policy and heritage, as well as the organisations Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland.

She will work alongside Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, who has held the position since May 2021 and will sit as a member of Yousaf's cabinet.

McKelvie has been an MSP since 2007 and has represented Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse since 2011.

She said she was "honoured" to take up the new role.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has awarded £110,000 to 22 projects through its Small Grants funding programme.

The initiatives receiving support span the regions of Down, Mid-Ulster, Armagh, Fermanagh, Antrim and the North West.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and money raised for good causes, we are delighted to announce today funding to support 22 fantastic projects, creating more opportunities for people to engage with the arts, from grassroots level projects through to professional productions,” said Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

“This valuable funding programme will support a variety of high quality arts projects in locations across Northern Ireland, including performances, workshops and tuition.”

The Lurgan and Armagh George Russell Festival Society has received funding to support its George Russell Festival, a history, literature and art festival that began on 1 April and continues until 10 April. 

Funding was also awarded to Tempo Maguires GAC to provide weekly low-cost traditional museum classes; Lilac Cancer Support Ltd to recruit an artist to work one day per week in the Art Development Studio at its Community Hub; North West Cultural Partnership to fund a May to July festival celebrating the opening of a new £1.8m arts centre, Seaview Integrated Primary School for a 10-week block of dance classes; Down Academy Pipes and Drums for a music tuition programme at a local primary school; and Africa House NI for a series of arts development workshops and training for the African diaspora community.