out of the blue

ARTS IN SOUTH EDINBURGH

out of the blue have built on the success of the Celebrating South Edinburgh Project 2001 to underpin strategic and sustainable arts development in South Edinburgh.

To date this has involved:

- Employing a full time Arts Development Worker, based in South Edinburgh (Michelle Sweeney);

- Establishing an arts strategy group with members from statutory, voluntary and community organisations to coordinate and develop the artistic programme. This group is crucial in determining the full artistic programme;

- Developing the ‘Celebrating South Edinburgh’ planning group, to initiate and organise all elements of the celebration;

- Offering extensive opportunities for participation in the arts through workshop activity

- Organising and delivering the South Edinburgh Celebration (see below);

- Offering people from South Edinburgh the chance to access festival performance, and bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed artists to the South Edinburgh Celebration;

- Supporting newly established arts groups, for example, drama groups, drumming groups’ etc; to provide all year round opportunities for development.

- connecting into city wide networks to attract performance to South Edinburgh and to include the people of South Edinburgh in city centre artistic programmes and events;

In Total, 32 artists have been involved in the delivery of workshops. The Arts in South Edinburgh Project has a database of over 50 experienced artists who are open to involvement in the project.

THE CELEBRATING SOUTH EDINBURGH EVENT

Saturday August 17th 11.30 – 5.00pm Liberton High School Playing Fields

Entry to the celebration was free and brought together people who had been involved in workshops and local people and tourists alike. Celebrating South Edinburgh was a part of the Edinburgh Fringe festival programme and out of the blue’s own festival programme

The day kicked off at 11.30 with a colourful carnival parade led by the mighty Highland pipe band Soar Patrol.

Throughout the day performances were given by:

Mrigya – (India’s foremost fusion band)

La Boum - (Scottish/African fusion),

Ginger Green - (Singer songwriters)

The Gilmerton Singers - (Local Singing Group)

Activities and other performances included a wide variety of Community led activities such as drama, urban dance, and Salsa dancing.

Other activities included a marketplace, Indian teepees, jugglers, face painters, arts and crafts, traditional woodturning, djembe drumming, bouncy castles, bouncy Slides, fortune-telling, Wild Duck Obstacle Course, terrier racing, Indian drums and storytelling and skateboarding displays.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Funding

The Arts in South Edinburgh project intends to become established as a sustained project This will involve continued collaborative working relationship with statutory and voluntary sector projects and local individuals to steer the project and attain the neccesary funding and sponsorship. This is seen as a feasible objective by all the partners who are involved in the project

PROJECTS IN SOUTH EDINBURGH

The following projects are ongoing:

Project Title 1:

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Aims & Objectives:

A joint initiate between North Edinburgh and South Edinburgh Arts and the SCO to continue to take Classical performances at reasonable prices to South/North Edinburgh.

To encourage people from South/North Edinburgh to attend music performances at city centre venues by introducing a special price category for them.

To break down perceptions about classical music and who it is for.

To make tickets available locally as well as at main box office venues.

The Timescale:

October 2002 – April 2003 initially

Artforms:

Classical Music

Outcomes for Participants:

The chance to enjoy classical music at affordable prices both locally and in city centre venues

An increased understanding of classical music

Queens & Usher Hall Concerts

Development Potential:

If successful a series of workshops will be introduced to schools to encourage musical development. This would culminate in children performing at a local venue with The SCO.

Project Title 2:

RSNO

Aims and Objectives:

To break down barriers about classical music and who it is for.

To encourage more people from socially deprived areas to visit city centre music performances.

To explain the ethos of the dress code of RSNO and in general endeavour to make the RSNO more approachable to ‘ordinary’ people.

To make city centre venues less exclusive.

The Timescale:

January 2003 – June 2003

Artforms:

Classical Music

Outcomes for Participants:

Greater accessibility to classical music.

Greater awareness of what classical music is and how it impacts on their lives.

Development Potential:

If successful to continue the program and expand, examining more innovative ways of engaging local people with Classical music.

Project Title 3:

East Meets West

Aims and Objectives:

To produce an East West Multi-art Performance in conjunction with Castlemilk Arts project in Glasgow.

The Timescale:

Spring 2004

Artforms:

Dance, Drama, Music, Video, Photography

Target Participants:

The two communities of South Edinburgh & Castlemilk. Children to Elderly. All participants at risk of or suffering from Social Exclusion.

Outcomes for Participants:

Increased confidence

New relationships

Breakdown of Negative East/West perceptions

Empowerment and Self-esteem that comes from working with arts based projects and particularly from connecting with others in like situations.

Development Potential:

As this would be the 1st project of its type the development potential is huge, encouraging similar ventures with other areas in Scotland.

Project Title 4:

Save The Children

Aims and Objectives:

To continue the work already started with the Burdiehouse Environmental Arts Project in a manner that is conducive to doing an exchange with Save The Children in Fort William and Glasgow and eventually and international exchange.

The Timescale:

October 2003 – October 2004

Artforms:

Arts and Crafts, Graphics, Poster Design, Sculpture

Outcomes for Participants:

Ability to speak up about issues that concern them

Helping them to claim active citizenship as children

Opportunity to meet other children from similar environments and exchange discussions in their concerns

Development Potential:

International Exchange

Project Title 5:

Playgrounds Initiative

Aims and Objectives:

To facilitate children having an active say in the type of Playgrounds they have at school

Design of 3D playground reflective of an actual school playground. Children will be able to navigate their way around the virtual playground and be involved in issues concerning safety, equipment storage and selection etc.

Installation of Virtual Playground on School Computer Suite.

The Timescale:

January 2003 – April 2003

Artforms:

General Arts and Crafts, Video

Outcomes for Participants:

Increased confidence, self-esteem and personal development that comes with working with a team of adults and children.

Better negotiating skills

Design skills

Committee

Development Potential:

The project will be passed from one primary school to the next by the kids who have been involved. They will then help establish the project in the next school.

As soon as all local schools have participated a drama group will take place involving the production of a 10 minute drama against the backdrop of the video. Each of the schools will then come together to produce an hour long performance in the community.

Project Title 6:

Open All Hours Oct - Dec

Aims and Objectives:

To facilitate the introduction of arts based activities to community centres as part of the Open All Hours project.

The Timescale:

Friday nights Oct 25th 2002 to Dec 19th 2002

Artforms:

Circus Skills, Music Instrument Design from everyday objects, Graffiti Art, Breakdance

Outcomes for Participants:

Increased Confidence and self-esteem

New skills

Fun

Development Potential:

Runs throughout winter and spring each year

Project Title 7:

Spinney Lane ‘Tree of Knowledge’

Aims and Objectives:

To create and install a vandal-proof structure that will reflect 25 years of success at Spinney Lane Nursery School

To make the tree multi-functional ie story-telling tree, a tree to reflect the seasons etc

To have the children as involved at all stages of development as is possible

The Timescale:

January 2003 - June 2003

Artforms:

General Arts and Crafts

Outcomes for Participants:

Fun

A structure which will facilitate many educational activities

New skills

Development Potential:

Ongoing workshops on a seasonal basis and as budgets allow

Project Title 8:

Girls Will Be Girls

Aims and Objectives:

To have the play produced and performed at The Fringe 2003

The Timescale:

Jan 2003 – Aug 2003

Artforms:

Scriptwriting, Directing, Drama

Outcomes for Participants:

Increased confidence and self-capacity

Increased self-esteem and motivation

New skills

Development Potential:

Scope for Julie to attend a course on Script-writing.

Project Title 9:

Gracemount Youth Drama Club

Aims and Objectives:To establish a drama club which will be open to all interested in Drama in South Edinburgh.

The Timescale:

30 weeks from October 2002 to June 2003. To be reviewed after initial 10 weeks

Artforms:

Drama

Outcomes for Participants:

A facility which they have requested

Increased confidence and self-esteem

Dealing with issues through Drama

Development Potential:

A drama performance at ‘Celebrating South Edinburgh Carnival 2003’

Development of a Youth Theatre

Project Title 10:

Women’s Group

Aims and Objectives:

To provide an arts and crafts worker in order to produce a piece of artwork for International Women’s Day.

The Timescale:

November 2002 – February 2003

Artforms:

General Arts and Crafts

Outcomes for Participants:

Enjoyment, Participation, A break for the kids

New Skills

Confidence that comes with achievement

Development Potential:

Continuation of Women’s group in Summer Arts Workshops

OTHER ONGOING COMMITMENTS AND PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

11.

Streetwork - Training initially to become familiar with streetwork participants and their needs so that I can devise/suggest relevant arts based activities for any relevant projects planned by Streetwork.

12

Peer Training – Communities That Care – introduction to Peer Work so that I can hook in with Peer led projects offering creative slants.

13

Puppet Festival – 10 puppet shows will take place in Community Venues in S. Edinburgh

14

Greater Liberton Heritage Project – short play to be produced ‘mummer’ style

15/16

Capital City Partnership

a)Scriptwriting/Adult Literacy Project
b)‘In From The Outside’ National Museums Scotland (Heritage Lottery fund)

17

Newbattle College – Forge links with

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Jewel & Esk College – forge links with

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Lyceum Theatre – forge links with

20

Queen Margarets College – links formed and projects already in pipeline

21

Toolkit of Impact Measures For Arts Services - CEC

22

Artlink – Festival of Creativity and Wellbeing – Happening in Oct 2003 we are devising project for same.

23

Liberton High Book Week October 2003 – Organise Writers

24

Lothian Primary Health – devising project

25

Project 20/20 – Rehabilitating people formerly in care through art – opportunity for Environmental Art Project at Craigmillar Castle Park

26

Mladi Most – based in Mostar in Bosnia Hertzegovina… KB (my volunteer) has applied for Winston Churchill Award to go and establish links with project. It is anticipated we will become involved with their photograph project, Womens project and an international exchange which may also include Save The Children.

27

Development of arts project with the new amalgamated Primary School. To be delivered in Spring 2003