SAMIZDAT

Out of the Blue Newsletter Winter 2007

Happy New Year and welcome to Samizdat Winter 06/07 issue and another urgent bulletin from the cutting edge of arts and culture.

THAT WAS 2006

Whether it's been ground-breaking cultural projects, hard working initiatives to promote social justice or simply providing desperately needed studios to Scotland's artists, 2006 has been a massive step forward for Out of the Blue (OOTB). With everything from overhead projected biology lessons between cuts from classical iconoclasts McFalls Chamber at OOTB's flagship avant garde music night None of the Above through unemployed youth swapping rhymes with Edinburgh Lord Provost Lesley Hinds and local rapper MC Profisee as a finale to the G37 training-for-work initiative to some of the UK's most wanted revolutionary firebrands seizing control of The Out of the Blue Drill Hall for The 10th Radical Book Fair, it is fair to say that OOTB has broadened some horizons in 2006.

OOTB COLONISES SPACE

The lion's share of the second phase of The OOTB Drill Hall self-managed refurbishment was completed in November. The mix of modern studios and fully equipped offices built with environmentally sustainable materials set round a large public exhibition and performance space soon attracted a real mix of creatives who slotted in quickly to the already thriving artistic community. In April, OOTB leased the former Scottish Power headquarters in Portobello. With developers waiting in the wings, OOTB swooped to strike a deal to create much-needed, affordable studios while the building lay empty. Rather snappily rechristened The Out of the Blue Powerhouse, OOTB now provides more than 100 up-and-coming artists with vital studios at both locations.

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES

Samizdat watched the demolition of the old Bongo Club and OOTB's former studios in New Street over the summer with mixed feelings. To create a vibrant community of artists and a multi-arts venue in a dilapidated old bus depot was always a bold experiment and subsequently proved an unprecedented success. But mingled with the nostalgia is eager anticipation not least because OOTB's proactive approach to engaging with the developers looks set to pay rich cultural dividends. After being brought in to advise on cultural content to the new development, Samizdat can exclusively reveal that plans are now being laid to create studios, galleries and workshops in the arches on Market Street as part of a new 'cultural quarter' for Edinburgh. So, if you are a creative looking for a studio or an office, then please contact OOTB Artist Services Manager Nicole Lambeng at nicole@outoftheblue.org.uk.

INTERCULTURAL TO INTERSTELLAR

Following OOTB's hugely successful 2005 production of the Edinburgh Mela, OOTB was yet again tapped to produce 2006's festival in October. Some 50,000 people enjoyed the intercultural delights on offer over the weekend and for the second year running was widely hailed as the best ever. Congratulations to the OOTB team whose professionalism and programming flair made the event such a success.

RADICAL BOOKS AND FRINGE FIRSTS

The Park Life project to regenerate the local Dalmeny Street Park has been gathering momentum with November's confirmation of City of Edinburgh Council funding worth £100,000 over two years. Designs for a complete revamp of the park in 2007 are now being drawn up. Other 2006 OOTB highlights included coordinating the creation of eight cows decorated by community groups from across Edinburgh for this summers high profile Cow Parade, a welcome return for OOTB's flagship avant garde music night None of the Above at The Bongo, the tenth Radical Book Fair in October, bringing India's Teamwork Productions over to present its stunning dance production Transposition in August, The Bongo Club cementing its reputation as Edinburgh's top multi-arts venues during the Festival with headline theatre production Finer Nobler Gases scooping a Fringe First, apprenticing some 50 unemployed youngsters to artists during August's G37 training-for-work initiative, and a string of successful Arts Markets throughout the year to name a few.

ALL NEW DRILL HALL TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY

The official opening of the newly revamped OOTB Drill Hall is scheduled for the Spring. The refurbishment would not have been possible without the enlightened policies of our funders, so a big Samizdat vote of thanks to them all (see the footer of this newsletter for a complete list). Interestingly, Historic Scotland is poised to help fund restoration work to the architecturally and historically-significant building to the tune of £125,000. The move would rank The OOTB Drill Hall alongside such nationally important monuments as Edinburgh Castle and the standing stones at Callanish. Designed by Scottish National Portrait Gallery architect Rowand Anderson at the turn of the century for the army, The OOTB Drill Hall was the scene of the last tragic acts of the UK's biggest ever rail disaster during WW1.

EDINBURGH'S NEWEST MULTI-ARTS ARTS VENUE

Historic monument or not, the revamp brings The OOTB Drill Hall bang-up-to-date. Chief among the new facilities is a stunning, multi-purpose rehearsal and performance space. Featuring sprung wooden floors, wall-length mirrors and triple-height ceilings, the new space will be a vital addition to Edinburgh's cultural scene. Title sponsorship for this exciting new space is still up for grabs. If you are interested in sponsoring or, in the shorter term, hiring the space then contact Nicole Lambeng at nicole@outoftheblue.org.uk

OOTB PLANS GROUP EXHIBITION

Following the success of December's Litmus exhibition of paintings by half a dozen OOTB-based artists at the Bongo, a major OOTB Group Exhibition is now planned to coincide with the opening of the new look OOTB Drill Hall. Featuring work from hopefully all the creatives based at both OOTB buildings, the show will underline the scope and quality of OOTB-resident artists. It will also emphasise OOTB's ongoing commitment to supporting artists beyond simply providing studio space.

JAVA TALKING

The Drill Hall Café is also set to be unveiled in the Spring. The licensed café will be staffed by youngsters from the local area as a training-for-work scheme and will serve only fair-trade and organic produce. With a packed programme of cultural events planned, the new café will be a relaxed venue to meet like-minded people, swap ideas and just hang out. If you would like to stage an exhibition or give a talk or get involved in any way, then contact hugo@outoftheblue.org.uk

HINDUS ACROSS THE WATER

February marks the first stage of OOTB's Shared Histories cultural exchange with India to mark the 60th anniversary of Indian independence and to foster cultural links between the nations. Local artists will visit the sub-continent as part of Scottish Executive-sponsored project with Indian artists paying a return visit to Scotland in March.

ART OF FINDING A JOB

In recognition of 2006's successful pilot project, OOTB has once again been selected to manage the Gallery 37 training-for-work initiative for social inclusion advocates Capital City Partnership (CCP) over the summer. The scheme apprentices up to 50 young unemployed to artists in a variety of mediums and disciplines. The youngsters will then get the chance to sell their work at a temporary shop in the centre of Edinburgh and at an OOTB Arts Market at The OOTB Drill Hall during the Festival.

THE THREE Cs

Depending on funding approval, OOTB should also be working with several other arts organisations as part of the CCP-initiated 3C project to engage with isolated people in deprived areas of Edinburgh through the arts. The city-wide project will reach out to young families, the elderly and young people not in employment or education with a busy programme of cultural activities over the next two years.

LEITH DANCES TO DIFFERENT DRUM

OOTB is backing the Same Place, Different dance project which will bring dance to this summer's Leith Festival for the first time. The project will involve a site specific performance featuring a cast of amateur as well as professional dancers.

BONGO

OOTB sister organisation and Edinburgh's original multi-arts venue The Bongo Club has set controls for the heart of the sun in the New Year as well. Check daily listings at www.thebongoclub.co.uk

PRODUCT MAGAZINE

The Modern Myths issue of quarterly Scottish culture 'zine Product is on the streets now. With pieces on radical grannies, hippy folk icon Vashti Bunyan and art prank World Jump Day among many others, it features the best writing on film, music, art, books and politics. Find out where to get your copy from www.productmagazine.co.uk

Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust (charity number SCO22812) supports and promotes cultural ventures. It has an established track record as a vital catalyst for creativity in Edinburgh and beyond including the launch of cutting edge multi-arts venue the Bongo Club (www.thebongoclub.co.uk). OOTB gratefully acknowledges the support of the Scottish Arts Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Capital City Partnership, Communities Scotland, Fresh Futures, Social Investment Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian, Triodos Bank, Social Enterprise Edinburgh, Scottish Community Foundation, Whiteburn and IKEA.