Glasgow International art festival launched - by Brian Ferguson in The Scotsman

Glasgow International art festival launched

by BRIAN FERGUSON

MORE than 40 different sites around Glasgow are to be part of the city’s flagship visual art celebration in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games.

Around 80 artists from around the world will have their work showcased during the biannual Glasgow International, which will be staged for the sixth time in 2014.

Organisers say more than 90 per cent of the work on display during the 18-day spring event will either be brand new or will be on display for the first time in the UK.

Although galleries across the city centre will be hosting the majority of the show solo and group shows, artists will be transforming two sites near the Emirates Arena in the east end - at Dalmarnock and Bridgeton - as well as the old Govanhill Baths, which will be taken over by inflatables.

Shows will be inspired by the historic collections at the city’s Kelvingrove museum, the impact of television and the Empire Exhibitions.

Other exhibitions at the festival include one which will feature a fully-functioning nail bar and another showcasing works of art which jump out of their frames.

Extra funding has been secured for next year’s festival - which will run from 4-21 April - which will see it be part of the programmes for both the 2014 Year of Homecoming and the Glasgow 2014 cultural programme.

Artists bringing major shows to the city include Aleksandra Domanovic, from Serbia, Germany’s Michael Stumpf, and Americans Michael Smith, Jordan Wolfson and Avery Singer.

Festival director Sarah McCrory said: “Glasgow International will continue to show the strength of the renowned and exceptional production from within Glasgow, as well as invite artists into the city to embed into its museums and alternative spaces, encouraging discourse around multifarious topics ranging from new technologies and museum taxonomies to the use of humour.

“Once again the festival will provide a focus on the wealth of its arts organisations and communities, whilst embracing input to these discussions from international practitioners.”

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/arts/visual-arts/glasgow-international-art-festival-launched-1-3131088

Creative Scotland name Janet Archer as new chief

The Scotsman

http://www.scotsman.com/news/arts/creative-scotland-name-janet-archer-as-new-chief-1-2957628

By BRIAN FERGUSON

A SENIOR official at England’s arts council will be the new figurehead of Scotland’s main culture body, ending six months of uncertainty over its future.

Janet Archer, a widely-respected figure in the dance sector across the UK, will replace Andrew Dixon as chief executive of Creative Scotland, the troubled quango.

He had faced a huge rebellion from artists across the sector over the running of the body, including a damning open letter published last October, and fiercely critical internal reviews, which were thought to have sealed his fate.

Creative Scotland’s board, led by former Standard Life chief executive Sir Sandy Crombie, has looked south for a second time, despite Mr Dixon’s regime facing criticism from artists over “a lack of empathy and regard for Scottish culture.”

She is a surprise choice for the Creative Scotland job, which attracted almost 100 applications, having not been numbered among the rumoured contenders, who included Robert Palmer, who led Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990.

Turbulent 12 months
However Ms Archer’s appointment, less than 24 hours after Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop delivered a keynote speech setting out her vision for the sector in an independent Scotland, appears to have heralded a new era for the arts after a turbulent 12 months.
Creative Scotland insisted Ms Archer had “worked extensively” with projects in Scotland, including helping to stage the British Council’s biannual showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The quango said Ms Archer, whose job will command a six-figure salary, is not speaking to the media until after she starts her post officially on 1 July.

However, in a statement, she said: “I am thrilled at the chance to take on this important role for the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.

“The passion and intelligence emerging out of recent debate has reinforced the vital role Creative Scotland has to play as a partner and facilitator.

“I’m simply delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards Scotland’s creative future and look forward to working with people everywhere to unlock talent, drive opportunity and grow artistic and cultural capital for this amazingly ambitious nation.”

Ms Archer, 53. has been dance director at Arts Council England for the last six years, having previously been head of the Newcastle-based Dance City agency. Ms Archer has recently been the chair of The Work Room, a body for the independent dance sector in Scotland, which is based at the Tramway arts centre in Glasgow.

Ms Archer, who will be in charge of a budget of around £83 million a year, was a key player in the drawing up of Arts Council England’s 10-year blueprint for the sector and also helped stage a major “state of the arts” conference for the body last year.

Ms Archer, a former freelance dancer, choreographer and director, was a founder and artistic director of the Nexus Dance Company, where she spent four years.

During a sixteen-year tenure at Dance City, she launched a new international dance festival for the north-east of England, and the body led efforts to ensure every member of the north-east community could become involved with dance.

The latter project saw classes, workshops, performances of work by leading international choreographers, and new courses run in partnership with Northumbria University.

Ms Archer was born in London but much of her childhood living in Brazil and Japan, before returning to study in the UK - at London Contemporary Dance School, Rambert Academy, also in London, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff.

Ms Archer inherits the top job at Creative Scotland almost a year since leading arts groups were told they were being stripped of regular funding.

Funding

The quango was later forced to apologise for the way relationships with artists and organisations had deteriorated and pledged that more secure funding arrangements would be put in place.

Sir Sandy said: “We are all looking forward to working with Janet and the senior management team in building on the feedback and relationships with arts practitioners throughout Scotland.

“The board was impressed with her policymaking and partnership skills and knowledge across the whole field of the wider arts, screen and creative industries.

“She comes at a time of huge opportunities to highlight Scotland’s artistic excellence and achievements in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and beyond.”

Ms Hyslop added: “Janet has worked across the wider arts and creative industries with a recent focus on the quality of arts leadership and increasing access to culture for all.

“She has a clear understanding of the context of cultural provision in Scotland, in addition to extensive experience in the field of dance.

“She will be key to driving forward Creative Scotland’s work to increase the appreciation and celebration of Scotland’s cultural achievements and rich creative talent, both in this country and internationally.”

Profile: Out of The Work Room into Creative Scotland
 
Janet Archer, 53, has been dance director at Arts Council England for the last six years, having previously been head of the Newcastle-based Dance City agency.

For the last three years, Ms Archer has been the chair of The Work Room, a body for the independent dance sector in Scotland, which is based at the Tramway arts centre in Glasgow.

Ms Archer, who will be in charge of a budget of around £83 million a year, was a key player in the drawing up of Arts Council England’s ten-year blueprint for the sector and also helped stage a major “state of the arts” conference for the body last year.

Ms Archer – a former freelance dancer, choreographer and director – was a founder and artistic director of the Nexus Dance Company, where she spent four years.

During an eight-year tenure at Dance City, she launched a new international dance festival for the north-east of England, and the body led efforts to ensure the north-east community could become involved with dance.

The latter project instigated classes, workshops, performances of work by leading international choreographers, and new courses run in partnership with Northumbria University.

Ms Archer also spearheaded efforts to create a £7.6m purpose-built “dancehouse” venue for the organisation.

She was born in London but spent much of her childhood in Brazil and Japan, before returning to study in the UK – at London Contemporary Dance School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, also in London, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in Cardiff.

The Work Room director Laura Eaton-Lewis said: “We think that there couldn’t have been a better appointment to the post of CEO at Creative Scotland than our incredible chair. I’m confident that she will bring the same vision, clarity of thought, and sensitivity to her new role, as she has given to The Work Room during the three years that she has led our board of directors.”

Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England, said: “Janet has been a passionate and dedicated colleague. She played a lead role in developing England’s arts landscape at Dance City and at Arts Council England.”

Her in-tray: Festivals, cultural vision and artists

When Janet Archer finally arrives to replace Andrew Dixon in Creative Scotland’s plush Edinburgh offices at the end of Princes Street there will be little time for reflection.

Her first day is 1 July – less than three weeks before the city’s main summer festivals burst into life, when she is likely to be in big demand from the capital’s cultural movers and shakers. This festival also happens to be a showcase year for the British Council in Edinburgh.

Before then she will have to get up to speed on the Scottish Government’s emerging new vision for the cultural sector – which culture secretary Fiona Hyslop helpfully explained the evening before her appointment was made public – as well as the febrile political landscape in Scotland in the run-up to next year’s independence referendum.

A slight change in tack from government in the wake of the artists’ rebellion is perhaps one reason why Creative Scotland has abandoned plans to produce a new long-term corporate plan this summer.

Ms Archer will have the chance to shape the body’s overall vision. Rebuilding fractured relationships with artists and organisations is key. More immediately, Ms Archer will have to get to grips with the shake-up of the organisation.

Scotland set for Generation visual arts celebration - Scotsman article

By BRIAN FERGUSON

Published on 17/05/2013 00:05
 

A BLOCKBUSTER celebration of the visual arts – the biggest ever in Scotland – will be staged in more than 50 venues across the country to coincide with the staging of the Commonwealth Games next year.

The nation’s booming arts scene over the last quarter-century will be showcased in five major exhibitions in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as dozens of other smaller venues.
The National Galleries of Scotland is joining forces with Glasgow Life, the body responsible for the city’s vast art collection, for a free “landmark exhibition” charting the evolution of Scottish art and cutting-edge artists since 1989.

Major exhibitions will be held at the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the modern art galleries in each city and the Tramway arts centre in Glasgow as part of “Generation”, which is expected to feature the work of more than 100 artists, including all of Scotland’s Turner Prize winners and nominees.

Billed as one of the world’s biggest ever celebrations of contemporary art, Generation is expected to feature major showcases for Turner Prize winners Martin Boyce, Richard Wright, Douglas Gordon, Simon Starling, Martin Creed and Susan Philipsz, as well as David Shrigley, who is in the running for the honour this year.

Generation will also include a host of specially-commissioned new work and exhibitions created for next year’s Edinburgh Art Festival. However, the full line-up of selected artists, and where their work is going on display, will not be revealed until later this year.
Organisers say the exhibition, which will be launched in June, just before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and run until October, is aimed at opening up public access to contemporary art as well as raising Scotland’s profile as a world-class hub for emerging artists.

Simon Groom, director of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh, said: “Generation really is unparalleled in scope and exhibition and that’s why it has taken so long to pull together. It has never been attempted, we think, anywhere else by a single nation.
“It looks at 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland, up until now, and those artists who have been working, were born, were raised or made their profession and came to prominence in Scotland.”

Final costs of the project have not been revealed although it is thought the final contributions from NGS and Glasgow Life could match the £750,000 being contributed by Creative Scotland.

It is expected to be a major component of a nationwide cultural programme being planned to complement the sporting extravaganza.

Creative Scotland has set aside more than £4 million to fund projects.
Archie Graham, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “This is a unique partnership which will bring together, for the first time, the unique talents and works which have propelled both Glasgow and Scotland’s contemporary art onto a global stage.

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Generation will celebrate Scotland’s visual art and artists and promote our rich culture and cutting-edge creativity to audiences at home and from around the world.”

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/visual-arts/scotland-set-for-generation-visual-arts-celebration-1-2934409

Creative differences cause for real concern - The Scotsman

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/visual-arts/brian-ferguson-creative-differences-cause-for-real-concern-1-2576119

By Brian Ferguson


Published on Monday 15 October 2012 00:18

 

I know I wasn’t the only one tripping off down memory lane last week as the artistic rebellion against Creative Scotland went up by more than a few notches.

If the quango thought it had taken the sting out of months of discontent by pledging to take part in a couple of “open session” events in Edinburgh and Glasgow later this month, it had a rude awakening by the starkness of the language used in various diatribes against the organisation.

But what was also striking about the “100-artists letter” and subsequent tirades were the echoes of previous revolts.

I couldn’t help but notice some of the names attached to last week’s protest letter had been involved in earlier sabre-rattling at the way the arts were being handled by Holyrood.
Therein lies the nub of the pickle Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government have found themselves in. We have been here several times since the idea of a new arts super-quango was first floated in 2005. In fact, the previous year then First Minister Jack McConnell was targeted in a letter warning that the nation’s creative spirit was being allowed to “wither” by his administration’s handling of the arts.

No-one can say the alarm bells about Creative Scotland are being sounded belatedly. Its creation was a tortuous process and even once approved, the gestation period was long and laborious.

At regular intervals, there were calls for the whole process to be scrapped and widespread concerns about the loss of the level of independence which the oft-maligned Scottish Arts Council had enjoyed. Bodies like the National Galleries and National Museums had to battle hard to retain direct funding from the Scottish Government, fearing the worst if they were lumped in.

There appears little doubt much of the ill-feeling from substantial parts of the cultural sector is directed at those at, or very near the top, of Creative Scotland. The initial defences of Andrew Dixon, the chief executive, earlier this year and Sir Sandy Crombie, the chairman, last week – to the effect of our “PR strategy has been poor” and “you just don’t understand us” – have since crumbled away.

When Liz Lochhead, the national poet, an ambassador for the “Year of Creative Scotland” and one of the “celebrity” supporters of the Yes Scotland independence campaign took to the airwaves, the whole affair seemed elevated to another level.

The following day the entire tone of Scotland’s culture minister, Fiona Hyslop, had altered dramatically. And little wonder. The creation, remit, priorities and funding of Creative Scotland are mainly down to the Scottish Government.

Hyslop may have inherited the shape of the quango from two SNP predecessors, Linda Fabiani and Mike Russell, but it was her party’s decision to retain the hugely-controversial plans instigated by the previous Labour-led administration.

Much of the criticism washing over Creative Scotland is not about the personalities involved, but the bureaucratic nature of the organisation, the sheer breadth of the sector it is trying to cover and the whole concept of providing “a return on investment”.

Creative Scotland was not a blank slate when Dixon arrived at the helm just over two years ago. If he and/or Sir Sandy are removed from the picture – and the media has been repeatedly informed they have no intention of going – where will that leave the sector?
Right back at the beginning? I doubt it. The same organisation, with its £83 million budget, will still be there. So will its fiendishly complex funding programmes that seem to lie at the heart of the discontent. I suspect many artists will not rest easy until the entire bureaucratic organisation is dismantled. And any major changes will almost certainly end up at the culture secretary’s door.

Creative Scotland was most certainly not her idea. It was not even her party’s. But her parliamentary profile reminds visitors that she was the minister who got it approved.
On that day in March 2010, she proudly declared: “I expect Creative Scotland to help realise the potential contribution of art and creativity to every part of our society and economy.”
Sir Sandy’s ill-advised “letter of response” has been pulled apart by critics and artists. But when he made the point that “they who provide the money have a right to ask what will result from that investment,” was he not singing from a hymn sheet provided by the Scottish Government? The same government that appointed him in the first place.

Fiona Hyslop tells Creative Scotland to sort out criticisms

By Brian Ferguson

http://www.scotsman.com/news/arts/culture-secretary-tells-creative-scotland-to-sort-out-criticisms-1-256





SCOTLAND’S culture secretary has demanded her flagship arts quango sort out mounting criticisms of the way it is being run - the day after its chief executive vowed he would not be stepping down.

Fiona Hyslop, who has faced mounting criticism over her lack of action over the crisis engulfing Creative Scotland, insisted she was taking the criticisms levelled at it “very seriously.”

She insisted it was already taking action in response to her request last month for its board, led by former Standard Life chief executive Sir Sandy Crombie, to address concerns about the way funding decisions were taken and levels of transparency.

But Ms Hyslop insisted the Scottish Government could not “interfere” with artistic decisions taken by the body, which has an annual budget of more than £83 million.

Her latest statement, several weeks after the quango’s chief executive Andrew Dixon appeared before MSPs to respond to criticisms, has been sparked by the signing of a damning letter of protest about Creative Scotland by 100 of Scotland’s leading artists.

Mr Dixon has pledged to remain in the job but admitted ­mistakes had been made since Creative Scotland was set up two years ago, saying that the “pace of change” had been too swift and that those in charge had failed to get their message across.


• Read the open letter from Sir Sandy Crombie

But he fiercely denied claims that his organisation was not listening to artists, pointing out that he and Sir Sandy were meeting a number of arts organisations when they were passed the letter of protest on Monday.

Creative Scotland was condemned for “ill-conceived decision-making, unclear language, and a lack of empathy and regard for Scottish culture” in a dramatic move by leading Scottish artists.

Sir Sandy and Mr Dixon have now offered to meet those behind the letter, including ­the ­national poet, Liz ­Lochhead, author Ian Rankin, artist Karla Black, playwright David Greig, actor Tam Dean Burn and film-maker Andrea Gibb.

Mr Dixon, former head of the north-east of England’s arts body, said: “We are already ­having discussions, we are in ­listening mode and I am travelling the length and breadth of the country speaking to artists. This is only the start and we know we need to listen more.
“I made a big commitment moving up here, I am very committed to Creative Scotland, and to delivering a first-class cultural infrastructure that the whole country can enjoy.”

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop was criticised by a predecessor, Patricia Ferguson, who accused her of standing by as artists and companies expressed growing frustration with the running of Creative Scotland.

She said: “Something is seriously wrong in the culture at the arts body and the cry for help is clearly directed at her.”

But Ms Hyslop said: “I am taking very seriously the criticism of Creative Scotland.
“That is why I have asked the board to engage directly with the sector, to address the points raised and communicate what action is already being taken. This process is already under way including a review of operations by the board.

“The concerns raised relate to internal workings and wider relationships that need to be dealt with by the organisation. The Scottish Government cannot and does not interfere in Creative Scotland’s artistic decisions - as set out in legislation.

“Sir Sandy Crombie and I have had constructive exchanges about the concerns of the sector and I know he understands what I expect of the organisation.

“I recognise that developing new ways of cultural provision and funding alongside such a wide range of artists and other partners will inevitably bring challenges. It is now for Creative Scotland to work with the sector to address these challenges. I have made it clear it is imperative that these issues get sorted.”

Ms Lochhead yesterday of a “universal feeling of absolute dismay” about Creative Scotland. “There is a feeling something has to be said and something has to be done because a potentially catastrophic set of initiatives are being put in place all the time that really threaten how people in Scotland work.”

Meanwhile Creative Scotland said it is producing a “plain English” guide for staff after being accused of using too much “business-speak and obfuscating jargon.” A spokesman said the guide had been in the pipeline for several months following repeated criticism of official guidelines and application forms.