Gallery News
News Items 1 to 10 of 90
Sun 10th July 2011
Craft Town Featured on Radio Scotland
West Kilbride, Craft Town Scotland, has once again caught the attention of Scotland's national media.
This week on Radio Scotland's Business programme, presented by broadcaster Douglas Fraser, fellow journalist Julie Peacock visited West Kilbride, describing it as a place "where the local community has joined forces to create an award winning centre of excellence".
Douglas took a walk along the High Street in Paisley as part of the programme's look at how the high street and the small shop is coping with the downturn whilst Julie highlighted the Craft Town as a positive example of town centre regeneration to contrast with reports of struggling town centre retailers up and down the country.
The fact that West Kilbride's retail area is now widely acclaimed as one of Scotland's regeneration success stories, despite the difficulties faced by town centres in the current climate, is a huge testament to everyone involved in developing and promoting the Craft Town and the West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd over the years.
To hear the full programme, please click 'Read More' and follow the link on the next page. If you are in a rush, the Craft Town interviews are 21 minutes into the broadcast.
Sat 4th June 2011
Selling the Sizzle Makers Networking Event in Inverness
Maggie Broadley, CTS Craft Development Manager, was one of the invited speakers at "Selling the Sizzle" in Inverness. This inspiring makers networking and learning event was hosted by Hi-Arts and organised by Tina Rose, an independent craft curator, journalist and PR consultant The invitation came about as a result of the one-day Rural Craft Forum networking event which took place in West Kilbride in March of this year. The Rural Craft Forum was established by Hi-Arts (Highlands & Islands Arts Ltd), which is the arts and cultural development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
"This summer makers event (Selling the Sizzle) has something for everyone with an inspiring range of speakers all exploring the selling of craft. As we all love craft, we’re asking everyone who comes along on the day to bring one small piece of their work with them so we can create an exclusive one day pop-up exhibition showcasing Highland craft. If you’re not a maker, bring along a favourite piece by a Highland maker instead! And in case our exciting speakers, pop-up exhibition, free lunch, and brilliant networking opportunities still aren’t enough to tempt you along, we’ll also be talking about our other initiatives and launching our new award for retailing.
And then, as a final flourish, we have an exhibition opening of the new furniture by Nick Ross developed through our Making Progress scheme, which takes place alongside the Turned & Twisted, an exhibition of intriguing and innovative work from the Crafts Council Collection by Highland Council, both at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.
This day is open to everyone who is part of the craft sector in the Highlands and we hope you will come along". Pamela Conacher & Avril Souter of Hi-Arts
The event was a well-attended with over 70 delegates and there was a real 'buzz', it was brilliant to hear such enthusiasm and committment to promoting craft and to supporting the sector. Keynote speakers Prof. Georgina Follett OBE, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee and Dr Louise Valentine from V&A at Dundee talked about the exciting plans for a new V&A on the waterfront of Dundee which will be an international centre for design and what this means for craft in Scotland. How we communicate was explored by textile artist Deirdre Nelson who discussed her experiences using social media and how it has influenced her work, and Carol Sinclair explored how to talk about your work through an informal and fun networking session.
Everyone who loves craft thinks about starting a shop at sometime, but is craft-tailing as easy and as much fun as we expect? Steph Marsden, who opened her beautiful shop Craft House Concept in Edinburgh a year ago, and Carrie Maclennan and Clare Nicolson of Made in the Shade in Glasgow who opened the Maisonette in 2009 and run regular pop-up shops, talked about their approach and experiences. On a larger selling scale, Maggie Broadley of West Kilbride Craft Town, talked about how they become a craft town , what it is, and what it means for makers and shoppers. Location is always important for selling, and Emma Blain from Shetland talked about the collective of textile artists Text-Isles and how they are spreading the word beyond the island about their fabulous work.
Speakers Profiles:
Prof Georgina Follett OBE is Deputy Principal University of Dundee, and a jeweller, as well as being at the forefront of the initiative to bring the V&A to Dundee. Working with her is Dr Louise Valentine, a designer and researcher who is also a design lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design University of Dundee. The V&A at Dundee will be an international centre for design housed in a stunning building at the heart of Dundee's waterfront. http://vandaatdundee.com/your-future/
Deirdre Nelson is a textile artist with experience of education , residency and exhibition. Her work employs traditional techniques such as stitch and knit and she uses social media in a variety of socially engaged projects. www.deirdre-nelson.com
Carol Sinclair has been working within the creative industries for the last 20 years. She is a ceramics graduate of Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, and has 15 years experience of running her own studio and gallery in Edinburgh. She has worked as a business adviser and trainer for the last 10 years, and was a founder member of artists collective design-ED. Previously a director of Applied Arts Scotland, a specialist adviser for the Scottish Arts Council and was a member of Creative and Cultural Skills Council employers group.
Maggie Broadley combines making ceramics with her full-time role as Craft Development Manager for the award winning Craft Town Scotland in West Kilbride. A community inspired development, the creation of Scotland's first Craft Town has transformed the town centre and helped make West Kilbride a better place to live, work and visit.
Founded by Steph Marsden, a furniture/product designer, the shop Craft House Concept which opened in Edinburgh in 2010 bridges the gap between audiences and the home retail market. She wanted to create a business that could be part of the community encouraging collaboration supporting the principles of sustainability by looking closely at the the design, process and materials used in creating the work. She held her first pop-up shop last Christmas. www.livingwithcraft.com
Emma Blain is Shetland based textile designer who had the idea of starting Text-Isles with a small group of other textile designers to establish a more formal method of working and collaborating on projects together, forming a collective of contemporary Shetland textile designers who work together to promote the Shetland textile industry. www.text-isles.com
Made in the Shade is run by designers Carrie Maclennan and Clare Nicolson and is a fun and accessible retail platform for indie craft & design. The Maisonette, their shop in Glasgow’s west end, was established in October 2009 and stocks work by designer makers and small indie labels from all over the UK and beyond. They also use their shop as a means to help guide young businesses and would-be suppliers through the process of working with retailers. www.wearemadeintheshade.com
Mon 16th May 2011
'Finishing Touches' Barony Funraiser
West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd’s ‘Finishing Touches’ Fundraising event took place on Friday 13th May. The evening was a huge success with really positive feedback and a grand total of £1,345 raised in support of finishing touches to the Barony Centre.
Entry price included a wonderful cocktail provided by local business Class Cocktails and a delicious cupcake from another local creative business, Happyhills Cakes. Thanks to Janet Martin and Emily McGregor respectively.
The theme of the evening celebrated those flourishing touches which add that extra style and panache to an outfit – hats, scarves, gloves, belts, shoes and jewellery. We are grateful to Elaine McCann who provided a huge selection of jewellery, bags and other accessories normally on sale in a well-known High Street fashion retailer. A huge thank-you to all who donated items for sale on the night, there were many quality bargains to be had and a load of happy fashionistas at the end of the evening.
Talented local musicians Kerry and Graeme Innes and Kerry McKechnie provided the soundtrack for the evening, an asset to any evening of glamour and pampering.
Helen Armstrong and her team from the popular local hairdrssing salon were on hand to style hair, with alternative beauty therapist Elaine Strain offering nail gel treatment amongst other treats. The audience was also able to indulge itself with aromatherapy and alternative therapy massages and treatments provided by Hilary Crook, Linda Henderson and Gail Montgomery.
Sharon McPherson of Opus Couture and Opus Occasions then demonstrated how to completely transform an outfit depending on choice of trims and accessories, ably assisted by her daughter Cavan who modelled the outfits. The evening ended with an auction of 3 outfits generously donated by Opus Couture.
A special thanks to all the volunteers who helped organize the event, to those who sold tickets, staffed the stalls and sold raffle tickets – and also to all those local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle.
Last but by no means least, the girls from the Village Hall delivered their usual high standard of support in setting up the event and making sure things ran smoothly
Fri 29th April 2011
European Cross Border Initiative Visit Craft Town Scotland
Craft Town Scotland was delighted to welcome a party of Estonian and Latvian visitors to West Kilbride. The visiting group consisted of representatives from a cross border project called “Buy Local” based in the south east corner of Estonia and an area around the town of Ape in north east Latvia along the Russian and Estonia/Latvia borders. Funded by European grant aid, the aim of the study trip was to look at the ways locally sourced materials are processed into products and services for tourism, local community benefit and sales.
North Ayrshire Council Provost Councillor Pat McPhee officially launched the day’s conference, extolling North Ayrshire’s virtues. Highlighting the achievements of the West Kilbride Community Initiative, Councillor McPhee was sure everyone had much to share and learn from each other.
Kay Hall, WKCIL Chair welcomed our guests and gave a brief flavour of the range of activities and events which operate under the Initiative’s umbrella, including details of the WK Village Hall and the Environmental Group.
Maggie Broadley, Craft Development Manager then delivered a Powerpoint presentation, which graphically illustrated the transformation of the retail centre from a boarded-up, run down main-street to the thriving retail and cultural hub of today.
Highlight of the morning was the inspiring talks and demonstrations of three makers, each selected for their high standard of craftsmanship, dedication to promoting craft at local, national and international level – and the sheer passion and enthusiasm for their chosen craft.
Liz Brown operates Heartfelt from her studio in Ochiltree and has travelled as far afield as Mongolia to re-introduce traditional felting techniques to Mongollian tribeswomen. Liz has a real skill in making her craft look effortless and had several of our visitors rolling up their sleeves and creating a felt flower before our eyes.
Gerald Copeland is a well-known and respected local wood turner who took up the craft upon retiring over 20 years ago and regularly sells work from the WK Initiative Centre. Gerald emphasized the need to make sure that not one piece of work should leave the workshop unless it is finished to the highest standard.
To finish off the makers’ presentations Lorna Reid, who runs Chookiebirdie from Studio 117 Main Street, described how she had originally trained and operated as a printed textile designer for over a decade before changing to designing and making hand-stitched textiles as a way of fitting her work around a new baby. Kirsty is now well into primary school and was on hand to help mum show her work – a plus of school holidays!
After a tour of the Craft Town studios, where everyone had a chance to meet and chat with Virgil Bauzys, Hastingwood Basket Works; Eileen Bell, McHattie Knitted and felted textiles; Lilith Green, Old Maiden Aunt Hand-painted yarns; Marion E Kane, Silversmith and to visit the WK Initiative Centre and the WK Gallery, lunch was provided by local business V Cuisine.
The afternoon session began with a presentation by Hilary Crook of the “Transition Town West Kilbride”. Hilary gave an overview of the Transition Town network, which helps communities deal with climate change and shrinking supplies of cheap energy (peak oil) and aims to create stronger, happier communities.
The day was finished off by a visit to Garratt Gardens, where Jane Fraser and Kay Hall of the WK Environmental Group were on hand to talk about the development of the Environmental Group, its projects and the exciting plans for the future, which include the creation of a ‘Green Gym’ within the Quarry.
Fri 11th March 2011
Scottish Rural Craft Forum Networking Event Hosted by Craft Town Scotland
Craft Town Scotland recently hosted the last of 3 national networking events organized by the Rural Craft Forum. Maggie Broadley, Craft Town Development Manager, is a member of the forum and took part in a similar 2-day conference held in Shetland last summer. The Rural Craft Forum was established by Hi-Arts (Highlands & Islands Arts Ltd), which is the arts and cultural development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Funded by the then Scottish Arts Council, Hi-Arts set up a programme of meetings which would enable those responsible for Craft Development in rural areas to visit locations in Scotland and talk to makers and development officers to gain an understanding of different approaches to support.
Those who attended travelled from Highlands and Islands, Edinburgh and Fife and represent some of the most experienced professionals working in contemporary art and crafts development and promotion. Kay Hall, WKCIL Chair and Carole Campbell Brown, WKCIL Director were delighted to welcome everyone to West Kilbride. Maggie Broadley started the morning session by delivering a Craft Town Scotland presentation showing the history and development of the project and the exciting Barony Centre development. After this, three makers gave talks on their work and career.
Gilly Langton, Jewellery Designer & Maker from Plockton, Ross-shire: Gilly talked about the background to her career and business and how she came to Scotland in 2005 through the Highland Council residency programme at Plockton High School (she is originally from Chorley, near Manchester). Gilly then relocated to Plockton is 2006, where she now lives and works as a designer/maker. She works mostly with silver and coloured elastic and has exhibited at a range of trade fairs and selected shows such as Origin, The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and Eu-nique in Germany
Marion Kane, Silversmith from West Kilbride: Marion graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1999 and then went on to take up a residency at Edinburgh College of Art, where she worked for three years. After a short time at WASPS studio in Irvine, she moved to a studio in West Kilbride and also did a residency at Kilmarnock as part of ‘Develop Craft Ayrshire’. At this time Marion started to work on a range of jewellery alongside her larger silversmith pieces. Marion was commissioned to work on ‘Silver of the Stars’ and produced a coffee pot, mug and cream jug for the Scottish Actor, Ewan McGregor.
Lorna Reid, Chookie Birdie, West Kilbride: Lorna graduated from the Scottish College of Textiles in 1992. She explained that after college she designed textiles for a swimwear studio in London. She returned to Scotland to set up a design company – Premier Swimwear Studio and designed for an international market and exhibited throughout Europe. Lorna made the decision to move to West Kilbride with her family as she wanted to live in a more rural location, but also within a creative community. She was keen to change the nature of her work and start making and selling work directly to people.
After an excellent lunch provided by local company V Cuisine, run by Kenny Leishman and accredited by the Vegetarian Society, the afternoon session finished with a tour round the studios, gallery and WK Initiative Centre.
The feedback from the visit has been hugely positive; here are just a few examples:
“Thank you so much for organising such an informative and inspiring day. I only wish we had more time to spend with you! It was so great to see all the work that you and your community have managed to achieve and refreshing to have such a positive story rather than all the doom and gloom that is in the air just now. We look forward to coming back when the Barony Centre opens and wish you all the very best with the next stage of the project…Thank you once more Maggie, the Directors and the makers who made us so welcome”. Pamela Conacher, Craft Development Coordinator, HI-Arts, Inverness
“I really enjoyed the day. It was fascinating to hear more about West Kilbride, which I have written about over the years, and lovely to actually experience it. The makers were so enthusiastic and it is great the way they have moved to different spaces as their work and sales have developed. It is a massive achievement to have transformed the town in this way…I hope that West Kilbride can continue to develop and grow – judging by the enthusiasm of everyone I expect it will, especially when the new Barony Centre opens (I remember taking part in those surveys!)”. Tina Rose, Freelance Writer, Consultant/PR
“It was an inspiring day with lovely hospitality from all the people we met, lovely food and a wonderful unique concept. I’ve already been spreading the news…Looking forward to the talk CD, any snaps and of course the Barony!”. Diana A Sykes, Director, Fife Contemporary Art & Craft
For more information please contact: Maggie M. Broadley, Craft Development Manager, Craft Town Scotland. Tel: 01294 829179, email:[email protected]
Wed 2nd March 2011
West Kilbride Milliner Turning Heads
Julia Armstrong of “Couture Darling”, Bespoke Millinery, is the most recent addition to Craft Town Scotland’s Happyhills studios. Julia graduated with a BA Hons in Interior Architecture from Napier University in the 90’s, working as a freelance designer with an Ayr Architect. Julia discovered a passion, and talent, for hat design and making when she took a specialist Millinery course at Cardonald College.
A chance conversation with Emma Sanderson, West Kilbride based professional photographer, was enough to inspire her to come and visit the town. So impressed and enthused was she by the craft town studios and gallery that Julia put her name on the waiting list for a small studio space. Julia moved into Studio 1 Happyhills in August after Susan Roberts, “Heart of Glass” took advantage of an opportunity to spend an extended period of time living in America. Julia travels from her home in Ayr and juggles working from the studio 3 days a week with looking after her 8 year old twin son and daughter and four year old son.
“I really feel this is just the kind of creative environment in which to develop and expand my millinery business. Everyone has been so very supportive, it’s terrific to be able to bounce ideas back and forward.”
Julia offers a completely personal service. The first thing she does is a face analysis to establish exactly what hat shape suits that particular client."Different types of face structures will suit different hat designs and it's vital to get the basic shape of hat for the individual exactly right. I've got lots of untrimmed hats of different shapes which we work with during the first stage" Having also asked them to bring their wedding, or special occasion, outfit along too, Julia will then determine colour and decoration. After that, a second meeting is arranged to show some samples of Julia’s initial ideas and then the process continues until the finished piece is completed.
“I try to make the whole experience fun and it’s all very informal. I want people to get exactly what they want at the end of the day and something which suits them as an individual. My fascinators start from £40 and my hats go up to over £200 dependant on time, work, fabric or trimmings used, like crystals. It takes a lot or work and time to produce a totally 'blocked' hat. First I take a wood/straw-like material 'simamy', which is a natural fibre. I wet it and mould it over a wooden block, pinning it into the required size and shape. It's then slowly dried out in an oven. Once dried, I take it off the block and that's your basic shape. I then cut the shape of the crown and brim separately and wire the hat to give it structure".
One of Julia’s hats turned heads at an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the specially commissioned hat was designed and made for the occasion and the delighted client sent a letter of thanks and a photograph of her wearing the hat as a memento of her special day. Julia is often asked what was the inspiration for the unusual name of her craft and design business. “My lecturer at Cardonald College was a lovely lady called Carol who used to regularly say to us “It’s Couture Darling – a one-off” and somehow that name stuck with me because it made me smile”
Although Julia does have a selection of finished work on display and for sale, much of her work is bespoke and we suggest arranging an appointment before visiting the studio. Please contact Julia diect for an individual consultation: Studio 1 Happyhills, 121 Main Street, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, KA23 9AR. Mobile: 07909 898 674
For further details of Craft Town Scotland please contact: Maggie M. Broadley, Craft Development Manager, Craft Town Scotland, Administration Office, 125 Main Street, West Kilbride, KA23 9AR. Telephone: 01294 829179 / Email: [email protected]
Tue 1st March 2011
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Visits Craft Town
John Purves: WKCIL Vice-Chair, Carole Cambell-Brown: WKCIL Director and Maggie Broadley: Craft Development Manger were delighted to welcome Ann McKechin, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland when she visited the Craft Town last week. The Shadow Secretary was on a scheduled visit to North Ayrshire and Katy Clark MP was keen to bring her along to West Kilbride to see the great work being done by all those involved in the Craft Town and West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd.
Accompanied by Allan Wilson Scottish Labour’s candidate for Cunninghame North in the forthcoming election and Alex Gallagher NAC Councillor, first stop on the tour was the Happyhills craft studios and gallery space. Maggie Broadley delivered a Powerpoint presentation, which included images of West Kilbride’s 21 boarded up shop-fronts in 1998 in direct contrast to the images of a revitalized town centre 12 years later.
The Shadow Secretary then visited several craft studios and had a chance to talk to Marion Kane: Silversmith, Lorna Reid: “Chookiebirdie” Hand-stiched textiles and Lilith Green: “Old Maiden Aunt” hand-spun and painted/dyed wools. Ann McKechin was impressed by the work on show, commenting on the range of talent within the Craft Town studios and making mention of the growing interest in buying well-made, affordable things to treasure rather than mass produced ‘throw-away’ items.
Next stop was the WK Initiative Centre, where Hazel Stenhouse, volunteer assistant, was on hand to show the visitors around. Hazel travels at least once a week from Darvel in East Ayrshire to help staff the centre and said, “I think it’s only fair to do my bit. The shop sells craft work made by my daughter and I…and I really enjoy it anyway, meeting lots of nice people and seeing what other crafters are doing.”
The visit ended at the old Barony Church, which will become the Barony Centre, Craft Exhibition and Activities Centre. Having seen the ambitious and exciting plans for the building earlier, the Shadow Minister said it was good to see them underway and that the effect of having a wonderful facility instead of a deteriorating heritage building at such a prominent site in the centre of the town should not be underestimated. “Facilities such as these create a ripple effect and benefit the wider area”.
Allan Wilson, who was responsible for West Kilbride’s endorsement as “Scotland’s Craft And Design Town” by the Scottish Parliament in 2000, commented on his delight at the marked improvement in the town centre even since his last official visit in 2007. He highlighted the amount of related businesses operating opposite the Barony and throughout the centre of the town, “The Barony Centre will create jobs and volunteering opportunities, it will be a focal point for the Craft Town and confirm its status at a national level.”
Fri 18th February 2011
Chookiebirdie Studio 117 - Skills and Experience
Lorna Reid, the inspirational designer behind the Chookiebirdie studio label, has opened her door to another work experience placement this week. Gloria, who is in her GSE year, travelled by train from Jordanhill in Glasgow to West Kilbride every day last week – a round trip of over 6o miles a day.
Gloria’s mum and aunt had travelled to the Craft Town to visit Lorna and commission a bespoke gift – a brooch, which Gloria says her mum wears a lot. They got chatting with Lorna and were so impressed with her enthusiasm; skill and commitment that they then approached her with a view to having Gloria spend time in the studio during her weeklong work experience. Delighted to pass on some of her design and making expertise, Lorna immediately agreed.
During her week in Lorna’s studio Gloria designed a Christmas card for Lorna’s 2011 Christmas Card Collection and helped out with a big order for corporate gifts, which were commissioned by an organization promoting Scotland internationally. As a permanent reminder of her week with Lorna, Gloria made “Lazy Daisy Owl”, a wonderful hand stitched owl, based on one of Chookiebirdie’s signature designs, using felt and recycled fabric – one of Gloria’s ‘spare’ dresses!
“Gloria has been great fun to work with, really dedicated and willing to learn – I had to remind her to have her lunch she was so engrossed. It’s really lovely to see someone develop their ideas and work hard to make a really good end product.”
Gloria is interested in textiles and fashion and was very impressed by Lorna’s previous career as a freelance textile designer, which Lorna launched immediately she graduated from the Scottish College of Textiles at Galashiels in 1992. Represented by an agent, Lorna’s printed textiles soon graced great fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton and Laura Ashley as well as the hugely competitive American swimwear market.
Gloria’s mum is delighted that her conversation with Lorna led to such a positive experience: “It was most generous of Lorna to offer Gloria this opportunity and Gloria was very happy to participate. She was chirping like a wee chookie birdie on the Friday night when she got home, sharing lots of interesting news about her busy week. West Kilbride has made a new fan in the Dawson family.”
Lorna has been developing new ideas for 2011 and has a range of exciting additional designs in store now. The range includes a totally new concept incorporating your child’s handwriting, which is then embroidered over by Lorna on a heart-shaped, lasting keep sake – ideal for Mother’s Day, or any day.
Please contact Lorna at:
Studio 117, Main Street, West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA23 9AR
Telephone: 0777 909 8582
Email: [email protected]
Sat 12th February 2011
Studio Space Available in Craft Town Scotland
An exciting opportunity has become available to rent studio space for a craft maker in Craft Town Scotland. A generous area measuring 808 square feet situated at 30 Ritchie Street, West Kilbride, KA23 9AL, this studio would be ideal for sharing between two makers or used by a single maker.
West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited (WKCIL) is a registered charity formed in 1998 by local residents. Craft Town Scotland forms the core of a suite of initiatives aimed to regenerate the town of West Kilbride, North Ayrshire. Craft Town Scotland currently consists of WK Craft Studios, The Gallery exhibition space and the WK Initiative Centre community gift shop. Supported by a major award from the Big Lottery, Scotland, The Barony Centre is scheduled to open in 2011. It will house a major exhibition and retail space, craft education workshops suite and a café, and will act as a regional centre promoting craft and design.
Craft Town Scotland is an accredited 3 Star Visitor Attraction, as awarded by VisitScotland, and all premises are open to the public throughout the year.
To be considered eligible to become part of Craft Town Scotland, you have to be a designer-maker. There must be a craft basis to the work you are designing and producing - whatever your creative practice.
This studio has:
Rental is INCLUSIVE of:
More Information and photographs are also available from:
Maggie M. Broadley, Craft Development Manager, The Gallery, Happyhills, 121-125 Main Street, West Kilbride
Craft Town Scotland, KA23 9AR
Tel:01294 829179; Mob: 07738321446; email: [email protected]
Fri 11th February 2011
Making a Splash Networking and Funding Event
Voluntary Arts Scotland is running a series of free events for voluntary cultural groups to help them attract new and diverse people to participate in their activities. Or, if there’s a gap in an area people would like to fill, VAS can help set up a group specialising in the art or craftform they love.
VAS is visiting all 32 Local Authority areas across Scotland. As a member of the Ayrshire Arts Network, Craft Town Scotland is delighted to help promote the VAS "Making a Splash Networking and Funding” event which is coming to Ayr on Wednesday 23 March, 6.45 pm till 9.45pm at the Horizon Hotel, Esplanade, Ayr, KA7 1DT.
Once you’ve got some great ideas, VAS can support your group further with a small grants scheme in conjunction with the Scottish Community Foundation. Then groups can Make a Splash! with some cash and try something new, to help even more people discover how good it feels to take part in arts and crafts activity. At the end of your project, VAS will ask you to collect real-life stories about how it went – and about your hopes and plans for the future.
But it doesn’t stop there! VAS are also looking for groups to take part in ways that will connect to the big screen ‘Live Sites’ being set up for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and to join them at a final celebration event for the whole programme.
If you are interested in attending please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0131 225 7355 (VAScotland)
To book online go to: www.peoplemakingwaves.org.uk/makeasplash