Funding scheme expanded to support music acts for the first time
The Scottish Government will expand its support for Scottish-based artists to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced today.
The annual Made in Scotland funding programme will receive a £100,000 boost and will be extended to support music acts in addition to theatre and dance in 2013.
The Cabinet Secretary was speaking from Creative Scotland in Edinburgh, where she met members of The Blueswater, whose 2012 Fringe performances earned the Edinburgh-based band a prestigious Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe Award.
She said:
“The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s biggest arts festival, attracting visitors and artists from all over the globe to experience the cultural and creative talent it has to offer.
“It makes strong economic sense to ensure Scotland’s own exceptional talent is at the centre of the Fringe and our artists are given opportunities to benefit from the global exposure the festival brings. Through Made in Scotland – part of the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund - the Scottish Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to doing exactly that.
“Since 2009 we have provided £1.6m through Made in Scotland to support 56 theatre and dance productions to perform at the Fringe and to embark on a range of international touring opportunities.
“Expanding the scope of the scheme to support musicians is a natural next step for Made in Scotland. For the successful applicants, it will provide access to fantastic support, expertise, training and advice, exposure to esteemed international promoters and funding towards performing at the 2013 Fringe.”
Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:
“The Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival and provides a unique platform for artists to showcase their work to the public and arts industry from all over the world. Made in Scotland ensures Scottish artists can take full advantage of the significant international opportunity provided by the Fringe. Expanding the Made in Scotland programme to include music is a natural progression and one which sits very comfortably within the Fringe programme as a whole.
“The Scottish Government’s ongoing support for the Made In Scotland programme continues to be invaluable as a means for Scottish based artists to present their work both to audiences and promoters at the Fringe and it is fantastic that this support has made it possible for the Made in Scotland initiative to be extended this year to include musical genres for the first time.”
Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said:
"I'd encourage musicians based in Scotland, ready to take the step onto the international platform provided by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to apply for this new support available through Made in Scotland. The tremendous successes enjoyed so far by artists working in theatre and dance who have been supported by the programme shows the potential opportunities now open to those working in music."
Felipe Schrieberg from The Blueswater, said:
“This kind of program is perfect for a group like us. We've worked hard to succeed at the Fringe with our show 'Blues!', and with potential access to this kind of funding we can work on putting together a more ambitious Fringe show.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Made in Scotland: music programme
The Made in Scotland music programme will be a five day focus run from August 14-18. Support is available to Scottish-based bands, ensembles, promoters and individual musicians across all musical genres to present artistically ambitious work at the Fringe.
Applications for support can be made from today via http://www.creativescotland.com/investment/madeinscotland2013. The deadline for receiving applications is February 11. Funding is intended to support the costs of presenting work at the Fringe (as opposed to the costs of commissioning and creating new work) at a high standard, and to minimise the financial risk this involves. The work can be new or existing repertoire.
A programme of training and advice will be provided to those selected, to prepare for participation in Made in Scotland, supporting them to achieve their goals including profile and touring opportunities.
Applications will be determined by a panel of music industry representatives.
For more details, or to apply, visit:
http://www.creativescotland.com/investment/madeinscotland2013
Expo Fund
The Scottish Government’s Expo Fund has invested £8m in new Scottish-based work at Edinburgh’s 12 festivals since 2008-09.
Made in Scotland is a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and Creative Scotland. It is supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and £440,000 was awarded to fund Made in Scotland 2012.
The £100,000 announced today will specifically support the expansion of the Made in Scotland programme to include music. The overall funding awarded to Made in Scotland for 2013 will be announced later this year.
As well as supporting the costs of the selected artists/companies to present their work at the Fringe, funds are allocated to support Scottish artists/companies to take up international touring opportunities arising from performances at the Fringe.
Each year since 2009, Made in Scotland has featured a number of award winning productions and a host of rave reviews. As a result there has been international demand for Made in Scotlandproductions each year with performances in; USA, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Italy. International touring success stories include the Traverse Theatre’s Midsummer (currently touring in USA after being part of Made in Scotland 2009), Catherine Wheels Theatre Company’s children’s show White (currently touring Europe), and Pachamama Productions’ multi award winning Roadkill.
For full details of the Made in Scotland programme, visit: www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com