Storyteller sitting comfortably on funding boost
25/04/2002
Stories old and new have received a £27,000 boost following recent Scottish Arts Council awards to storytelling projects.
Twelve projects received grants ranging from £900 to £3,500, aimed at preserving older stories handed down through generations, as well as developing the storytelling tradition amongst Scotland’s children.
Highlighted as a traditional art in the National Cultural Strategy, storytelling has recently enjoyed a renaissance in Scotland, demonstrated by the range of bids to the Scottish Arts Council’s Literature Committee.
Successful applicants included: the Borders Guid Crack Club, which is holding a storytelling festival; Seumas A’Ghlinne 250 (North Lorne Civic Society) is hosting a series of cultural events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Appin Murder; and Perth and Kinross Council, which is developing storytelling workshops for young men around a theme of ‘urban myths’ for a later presentation to primary school children.
Jenny Brown, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council said:
“Storytelling is one of the very oldest art forms that we have; people have told each other stories about their lives for thousands of years.
“Yet it is also a contemporary art form, constantly evolving as we discover more about our common experiences. Storytelling is not solely about tradition, or keeping the past alive, but also of sharing our present-day experience, the stories of today.
“The breadth and range of these successful projects is heartening proof that the oral traditions of storytelling are alive and well in Scotland.”
A complete list of successful storytelling awards is below:
Borders Guid Crack Festival, £3,000
towards a storytelling festival
Citdael Theatre Group, £1,500
to support a storytelling outreach project into residential homes for the elderly.
East Lothian Council Museums Service, £1,640
towards the cost of a series of storytelling workshops for schoolchildren, adult learning groups and the general public, around a theme of imaginary fantasy stories and using Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings as inspiration
Edinburgh International Book Festial, £2,700
towards the cost of having a Storyteller-in-Residence in the children’s book tent throughout the Book Festival.
The Elphinstone Institute, £3,500
towards the cost of a storytelling weekend at the Woodend Arts Centre, featuring six traditional storytellers from Scotland and Ireland, including two from the travelling peoples’ community.
Fife Women’s Network, £1,600
for the production of a one-off collection of children’s stories around tradtional themes, written by young Fifers aged five to 12.
Impact Arts, £1,840
to develop a community storytelling network in Renton which celebrates the rich and vibrant history of Renton’s residents.
Fife Multicultural Group, £2,400
towards the cost of a multicultural storytelling day in Kirkcaldy.
Seumas A’ Ghlinne 250 (North Lorne Civic Society, £1,225
support for a range of storytelling during the cultural events marking the 250th anniversary of the Appin Murder.
Orcadian Story Trust, £3,200
support to collect and record stories of Orkney that would otherwise be lost from residents.
Perth and Kinross Council, £900
towards the cost of storytelling workshops for young male adults.
Royal Botanic Garden, £2,500
to support a pilot storytelling project ‘Tree Tales’ at the Botanic Gardens’ three sites for a range of audiences.
Sustainable Communities Initiative, £1,400
towards the cost of a Storytelling House in Kirkcaldy. Made from recycled soft drink bottles, the House will feature stories from Jewish, African and Native American folk tales.
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council champions and sustains the arts for Scotland, investing £56 million from Scottish Executive and National Lottery funding to support and develop artistic excellence and creativity throughout Scotland. Further information is available here.
- For further information on any of the project awards, please contact the project directly.
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
|