The latest round of recipients of The National Lottery’s Open Fund have been announced by Creative Scotland and include several projects which tell powerful and affecting stories.
Lewis-based theatre company sruth-mara has successfully secured funding for their upcoming production, Precious Cargo. This poignant play delves into the compelling stories of Vietnam War children who were airlifted out of the country during the conflict's conclusion. Operation Babylift, a massive evacuation initiative in the 1970s, saw over 3,000 Vietnamese infants and children finding new homes across the globe through adoption.
Collaborating on this project are Hebridean musician Andy Yearley and Australian actor/writer Barton Williams, both adoptees from Operation Babylift. Drawing on their personal experiences and interviews with other Vietnam War orphans, they aim to bring forth a powerful and authentic portrayal of this unique chapter in history.
Precious Cargo will be performed for the first time at An Lanntair in Stornoway this summer, followed by a three-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Andrew Eaton-Lewis, Director at sruth-mara commented: “sruth-mara was set up to develop creative projects with international ambition from a croft on the Isle of Lewis. This funding from Creative Scotland will allow us to rehearse and stage a powerful new piece of theatre, made by artists from Australia and the Isle of Lewis, here in the Outer Hebrides, before taking it to an international audience at one of the Edinburgh Fringe's leading theatre venues.”
Also in this round is mini-musical, Forever Home, based on stories of care-experienced young people. Written by Pauline Lockhart, with music composed by Alan Penman, the project is set to receive support for an extended research phase. With the help of this funding, Pauline can undertake a period of research in order to develop further the way that the play depicts the specific challenges faced by care-experienced people.
To achieve this, she will orchestrate a focus group of representatives from Scottish Adoption and Adoption UK, including adoptive parents, care-experienced young people and educators. By incorporating the valuable insights garnered from this research, Pauline plans to enrich the piece and widen its scope.
Pauline Lockhart, writer of Forever Home commented: “I was overwhelmed by the response to Forever Home when it was part of A Play A Pie And A Pint’s Autumn 2023 season. The mini-musical explores the challenges faced by care-experienced and adopted teens and their families, particularly around the education system. This Creative Scotland funding will allow me to extend and develop the script further with a view to eventually reaching a wider audience with a future production.”
Glasgow-based Loop Theatre has received funding for their project Glorious Govan, a weekend of physical theatre performance celebrating the community, history and culture of Govan. Loop Theatre’s performance company is a dynamic ensemble comprising a mix of professional and participant performers, many of whom are learning-disabled. Drawing inspiration from local stories, the company are crafting a series of compelling physical theatre vignettes that will come to life both within the historic Pearce Institute and outdoors, weaving through the streets and heritage sites of Govan this summer.
Laura Edwards, Artistic Director of Loop Theatre commented: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from Creative Scotland for our site-specific physical theatre performance Glorious Govan this summer, celebrating the people, place and rich history of Govan. The benefits to our participant and professional performers extend beyond the joyful creative expression of making a show together. It enables our disability-inclusive theatre company to give back to our geographical community by putting on a free weekend event, whilst simultaneously recognising the powerful role participatory arts has in our society to build empathy, connection and wellbeing.”
Other projects awarded in this round of the Open Fund include:
- THE FRIENDS OF THE ELPHINSTONE INSTITUTE at the University of Aberdeen, whose project the Alex Green Tin Whistle Festival takes place from 1-3 March, offering workshops and concerts to celebrate the rich history of the tin whistle music tradition in Scotland and across the world.
- ANIARA OMANN, whose project Insecure involves seven creators, including musicians, writers and visual artists, creating their own response inspired by their personal experiences of insecurity. This will take place at the Glasgow Project Room.
Creative Scotland’s Interim Director of Arts Paul Burns commented: “Art can do so much to broaden minds and deepen our understanding of different perspectives and realities, increasing our ability to connect and empathise with others. We’re proud to be awarding funding from the National Lottery to such a broad range of dynamic projects, so many of which tell stories and platform perspectives which may otherwise go unheard.”
Background
Creative Scotland’s Open Fund
- In January 2024, Creative Scotland’s Open Fund made 35 funding awards totalling £715,890.
- The Open Fund is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding routes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The Open Fund has no deadlines, and full eligibility criteria and application guidance can be found on the Creative Scotland website.
The National Lottery has raised more than £41 billion for more than 565,000 good causes across the UK since 1994. Thanks to The National Lottery players, up to £600 million has been made available to support people, projects and communities throughout the UK during the Coronavirus crisis.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
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