Call for Live Artist Proposals

Abrupt Encounters is a new live arts program developed by a collective of creatively engaged participants with learning disabilities predominantly from Central Scotland.  This participatory arts program will result in new work in public spaces, with participants and live arts practitioners collaborating to create inclusive and challenging work that is highly visible and unexpected. Working over sites in Central Scotland, including Stirling Castle, the Changing Rooms, Forth Valley Royal Hospital and Falkirk Helix, we aim to present work which is temporal in nature, site specific, and explorative of what it means to create artworks and perform in public spaces and environments.

 We would like to invite proposals from Live Arts practitioners to take part in a series of Artists Presentation events exploring contemporary live arts practice in the UK.  These presentations will take the form of artist talks and information exchanges based at the Changing Room Gallery in Stirling.  They will focus on sharing examples of work with a mixed ability audience, exploring through presentation, discussion and practical workshop how live arts and participatory arts practice can combine to create work which is inclusive and of the highest quality.

 Artists will receive a fee of £200 inclusive for one day involving presentation, workshop and discussion.  Beyond that, there may be the possibility of future involvement working collaboratively on the Abrupt Encounters project.

 Artists should apply via written proposal (including links to previous projects) to Artlink Central by Monday 22^nd October.  Artists must be members of PVG scheme.  Please contact info@artlinkcentral.org or call the Artlink Central office on 01786 450971 for further information, including information on the Artist Brief for Abrupt Encounters.

 Full Artist Brief Available on clicking this link

Abrupt Encounters is a First in a Lifetime project funded by Creative Scotland, Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley, Falkirk Council and the Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust.

Vacancy: Artistic Programmer (Full Time)

Artlink Central - Artistic Programmer

Full Time - 35 hours per week - £21,000 per annum

This is a rare opportunity to work in a highly demanding and creative participatory arts programming role. As an experienced and committed participatory arts administrator, you will know how to develop challenging and stimulating opportunities to engage arts practitioners in community and public sector environments, reducing barriers for people accessing the arts and culture. With experience of working within education and social care or health environments, you will provide strong management and direction to contracted visual artists, musicians and performing arts practitioners to meet our artistic aims and the outcomes of the participants on behalf of contractors and funders.

You will lead on our work in schools and in mental health programming, but will also collaborate to support programming across the organisation’s areas of work. You will bring with you, strong project management and administration skills, experience of operating budgets and the ability to fundraise for and promote our programmes effectively. You will be able to work across a range of art forms, and also have a strong practice in equalities.

The role will be subject to a PVG screening.

 Application packs are available by clicking on the links below or by emailing info@artlinkcentral.org, or from Administration, Artlink Central, Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling FK8 1JP. Completed applications must be returned by Tuesday 21st August at 12 noon. To discuss the role, please contact Kevin Harrison on 01786 450971.

Job Information and Application Guidelines

Role Description and Person Specification

Please return the completed application form with personal statement providing suitability for the role against the criteria and person specification. Please return a completed equal opportunities monitoring form which will be kept separate from the application form.

Artistic Programmer - Application Form

Artistic Programmer - Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Provisional Interview Dates: 31st August and 3rd September

Keep up with Artlink Central - Summer News

Dear Friend, Colleague and Supporter

2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland and an incredibly busy year for Artlink Central. We have so much to tell you, that we have had to capture it all in one helpful newsletter.

Staff and Board News

We are very sad to be saying goodbye to a number of staff this year. Earlier in the year Di Stewart left the organisation for a full time position in Balfron and this month we will be saying farewell to two of our artistic programmers, Julie Law and Sylvia Woodford. Between them they leave with around 22 years of dedicated employment with Artlink Central. Both Julie and Sylvia are visual artists who joined us initially as freelance artists and then took up roles within the staff team. Julie’s work on Artspace, our mental health programme and Sylvia’s work with schools are embedded within the core programme of Artlink Central and they will leave a lasting creative legacy for this organisation. Julie and Sylvia will be saying goodbye to colleagues and friends at an informal celebration in Stirling on the evening of 9^th August, meeting at 8pm at the City Walls and you are more than welcome to join us in thanking them for their outstanding contributions to the work of the charity. Please RSVP to sarahp@artlinkcentral.org

We also said goodbye this month to Board Member,  Iain Kilpatrick who began volunteering for Artlink Central in 2009 and has been integral to supporting the big transitions and changes we have made in our governance over the past few years. He moves from his position as Headmaster at Beaconhurst School to take up a role in the south west of England. We wish him all the best in the future and thank him for his fervent support.

On a happier note, this year we have had three new faces to our staff team. David McQuatt joined us a year ago as our Finance and Administration Officer having a strong background in general management at Art in Hospitals, followed by Fiona Taylor who is our new Business Development Officer, responsible for connecting our work with supporters and friends and developing fundraising initiatives. Fiona joins us with a vast array of experience supporting Australian arts organisations, in particular dance companies to develop funding strategies. Last in, but by no means least, is Robin Anderson, our new Administration Assistant, again with many years of work in a number of sectors, including roles at Scottish Parliament.

Recruitment

We are now advertising for a new full-time artistic programmer – details on our website or email for a pack to info@artlinkcentral.org

You can contact Kevin Harrison on 01786 450971 to find out more about the role.

Abrupt Encounters

Once in A Lifetime Live Arts Programme in Public Spaces Led by Adults with Learning Disabilities

Our biggest programme news is that we have a new live arts programme beginning shortly. Abrupt Encounters is part of the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 programme, supported by Creative Scotland’s First in a Lifetime investment of £92,700, as well as financial support from Falkirk Council, Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley and the Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust.

The programme has evolved from our Artreach programme for adults with learning disabilities and will create inclusive participation opportunities in the top of the town area of Stirling, in public spaces such as Stirling Castle, the Changing Rooms and Stirling Old Town Jail.

We will also develop site specific work in the grounds and environs of Forth Valley Royal Hospital and as part of the Helix Project in Falkirk. Our Artreach team of artists will be co-producing the work with our Artreach participants and live arts practitioners from across the UK, with support and in partnership with UZ Arts.

 Upcoming Dates:

7 August: Participants Development Day, Stirling Castle, 10am – 3 pm

8 August: Participants Development Day, Leisure Centre, Callander, 10am – 3 pm

Seasoned – Dementia Arts in NHS Forth Valley

4 projects engaging with 30 dementia patients over 53 sessions working with 11 professional artists

 ‘Seasoned’ was the Artlink Central Arts and dementia programme which operated in four NHS wards for dementia and cognitive impairment patients across Forth Valley throughout 2011-2012. Feedback from the previous year recommended that we worked on longer projects with dementia patients. Benefits of this included increased understanding by artists of individuals

, patients became more familiar and engaged with the processes and staff understood the aims and value of the work of Artlink Central artists.

 Each ward had artists visiting over 15 weeks creating thoughtful, innovative and contemporary arts workshops designed to engage patients, respect their dignity and focus on opening up communication with families and staff. Workshops included music, reminiscence based work, storytelling, film making, visual arts and sound recording. The projects were mentored by Rosas Mitchell.

 Some of the work will be exhibited as part of Scotland’s ‘Luminate’ Creative Ageing festival this October at the Macrobert, Stirling.

 Upcoming Dates:

1. 15 October – 16 November, Greenhouse Gallery and Seasoned Exhibition,  Part of Luminate, Macrobert

Art transfusion – Work with older people in NHS Forth Valley

8 projects engaging with 46 patients over 40 sessions working with 9 professional artists

 Led by development artist, Christine Hilditch, this mobile and inclusive arts programme was delivered in eight NHS wards across Forth Valley engaging with 80 frail elderly patients throughout 2011-2012.

 The programme was designed to give patients innovative opportunities to share their talents, experiences and knowledge with peers, staff and family. Creativity is a touchstone for all people and gardening has been proven to have a positive impact on personal well- being. This project was also designed to bring the outside inside!

With the broad theme of gardening in mind, each ward filled a portable greenhouse with ceramics, felt making, cast plants, herbs, reminiscence based recipe books and much more. All the greenhouses came together at the end of the year for an exhibition tour visiting: Forth Valley Royal Hospital Larbert, Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre, Duntreath Castle, Stirling Community Hospital and Macrobert, Stirling as part of the Creative Aging national ‘Luminate’ festival. Following the tour all greenhouses and artwork will be returned to the wards.

 ‘I have witnessed first-hand improvements in patient’s mental wellbeing. I have seen people who were initially shy, upset and scared, come out of their shells and increase in confidence after just one session. I have witnessed patients with memory problems picking up materials and tools ready in anticipation for the session to start. I have listened to conversations had by those who were socialising with others in their wards for the first time instead of being alone in their rooms. I have seen amazement on the faces of staff when participants stayed for a two hour session instead of their predicted 20 minutes. I have seen the smiles on people’s faces when they see what they have achieved in such a short time. I have listened to their stories, I have laughed at their jokes, I have sung songs with them and most of all, I have enjoyed every part of the Art Transfusion project’ 

Christine Hilditch, Development artist for Art Transfusion

 Upcoming Dates:

1. 15 October – 16 November, Greenhouse Gallery and Seasoned Exhibition,  Part of Luminate, Macrobert

Stirling Schools programme 2011-12

 We have concluded another fantastic year of school projects across Stirling. We provide a service supporting smoother transitions and social inclusion.

Highlights of our rural focussed social inclusion work this year included the unveiling of a new mosaic for Killearn Primary School, our Creative Leavers having another successful exhibition in Edinburgh, having worked individually with artist to support them to take their artistic talent to adulthood and ‘Oh the Places We Will Go’ a large performance and cross art form project involving seven high schools and their feeder primary schools to support transition in high school with an Olympic sized theme and event at the Albert Halls.

 The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2012

Once again, Artlink Central is leading on a vibrant and exciting programme for this years festival which will include a song writing workshop and open mic night at the Tolbooth, visual arts exhibitions in Forth Valley Royal Hospital, the macrobert and  Dunblane Museum and a Pop Up Gallery and Programme in Stirling Town Centre.

 Upcoming Dates:

1. 3 October – 20 October: Works in Progress Exhibition, Dunblane Musuem and Gallery
2. 12 October – 31 October: Shared Views Exhibition, Falkirk  Town Hall Gallery
3. 10 October – 9 November: Elemental Exhibition- Archie Tipple, Forth Valley Royal Hospital
4. 11 October The Songwriting Project and Artlink Central Open Mic Night, Tolbooth
5. 15 October – 16 November, Greenhouse Gallery and Seasoned Exhibition, Macrobert
6. 16 October : Lights Out Listening in Larbert, Learning Centre, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

 Fundraising News

Dunreath Castle Garden Show

We thought we might like to share the good news that we raised £4,505.50 in support of Artlink Cental as we participated in the first Duntreath Castle Charitable Garden Show. We would like to thank all the amazing volunteers, led by Carol Seymour and of course our generous hosts, Sir Archie and Lady Edmonstone and the dedicated committee of partners who created this wonderful show. Thank you too to our Patron Julia Donaldson who generously gave up her time to visit the Show and judge the children’s garden design competition.

 Theatre Performance Fundraiser – One Man Show as HRH Duke of Edinburgh

We are also jointly fundraising with Stirling Action in Mind through a performance by George Telfer, who will be playing none other than HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in his one man show which is also touring to the Fringe this year. Please contact the office to reserve tickets for the show on Tuesday 7^th August at 1pm. Tickets are £7.50

 Art off the Rock 2012

Planning is afoot for our biennial art auction, Art off the Rock which will be at Beaconhurst School on the 4^th November this year. Carefully curated by artists Lesley Banks, Lesley Anne Derks and Jaqueline Marr, we have an exciting programme including our anonymous postcard sale and the auction. We are generously supported by a range of  businesses such as Smith & Williamson and Beaconhurst School. More details will follow soon. Please contact Business Development Officer, Fiona Taylor with any queries or questions at Fiona@artlinkcentral.org or on 01786 450971. Fiona works three days per week.

 Artlink Central Dates for Your Diary

 Dotted Lines Productions presents George Telfer as HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in a performance of “Do you Still Throw Spears at Each Other?” by Steve Haythorne.  For one performance only at the Cowane Centre on Tuesday 7 August at 1 pm in support of Artlink Central and Action in Mind.  George has kindly donated his performance in support of mental health and the creative arts - Artlink Central and Action in Mind wish him every success at the Edinburgh Fringe and warmly welcome him to Stirling.  Tickets cost £7.50 and are available from Artlink Central.

 ABRUPT ENCOUNTERS

7 August: Participants Development Day, Stirling Castle, 10am – 3 pm

8 August: Participants Development Day, Leisure Centre, Callander, 10am – 3 pm

 ELEMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

10 August: Preview of Elemental Exhibition- Archie Tipple, Falkirk Town Hall

Monday 7th August - Friday 14th September: Exhibition Dates, Falkirk Town Hall

 STIRLING BOOK FESTIVAL

12 September: Artreach Creative Script Writers Project (Adult Learning Event), Cowane Centre, 10.30am – 11.30am (Free)

 SMHAFF

3 October – 20 October: Works in Progress Exhibition, Dunblane Musuem and Gallery

12 October – 31 October: Shared Views Exhibition, Falkirk  Town Hall Gallery

10 October – 9 November: Elemental Exhibition- Archie Tipple, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

11 October The Songwriting Project and Artlink Central Open Mic Night, Tolbooth

15 October – 16 November, Greenhouse Gallery and Seasoned Exhibition, Macrobert

13-14 October, Stirling Mental Health Pop Up Festival 2012.

16 October : Lights Out Listening in Larbert, Learning Centre, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

 ART OFF THE ROCK

4 November: Art off the Rock 2012 Biennial Postcard Sale and Art Auction, Beaconhurst School  6.30pm

 Volunteer with us

Artlink Central is always looking for volunteers to assist on our participatory programmes, help out in the office or to assist with fundraising events. I fyou have a little spare time and are willing to get involved, please contact:

 Fiona Taylor for fundraising and administration         Fiona@artlinkcentral.org

Sarah Pearson for participatory arts volunteering     SarahP@artlinkcentral.org

The Art of the Garden Show

Click image to view our photos from the event on flickr. Photos by Kevin harrison

 Children from local schools flocked to the first ever Duntreath Castle Garden Show, to have their Olympic Dream garden designs judged by Children’s Laureate and author of ‘The Gruffalo’ Julia Donaldson, who as patron of one of beneficiary charities, Artlink Central, agreed to join sponsor Dobbies to select the most original and attractive designs by school children from across Central Scotland.

Set in the idyllic gardens of Duntreath Castle, home to Sir Archie and Lady Edmonstone, this ambitious new show, brought creativity and gardening to the fore. Artlink Central exhibited their Greenhouse Galleries, installations of artworks created by older people in wards in NHS Forth Valley and charities from across the area created beautiful plant and food displays amongst the stallholders giving this new event a beautiful and intimate feel which combatted unfortunate weather.

Local Strathblane community groups, Canine Partners, Erskine, Scotland’s Gardens and Camphill Village Trust all were set to raise funds alongside Artlink Central, as the event went underway. A full programme kicked off with a gala evening featuring a performance by the Royal Marines on the lawn. Talks, demonstrations and wonderful stalls all created a highly successful event expected to raise up to £30,000 to local causes.

Artlink Central is a leading arts agency and charity in Central Scotland, developing artist led creative programmes for those who face barriers to participation due to mental health issues, disability or other social barriers.

We use music, literature, storytelling, visual and performing arts to remove barriers that create or sustain inequality, and to discover and nurture creative talent in people, particularly emerging disabled artists.

Key areas of our programming include:

• Artspace programme creating access to regular arts opportunities for people experiencing mental health issues in the community.
• Artreach cross art form programme for adults with learning disabilities supporting participation, audience development emerging talent across Stirling area.
• Arts and Health programme which delivers arts experiences targeted at people with mental ill health, dementia, physical illness, stroke as well as sick children in thirty one wards across the Forth Valley.
• Arts, Transition and Social Inclusion programmes in schools across the region, including Creative Leavers programme for young disabled artists leaving school supporting them to create, exhibit and sell work in a professional setting and build a portfolio to support their adult aspirations.

Contact Kevin Harrison for further information.

Artlink Central, Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling FK8 1JP

Tel: 01786 450971 email: info@artlinkcentral.org www.artlinkcentral.org

Charity No SC008158

Administration Assistant (part time 12 hours per week over 3-4 days)

You will be working to support a busy and recognised participatory arts organisation to deliver efficient and responsive arts services and programmes in hospitals, schools and other community and arts settings.

Artlink Central is a leading participatory arts agency and charity in Central Scotland, developing artist led creative programmes for people with mental health issues, disabled people and those who face other social barriers. We use music, literature, storytelling, visual and performing arts to remove barriers that create or sustain inequality, and to discover and nurture creative talent in people, particularly emerging disabled artists. We possess a focus on developing evidence-based practice in:

• Arts and Health
• Arts and Disability
• Arts in Prisons
• Arts and Young People

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of working in a busy office environment, possess excellent administrative and IT skills and have a thorough knowledge of Microsoft Applications. You will also be proficient in working as part of a productive team, working flexibly and possess a capacity to meet tight deadlines. The ability to demonstrate a commitment to Artlink Central’s aims and objectives is highly desirable.

This role will be part time for 12 hours per week to be worked across 3 - 4 days.

£ 7.91 - 8.63 per hr depending on experience.

Download Job Description

Download Job Application Guidelines and Company Information Pack

Download Application Form

Download Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

You will need to complete and return both Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

This opportunity is available in: Stirling

For further information, please contact info@artlinkcentral.org (David McQuatt), or call 01786 450971, or visit http://artlinkcentral.org. The deadline is Thursday 17 May 2012 at 17:00.