AGENDA
_ European community theatre
Four theatre companies — TAG. Communicado. 7:84 and the Tron — are planning to stage a showcase of recent Scottish work which is intended to attract tour bookings by European promoters. The idea is viewed as a pilot study on opening up new markets for homegrown artistic talent and finding ways of giving Scotland a stronger identity abroad. Establishing strong cultural identity is regarded as a good way of ensuring that Scotland's voice is heard in Europe.
Plans for this partnership will be outlined at a two-day conference called ‘Plugging into Europe'. which has been organised to help Scottish arts organisations understand and exploit the changing cultural scene in Europe. The signing of the Maastricht treaty meant that for the first time the EC was directly involved in cultural affairs and an EC directorate is currently drafting a cultural policy. ‘We‘re not talking about “Euro-formity" here.‘ says Eric Robinson of Salvo. the Scottish arts lobby group which has organised the conference. ‘lt’s not about bland culture. it's about seeing what opportunities to share diversity there are.
In the longer term there is the possibility that there will eventually be a fund set up to support artists in member states. ‘But we‘re not talking about there suddenly being a big bag of gold which is what some arts practitioners naively think Europe is.‘ Robinson wams.
By considering ways of taking Scottish theatre abroad. the four companies have discovered that the profile of Scotland aboard is not as high as it should be. ‘We're looking at ways of marketing ourselves better outside Scotland.‘ says the Tron’s general manager Dave Taylor. ‘The
Cultural export: lain Glen the Tron's Macbeth
best way of marketing theatre is to let people see it. which is why we‘re forming plans for a showcase.‘
The Scottish Arts Council is considering a consultant‘s report on the opportunities for exporting Scottish culture which are highlighted by the four theatre companies‘ proposal. The showcase would be likely to include the Tron‘s Mather/1 and Communicado's huge hit production of Cyrano (1e Bergerac. (Eddie Gibb)
Plugging into Europe is (m 'l‘liursrlay 23 and Friday 24 June at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. Details/rum Salvo (m 03/ 228 3885.
I Swapping assets Glasgow's department of performing arts reckons it is the first arts organisation in Britain to set up an asset exchange scheme which allows companies to trade services and equipment in a cashless market. The department runs a credit system so swaps don’t have to be done directly with another organisation. To find out more call Amanda Brown on
041 227 5850. I Misery ahead The Scottish Arts
Council (SAC) has warned its clients that the total size of the grant cake has been frozen by the Scottish Office for the next two financial years. SAC- funded groups were not to expect increases. though the council says it will not apply an ‘equal misery' formula by freezing individual grants. Good. effective organisations should not be penalised by a funding system which fails to acknowledge and reward their strengths,‘ says director Seona Reid. Expect winners and losers in the next round of grant awards.
I Innovative idea Edinburgh's Arts innovation Fund is inviting applications by arts organisations and individual artists looking for grants to create new work or develop new ways of working. The deadline is Friday 1 July. details from Henrietta Hardy on 031 529 4878. I Studio theatre Queen Margaret College’s drama department is to take over the Gateway Studios — Scottish Television’s Edinburgh base. The 150- seat studio theatre will be used mainly for student rehearsals and productions. but may also be available as a space for other groups.
Evidence gathered in a locally-made documentary on the notorious ‘Granton smell’ has prompted Edinburgh District Council to take legal action against a chemical company which the video alleges contributes to the problem.
The council confirmed this week it will be taking legal action against the lothian Chemical Company after councillors attended a public screening of the video in Pilton. The documentary Dangerous Chemicals - Keep Dut?, produced by the Pilton Environment Group, investigates the cause of a ‘noxious smell’ which residents have been complaining about for twelve years. It also reveals how local people believe their health has been affected, with reported
symptoms including streaming eyes, nausea and breathing difficulties. The documentary investigates Lothian Chemical Company’s environmental record by examining documents and information already in the public domain. The company declined to be interviewed for the video but it denies it is the source of the smell. (Eddie Gibb) Dangerous Chemicals — Keep Out is shown at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh on Saturday 25 June and is followed by a discussion with members of the Pilton Environment Group. Details on 228 2688. Copies of the video will be available from PEG c/o Pirney Hall Community Education Office, 6 West Pllton Crescent, Edinburgh.
I Pride ’94 if you haven't got any transport to this year‘s Pride. the annual gay and lesbian celebration on Saturday l8 June in London. then get on the phone to Scottish Aids Monitor on 041 353 3133 or ()31 555 4850. Also organising a bus is the Blue Moon Cafe in Edinburgh. ()31 556 2788. As Pride ‘94 leaves Hyde Park at noon. there will be a minute‘s silence to commemorate all those who have died from AIDS and queerbashing. if you can‘t get down to London. the Edinburgh Filmhouse is offering a free ticket to Joy at the Calton Studios on Saturday 18 with every ticket to the 8.30pm presentation of Grief. See film and club sections for further details.
I Counting Them In The Glasgow branch of Sustrans. the charity that builds cycleways. will be getting help from Girl Guide groups on Sunday 19 June. The Guides will bejoining other volunteers to help carry out the first statistical visitor survey of Sustrans' Clyde coast cycle path network.
I Campaign Against Arms Trade As industries making armaments feel the pinch of the ‘peace dividend' and North Korea withdraws from the International Atomic Energy Agency. if not the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. the issue of arms trading is becoming pertinent once again. The Campaign Against Arms Trade is organising a day ofevents in Glasgow on Wednesday 22 June. From 1 lam there will be an information stall in St Enoch‘s Square with the exhibition. The Arms Trade: Which Way Now“? At 7.30pm in the Unitarian Church Centre. 72 Berkley Street. there will be a public meeting addressing the same question.
I Women’s Gathering On Friday 24 June. Edinburgh's Adult Learning Project (ALP) will be holding a women‘s gathering at the St Brides Centre. ()rwell Terrace. Star attractions for the evening. which starts at 7pm. are the journalist Sue lnnes and the author Janice Galloway. who will be reading from her latest work. The women dancers. writers. historians. singers. musicians and photographers ofthe ALP will also be there. All women are welcome and tickets costing £3 (£2) are available from the ALP on 031 337 5442.
I Drums for Rwanda Two top Ugandan percussionists. Albert Ssampeke and John Ssekitooleko. will be performing on traditional African instruments at Seeds Cafe at 53 West Nicolson Street in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 June in an event to raise funds for Rwanda. Entry to the performance which starts at 7pm and goes on until l()pm is by donation. Seeds will be giving l() per cent ofthe day‘s takings to Rwanda. so arn'vc hungry.
I Cages Another women-only disco has been organised by the Edinburgh Lesbian Line at the Cafe Royal. 17 West Register Street. The disco takes place on Sunday 26 June from 9pm—2am. and is being held to benefit the Lesbian Video. Cages. Tickets cost £3 (£1.50) on the door.
I If you have news of any events or courses which you want publicised in this column, please forward them to ‘Action’ at The List, 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 HE and include a day- time phone number. J
The List 17—30 June 1994 5