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NEWS GOSSIP OPINION
Janek Schaefer at the Threshold digital launch
Fair City blooms with culture
A state of the art venue arrives in the heart of Scotland with a family-friendly approach.
he dotninance of the central belt in Scottiin cultural life could be nearing an end. with the opening this fortnight of the £20m Perth (‘oncert Hall. The tnodern. ambitious venue. situated in the once hustling l-lorsecross Market. was conceived as part of the Fair (‘ity‘s millennium celebrations and is dedicated to providing something for everyone in the worlds of arts and entertainment. with exclusive performances. affordable ticket prices and Kids (io liree programmes. As well as the DUO-seat concert hall and l2()-seat studio.
there‘s an opportunity to experience the best of
contemporary visual art courtesy of the pioneering Threshold art space. which boasts a bank of 2?. screens. sophisticated sound systetn and giant projection wall. The opening season alone finds classical music giants such as Michael Nyman and Willard White jostling alongside rock and pop legends the Average White Band. the Proclaimers and Shakin~ Stevens. Theatre classics Il/Iur'lu'I/I and (irm! Iix‘pecturimzs will make way for a family pantomime at the end of the year. Former BBC correspondent Kate Adie will
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be sharing her experiences from the world‘s major war
zones. while light relief is provided courtesy of comedian Al Murray. There are intimate lunchtime concerts. storytelling and drumming workshops and children‘s dance
classes. Variety is clearly high on the programmers‘ list of
priorities.
‘We aim to develop a reputation for a great artistic programme and a family-friendly approach] says Jane Spiers. chief executive of llorsecross. which runs the new venue. Arts lovers will get their first opportunity to experience the new state of the an venue on Saturday If) and Sunday ll September. with the ‘(‘omc Away In‘ weekend. featuring a mini-festival of drumming. music. dance and theatre. Meanwhile. the (iala launch weekend kicks off on liriday In September with a performance by the RSNO. including a unique commission by (‘raig Armstrong. while Belle and Sebastian (AKA the Best Scottish Band of All Time c/o The Us!) take to the stage on Sunday l8 September. All this a maximum 90-minute drive from anywhere in Scotland. (Allan Radcliffe)
1" ARTS COUNCIL INVESTS IN GLASGOW DEVELOPMENT
I The Scottish Arts Council has approved a £1.5m Nation Lottery capital award towards the £7m development of a visual arts centre on Glasgow’s King Street. The new development will house nine visual arts organisations, including Glasgow Independent Studios, Glasgow Media Access Centre, Street Level and Transmission Galleries (left), transforming the entire north block of King Street into a veritable arts hub. Onsite resources will include studios, production facilities and exhibition space and the project is set to play an important part in the regeneration of the city‘s Merchant City area. Councillor John Lynch, convener of Glasgow City Council’s Cultural and Leisure Services committee, said: ‘This is a key step forward in the development of a unique creative hub in an area of the city which is increasingly being seen as a cultural quarter.’ (Allan Radcliffe)
I After four long years, the coveted Carbuncle Awards have returned to wallow in the dregs of architecture and town planning. The Plook on the Plinth has previously been bestowed upon Cumbernauld, Airdrie and Glasgow UGC. The award is run by Prospect magazine, with the shortlist drawn from nominations sent by the public to www.prospect magazine.com/ carbuncles.
I Scotland is one step closer to adopting a plastic bag levy similar to the successful scheme operating in Ireland. A newly published Executive study examining the impact of introducing a tax on plastic pouches found the charge would result in positive benefits including a reduction in littering.
I It’s been another record-breaking year at the Fringe, with ticket sales hitting 1,335,000 - up 7%. However, director Paul Gudgin has warned against complacency. ‘This is an annual event of Olympian proportions and we’re struggling to find the resources to keep up.’
I And finally. congratulations to our News man Allan Radcliffe (pictured. smiling). who scooped this year‘s Allen Wright Award at the Edinburgh Festival. His feature on the Perrier Awards, published in our Festival Guide, left the judges no option but to garland him with honour. Congratulations should also go to Corrie Mills whose writing in the theatre section got her on the shortlist.
" .’.‘ Sol: AVE» THE LIST 7