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NEWS GOSSIP OPINION
Edinburgh’s DanceBase is an exemplary project. Shouldn’t every Scottish city have one?
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Dear minister. ..
The time has come for the Executive to show real ambition for the arts. Wolds: Allan Radcliffe
hristmas is coming. With (‘ulture Minister l’atricia l"el'guson poised to unveil the lixecutive’s culture strategy. what better time l’or the arts sector to
scribble a wish list. Surer there is no better wa} ol‘
improving a nation‘s social and spiritual health tllall b) providing greater access to culture'.’ Architect .\lalcolm l‘raser agrees. ‘ll' l were minister. I‘d start b_\ allocating all school children music lessons. equipping them with a dil’l‘erent language for understanding the world.‘ he sa_\s. ‘We need to dance more? Dancing is art. ph} sical workout and social interaction combined ill one. 'l‘here‘s an enormous demand out there so imagine how a nationwide provision of dance houses. like lidinburgh‘s DanceBase. would add to the sum total of human happiness.‘
l‘raser also bemoans Westminster's diverting ol‘ l.otter_\ money into projects like the ()l)'lll[)lc‘.\.
‘We should note that the Dundee ('olitelllpol';ll'_\ :\t'ts (‘entre has been ill \ast importance to the cit) ‘s economic rebilth. The closing down of such ell‘ectiVe l'unding makes no sense and the lixecutis'e must address this.‘
Novelist Alan Bissett agrees that the bill} wa} to improxe
arts pros ision is to increase lunding. “l’his can go to librar) stock. subsidising entrance lees lor art galleries. bursaries l‘ol' artists. equipment l'or musicians. the promotion ol‘ Scottish artists lll schools. :\t the molllent. schools lime to compete l‘ol' l.i\e Literature Scheme \ouchcl's to pa) writers to \ isit. .\lan_\ don‘t ex en know the scheme exists..' Sis months ago Scotland's ('ultural (‘ommission recommended that L'l()() million ol‘ (imerllment cash be spent each _\ear to boost ‘cultural rights'. It sounds a lot. but such spending would onl_\ bring the total lor the arts to a meagre l‘i ol' the lisecutixes budget. It. as is lL‘ill'Ctl. l'el'guson adxocates a Scrooge-like approach. in line with cixil scl'\icc recommendations that the Scottish ;\l'ls ('ouncil autonom} be rcincd in. she should hang up her ministerial bl'iel’case l‘ol' good. Such a collsel‘\;lti\e strateg} would ll} ill the lace ol' the lust Minister's mowed desire to make ‘culture our next major entel'pl‘ise’. l’atricia l‘erguson must not be dixel'ted l‘rom the inspirational message at the heart ol‘ .\lc(‘olmell’s speech. which recognises the potelltiall) rich outcome ol a national colllmitlllent to culture. £100 million might be about right.
THE LIST WINS EDITORIAL AWARDS
I The List and sister visual arts magazine Map triumphed at this year’s Scottish Magazine Awards, reaping a quartet of prizes between them. The glittering ceremony, co-ordinated by the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) Scotland and hosted by comedian Fred MacAulay, took place at Edinburgh‘s Roxburghe Hotel on St Andrew's Night, in front of around 300 colleagues from the magazine publishing industry. The lucky recipients were The List’s grand vizier of film, Paul Dale, who scooped the Writer of the Year, Consumer Magazines award, while high Chieftain Nick Barley won the Editor of the Year, Consumer Magazines accolade. Map received the award for Best New Magazine of the Year and pipped The List to the post for Best Consumer Magazine Design of the Year 2005. The plaudits crowned a memorable 20th anniversary year for The List. Bring on 2006! (AR)
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I The government has unveiled major tax breaks for films shot in the UK. It is hoped the 16% tax credits for films with budgets over £20 million and 20% for those below that figure will encourage the making of more Hollywood movies in Scotland such as John Maybury’s The Jacket (pictured).
I The lrdlnburgh Internatlonal Festival has revealed details of the malor ploductlons planned for 2000. Brian McMaster's last lestlval thl include Peter Stein's new production of 7IOI/US and Cressrda and a new play by Anthony Neilson. as well as a speClally (:(‘lmmlssloned opera from composer Stuart MacRae. WIth a libretto by poet Simon Almltage.
I A petition has been launched to safeguard the annual Homegame festival in Anstruther. Festival organisers the Fence Collective are enraged that Fife Council has bowed to local nimbyism and refused to allow the use of the Erskine Hall. Concerned parties can voice their support at www.petitionon|ine.com/ homegame/petition.html.
I Clasgmwbased artist Jackie Donachle has won a 2730.000 award from the Paul Hamlyn l’()tlll(lilll()ll. Her previous work lncludes ‘llle House of l~un'. ln WlllCll a (let'GltCl building was converted llllO a balloon tactoly. Meanwhile. the Scottlsl‘l Arts Councfl ls to fund a three month Vlsual arts residency based at internatlonal arts centre Cove Park. For information Visit www.coveparkorg.
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