T H E HOT
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R E E T A C M N A L A © O T O H P
GLASGOW GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART
Sam De Santis, head of GSA Students’ Association at the time of the Mackintosh building blaze, tells us about the Phoenix Bursary,
which helps affected artists
I was walking up the steps of the Mackintosh when the i re started. The i re alarm was going off and
people started to leave the building. I i gured it was a drill and went for a coffee in the Students’ Association. It was maybe ten minutes later when I realised what was happening and
how serious the i re was.
Watching it unfold was simply gut- wrenching. I know many of the staff
and graduates well and being in the middle of such visible distress was extremely difi cult. I was head
of the Students’ Association at the time so I felt an extra level of
responsibility to keep my head and do what was needed of me, but
that following week was one of the toughest periods of my life. For the students that lost their work, the i re
cost them their vital degree show moment, a chance to showcase the work you’ve developed over the years to galleries, professionals and
the public. The Phoenix Bursary,
a 15-week period of support, is an opportunity for the artists
affected to develop the professional
networks they would have received through the degree show experience, and crucially, it enables graduates to continue making work. The bursary was thought up within
48 hours of the i re. Preliminary documents were drafted and the Scottish Government quickly
announced support. In just under 19 weeks, 100 students received individual bursaries. Nearly half the students chose to continue working in Glasgow but others
have used it to travel abroad, as far ai eld as Mongolia. The bursaries supported students to work across four continents, 15 countries and 21 different institutions. It’s remarkable to think what was achieved in less
IN ASSOCIATION WITH than i ve months.
(Interview by Rachael Cloughton) ■ The Phoenix Bursary will culminate with an exhibition in March. Find out more at gsaphoenix.blogspot.co.uk
34 THE LIST 11 Dec 2014–5 Feb 2015
24 ROSE LESLIE NO YGRITTES
Ever heard of Game of Thrones or Downton Abbey? Yeah, those enormous TV shows. Leslie’s had roles in them, and also played the lead in Honeymoon. If she’s not on your radar, then you know nothing, Jon Snow. (RM)
23 PAOLO NUTINI T BOY
Another epic year for the Paisley singer- songwriter as his third studio album Caustic
Love debuted at number one and went platinum in a matter of months. Festival performances included Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and the coveted headline spot at T in the Park. (RMc)
22 STUART MURDOCH BELLE STAR
We witnessed the long-awaited release of Murdoch’s directorial debut God Help the Girl, a whimsical celebration of Glasgow and music, while Belle & Sebastian headlined a Commonwealth Games opening celebration at the refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand. (RMc)
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