NEWS
Creativity is its own reward Rebecca Monks looks at the shortlisted entrants for the fi fth annual Creative Edinburgh awards
The Library is Open! Drag Queen Poems
C reative Edinburgh’s awards have garnered quite a reputation in the i ve years since they’ve been running. Known as the ‘Oscars of the creative sector’, they celebrate innovation and in a variety of disciplines, recognising artists, musicians, and writers alongside commercially creative thinkers and social entrepreneurs. The criteria for winning, or indeed being nominated, is quite simple: you must be creative, and you must be associated with Edinburgh.
imagination
This year’s shortlist rel ects the diversity of talent that these awards attract. There are nine categories with i nalists including organisations, establishments and individuals, but the event isn’t simply about those nominees. Creative Edinburgh was established i ve years ago, and the awards ceremony is something of a birthday party for the organisation, which reaches out to a creative community of thousands.
Speaking about the event, director Janine Mathieson said: ‘It shines a light on what amazing talent we do have here in Edinburgh, but it’s also a chance to celebrate Creative Edinburgh. This is a real opportunity to develop our community, and also to spread the word about what part we play in the city.’
As the organisation grows and changes, so does the nature of the awards, and Mathieson says they are constantly adapting to meet the needs of their network. ‘Creative Edinburgh now has 3000 members, and the diversity within the community is massive,’ she explains. ‘We have creatives that are practitioners, artists or musicians, writers or photographers, and we also have a lot of creatives that work in more commercial environments: lots of agencies, design, PR i rms, architecture i rms, digital i rms, and increasingly over the last few
16 THE LIST 3 Nov 2016–31 Jan 2017
years, we’ve been welcoming tech startups. As the network grows with us, we wanted to explore ways that creatives are part of our everyday life.’ Moreover, the awards tap into a specii c niche: celebrating a cross-section of creative talent on a hyper-local basis. ‘There are other types of awards for sure,’ Mathieson says, ‘but there isn’t anything locally shining the light across all different creative disciplines.’
The shortlisted names are below with the winners announced at the prizegiving ceremony on Thu 10 Nov at the capital’s Central Hall.
• The City Award: Konishi Gaffney Architects, Jupiter Artland and Local Heroes • The Collaboration Award: Werewolf & Unstable Creations, Janis Claxton Dance & Pippa Murphy ‘Pop-Up Duets’, and Rob St John, Simon Kirby, Tommy Perman and Random Spectacular • The Commercial Award: Nile (& the People’s Money team), StudioLR (Terex Truck Factory Experience Project) and Disney Research – Maggie Kosek • The Creativity Award: The Scottish Poetry Library for The Library is Open! Drag Queen Poems, Janis Claxton Dance POP-UP Duets and Heather Marshall / Creative Electric • The Independent Award: Kam-Ling Design, Scott Willis and LeithLate • The Leadership Award: Danielle Trudeau, Tribe Porty, Jack Nissan, Tinderbox Orchestra and Adam Castle • The Social Award: Lung Ha Theatre Company, WHALE Arts for the Street Arts project and Edinburgh Tool Library (ETL) • The Startup Award: Werewolf Tube Map Ltd for WineTubeMap and Bright Side Studios • The Student Award: Ellie Vallely, Michal Wdowiak and Paula Caffrey
COMING UP
• NEON DIGITAL ARTS The only international digital arts festival in Scotland, NEoN features moving image, performance, music and technology-driven arts. Various venues, Dundee, Wed 9–Sun 13 Nov. • EDINBURGH’S CHRISTMAS Auld Reekie turns into a winter wonderland for six weeks. This year, the Street of Light move to George Street, and the festivities expand to the West End. Entertainment highlights include the musical Five Guys Named Moe and magic act Morgan & West. Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 18 Nov–Sat 7 Jan.
• CHRYSALIS Theatre companies from across the UK meet in Edinburgh for a weekend of youth theatre. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 18–Sun 20 Nov.
• TO ABSENT FRIENDS This festival of storytelling is based on remembrance. Its events are located in Edinburgh, but encourages people all over Scotland to remember their loved ones who have passed on, to reminisce about them and tell stories. Various venues, Edinburgh, until Sun 27 Nov.
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C H R S W A T T
• EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY A New Year celebration so impressive that it actually takes place over three days. Events include the Torchlight Procession, Concert in the Gardens headlined by Paolo Nutini and the Street Party, led by the mighty Charlatans. Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 30 Dec–Sun 1 Jan. • GLASGOW LOVES HOGMANAY Family-friendly New Year activities taking place in the daytime and early evening. Just don’t tire yourselves out before the bells. George Square, Glasgow, Sat 31 Dec.
• THE SALTIRE FESTIVAL East Lothian celebrates its heritage as the birthplace of the Saltire Flag. Various venues, East Lothian, Thu 24–Wed 30 Nov.