{"id":644181,"date":"2025-12-20T12:07:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T12:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644181\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T12:07:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T12:07:22","slug":"990000-national-lottery-funding-brings-arts-to-the-heart-of-scots-communities-the-nen-north-edinburgh-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/644181\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a3990,000 National Lottery Funding brings Arts to the heart of Scots Communities \u2013 The NEN \u2013 North Edinburgh News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Community projects across Scotland have secured \u00a3990,000 funding in the latest round of\u00a0Open Fund<\/a> awards from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Broadening access to culture and creativity lies at the heart of the Open Fund. November\u2019s awards showcase this commitment with projects such as a solar-powered mobile theatre space bringing puppetry to Scotland\u2019s most remote communities, Scots folktale workshops welcoming the nation\u2019s new residents, a theatre residency in the Highlands offering transformative skills development and initiatives tackling gender barriers in the music industry.<\/p>\n

Vision Mechanics<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is setting the stage for a new era of theatre with The Solar Stage \u2013 a travelling, solar-powered and carbon neutral performance space, designed to tour bespoke marionette puppets across the country. This self-sufficient mobile venue will bring live theatre to communities where cultural access may otherwise be limited-bringing creativity to peoples\u2019 doorsteps.<\/p>\n

With over 40 years dedicated to the art of marionette puppetry Vision Mechanics will use The Solar Stage to showcase their latest project, The Circus of Dreams<\/strong>, inspired by the magic of Edwardian and Victorian travelling circuses. Audiences can expect a fully immersive space, exploring the intricate craftsmanship behind each puppet and stepping into a world where puppetry meets sustainability.<\/p>\n

Symon Macintyre, Artistic Director at Vision Mechanics said: \u201cCreative Scotlland\u2019s Open Fund has enabled us to create The Solar Stage, not simply a theatre, but a sculptural, solar-powered artwork that becomes home to the last touring marionette show in Scotland. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis support allows us to bring a rare and fragile art form to communities that seldom experience it, while touring in a truly sustainable way. The fund is helping us preserve marionette heritage, nurture new artists, and share something magical with audiences across the country.\u201d country.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Folktales for New Scots<\/strong><\/a> is a vibrant community arts initiative designed to share Scotland\u2019s rich storytelling tradition with those making Scotland their home.<\/p>\n

Led by\u00a0Beetroots Collective CIC<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>the project\u00a0will deliver 24 interactive storytelling and art workshops across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayr and Peebles. Each session pairs a local storyteller with an arts workshop inspired by the chosen folktale, creating space for cultural exchange and artistic expression.<\/p>\n

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Marta Adamowicz<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Robert Motyka<\/strong>,\u00a0Directors and leading artists at Beetroots Collective CIC<\/strong>\u00a0said:\u00a0\u201cThe Open Fund will provide us with the opportunity to foster new collaborations, explore artistic experimentation, and engage socially across diverse Scottish locations.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\u201cThrough these initiatives, we will welcome new participants and reach new audiences, thereby contributing to Scotland\u2019s rich cultural landscape. <\/p>\n

\u201cMigrant communities will gain deeper insight into Scottish culture while sharing their own traditions, creating a meaningful exchange.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vivid Roots Collective<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is launching its\u00a0Pilot Residency Project\u00a0<\/strong>to empower Highland-based theatre\u00a0makers with\u00a0the\u00a0skills\u00a0and\u00a0support to\u00a0create\u00a0original\u00a0work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taking place\u00a0across\u00a0three venues\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0north\u00a0of Scotland,\u00a0the residencies will offer\u00a0local theatre makers\u00a0the chance to develop\u00a0new\u00a0projects\u00a0while\u00a0participating\u00a0in workshops and\u00a0scratch nights,\u00a0building\u00a0regional connections and\u00a0strengthening\u00a0local theatre communities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vivid Roots\u00a0will offer 11 public events, create paid opportunities for\u00a0seven\u00a0openly recruited\u00a0artists,\u00a0and casual work for mentors\u00a0and\u00a0workshop facilitators.\u00a0In\u00a0total, 29\u00a0artists\u00a0will be involved\u00a0with\u00a0audiences across\u00a0online and in-person events\u00a0\u2013 bringing fresh creative energy to the Highlands\u00a0<\/p>\n

Laura Walker<\/strong>,\u00a0CEO and Creative Producer at Vivid Roots Collective<\/strong>,\u00a0said:\u201cThis funding has allowed us to make a huge transition as an organisation. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe announced in the autumn that we would be moving away from a festival model so that we can support more artists across a year-long programme of events, and a wider area of delivery. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis programme is all about supporting artists to invest in their own creative and professional development, with a big focus on delivery across multiple locations in the Highlands, which we have been working on since the beginning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Hen\u00a0Hoose Collective<\/strong><\/a> is\u00a0tackling\u00a0gender-based barriers in the music industry\u00a0with\u00a0a 16-month programme\u00a0of\u00a0free, practical skills development initiatives\u00a0for women and non-binary creatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0programme\u00a0will offer\u00a0writing camps, production\u00a0workshops\u00a0and career development\u00a0sessions,\u00a0while\u00a0partnering with organisation such as\u00a0Music Broth<\/strong>,\u00a0We Are Here Scotland<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0One Groove<\/strong>\u00a0to produce a collaborative project.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Participants will\u00a0also\u00a0have the\u00a0opportunity to\u00a0up-skill\u00a0at a songwriting residency in\u00a0Fife,\u00a0working\u00a0alongside\u00a0acclaimed producer\u00a0Dan Gautreau\u00a0<\/strong>at\u00a0First Cut\u00a0Studios<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Tamara Schlesinger<\/strong>,\u00a0founder and CEO of Hen\u00a0Hoose\u00a0said:\u00a0\u201cThe funding from Creative Scotland Open Fund has been\u00a0absolutely transformative. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI<\/strong>t has allowed us to uplift and support\u00a0nearly 700\u00a0women and non-binary artists across Scotland through panels, workshops, mentoring, and collaborative songwriting projects \u2026\u00a0for so many, this fund has been genuinely life-changing, and we are incredibly grateful to be able to continue this work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

These awards are\u00a0among\u00a050\u00a0individual grants made to artists and creative practitioners across Scotland in November 2025. Other awards spanning artform and location include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n