A total of £1.1 million has been awarded in the Creative Scotland Open Fund to more than 50 artists, projects and groups in Scotland with many of the creatives highlighting underrepresented voices and perspectives. The latest round of funding is backed by National Lottery.
Louder: A Project for New Writers by Framework Theatre, will provide bursaries for emerging writers, directors and performers from marginalised genders, to write and present 15 minute plays that will be produced and performed as part of a night of new writing at the Traverse Theatre in Spring 2024.
The sequel to Framework’s 2021 project Home, Louder is supported by The Lyceum, Stellar Quines and Vanishing Point in response to a lack of representation of marginalised genders in Scottish theatre as outlined in Stellar Quines’ Where are the Women reports. An open call-out for those keen to take part will take place early in the New Year.
Emma Ruse, Chief Executive at Framework Theatre said: “This funding will allow us to continue providing regular, transparent support for emerging theatre-makers, and follow through on our commitment to championing underrepresented voices creating new work. Louder provides 17 openly recruited paid roles for emerging artists of marginalised genders, showcasing work at the Traverse, working with key organisations and helping level the playing field of who gets to make theatre in Scotland.”
Executive Director of Arts, Communities and Inclusion at Creative Scotland, Dana MacLeod said: “This round of the Open Fund sees a rich mix of awards for activities from career development to album recordings, residencies, festivals, creative collaborations and arts within a health context. The diversity is high, including multi-lingual projects showcasing Arabic women’s voices and activities across the breadth of Scotland and internationally from Falkirk to Finland and Inverness to India. Thanks to The National Lottery we are able to offer open funds for anyone to apply to as an individual or organisation on a rolling basis which is of great value.”
The development of a style of movement and dance for older bodies celebrating ageing and the transition into later life is receiving support through choreographer, Morag Deyes’ research project, Lasting / Maireannach. The project continues Deyes’ interest in movement for older bodies, having previously created Scotland’s first semi-professional elder dance company, Prime.
Morag said: “I am delighted that with Creative Scotland’s Open Fund, Scotland is showing a genuine commitment to celebrating dance in later life by supporting Lasting / Maireannach.”
Onisis Villaroel’s project Carnival of Inclusion has been selected to receive £5,000. Villaroel will use the monies to deliver a programme of costume making and carnival performances in order to increase visibility of Latino and disabled communities in Edinburgh.
The table below shows other recipients in Edinburgh:
| Sarah Cosgrove | Persephone / Dearth Mother ( working title) |
| Onsis. Villarroel de Reddie. | ‘Carnival of Inclusion’ |
| The Queen’s Hall | A 12-performance curated programme of diverse strands |
| Morag Deyes | Maireannach/ Lasting |
| Debjani Banerjee | Artistic Career Development |
| Kondwani Mapemba | Artists Creative Development |
| Zoë Irvine | 900 Voices |
| A.R.Ts Afternoon | Drumming, Performance and Inclusion |
| Lubna Kerr | Chatterbox |
| James Albon | Tongue-Tied Type |
| Emma Smith | Silence Awareness Existence residency program, Arteles Creative Centre, Finland |
| Daniel Padden | SoundAround |
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