Fife poetry festival to net share of £1.6m of National Lottery funding
The funding has been awarded to support creative individuals, projects and organisations across the country to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by Covid-19, and helping to sustain people’s creative development.
StAnza, Scotland’s annual international poetry festival based in St Andrews, has received funds for its 2021 programme, which will showcase over 80 poets, artists, events, projects and installations online for five days in March.
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Hide AdThe festival will offer a mix of audio and digital, pre-recorded and live events, as well as specially devised outdoor live events.
Eleanor Livingstone, director, StAnza said: “The cultural sector has been hit extremely hard by Covid-19 and we’re excited to be working on a digital festival which will offer a feast of poetry in dynamic ways, with both traditional and original formats, engaging with poetry lovers, a wider public and poets everywhere.”
A series of atmospheric music pieces designed to improve mental health and wellbeing has also received funding.
Re-Konnect, led by Fife-based artist Charles Delaitre, will use sound with words and visuals to create short, peaceful works which aim to support people to relax and reflect during Covid-19, lockdown, and beyond.
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Hide AdThe resulting works will be available on the artist’s website and accessible through social media.
Iain Munro, chief executive, Creative Scotland said: “The Open Fund is supporting the creative sector to explore new, safe ways of working, developing practices and reaching wide audiences. From poetry festivals to theatre programmes, these projects reflect the resilience, innovation and determination of Scotland’s creative community in the face of Covid-19.
“Through these challenging and unpredictable times, creativity, art and culture are bringing us together and supporting our emotional wellbeing. Made possible by the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, these awards are helping to sustain the value that creativity adds to our lives.”
A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.
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