Outspoken Arts Scotland Limited is undertaking a programme of outreach and engagement with cultural organisations in Renfrewshire over the next year. This programme is provisional and subject to funding. The programme is as a result of the legacy of Paisley UK City of Culture bid.
We are an equalities and protected characteristics focused arts organisation that delivers work in the performing and visual arts. We wish to begin a process of engagement and project development with up to a dozen local community, voluntary and arts sector organisations in Renfrewshire to build a cultural programme of some social impact. Our organisation worked closely with Renfrewshire Council as a Creative Producer on the Paisley 2021 bid and have met and consulted with many groups in 2016.
From that process we recognised there are many arts and community groups in need of professional and meaningful collaborations with the wider professional arts sector outwith Renfrewshire. We also recognised that many communities in the area are in zones of multiple deprivation and have vulnerable people that require more recognition, support and regular arts activities to promote inclusiveness and better health and well-being. We wish to develop our work through a process of genuine engagement that fosters collaboration, leading to shared creativity and co-production that is truly empowering for all participants.
We have identified a dozen organisations we wish to collaborate with to develop new projects. Those are as follows:
1. Create Paisley, a local mixed arts/multi media youth charity
2. Erskine Music & Media Studios, Bargarran – a music and participatory arts for vulnernable people
3. Hi-arts – a local theatre company in Paisley which focuses on new writing
4. PACE Youth Theatre, Paisley largest youth theatre for under 18s
5. Clochoderick Press / Round Table Writers – a local professional writers group – new work
6. THCAR2 – Renfrewshire Council’s Heritage Arts programme – regeneration/social history
7. Paisley Arts Centre – a key venue and local co-producer – theatre
8. University of the West of Scotland – spoken word/music – young professionals
9. Diversity & Equality Alliance Renfrewshire – a network of local equalities groups
10. Thread Mill Museum – a local social/industrial heritage group in deprived East End of Paisley
11. ROAR Connections for Life – a participatory arts, health and wellbeing group for older people
12. STAR Project – a local arts/community group in Love Street, north side area of high deprivation
Part of our process will be engaging more deeply and regularly with the groups, their leaders and participants to identify shared interests, stories, dramas, everyday life issues and experiences and seeing where and how we can match the organisation to a like minded professional artist. These collaborations would then lead to the development of larger project which might result in performances, exhibitions, training, presentations and the like. This programme of engagement would be continuous, with regular meetings, workshops and creative development sessions to build capacity. We will deliver the outcomes of this engagement process as part of our 2019-2021 programme.
For further information please contact our Creative Director mailto:steventhomson@outspokenarts.org
Our website address is: http://outspokenarts.org.
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We operate across a number of channels and have a current reach of over 150,000 followers
Facebook
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The organisations main news channel where we stream live equality news updates. Followed by nearly 3,000 followers https://twitter.com/outspokenartsSC
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The Company has over ten years of audience research data. It surveys its audience by questionnaire and aggregated box office sales data each year. This is an extract of some useful measures.
Age
16-24 ….. 7%
25-34 ….. 29%
35-44 ….. 26%
45-54 ….. 21%
55-65 ….. 10%
65+ ….. 6%
Gender
Male ….. 47%
Female ….. 51%
Transgender ….. 2%
Orientation
Bisexual ….. 9%
Gay ….. 25%
Lesbian ….. 15%
Heterosexual ….. 45%
Prefer not to say ….. 6%
Ethnicity
Black ….. 1%
Indian ….. 1%
Mixed ….. 3%
White – other ….. 23%
White – British ….. 3%
White- Scottish ….. 71%
Mission Outspoken Arts Scotland features year round and seasonal work by artists and…
Mission
Outspoken Arts Scotland features year round and seasonal work by artists and communities with the protected characteristics. As a diverse community of arts activists we are currently interested in work which references cutting edge social issues such as creative learning for young and vulnerable people, stories of migration and asylum, issues affecting LGBT people, disability, ethnicity, creative ageing and social health and well-being. We focus on the development of new voices and emergent talent and explores stereotypes in the contemporary arts. We create genuine professional opportunities for the work of our artists and communities to be enjoyed by wider audiences across Scotland.
“the achievement and celebration of equality through the arts with a particular emphasis on the lives, work, and experiences of people with the protected characteristics. We wish to engage, advocate, and work with people from diverse communities and we will do this by promoting, presenting, and producing social, cultural and educational activities.”
Who it is for
We represent diverse communities and recognise that equality, equal and human rights are now very much the focus of mainstream society, civic and organisational culture and our shifting sense of identity plays an increasingly influential role in this. Yet we also recognise that people with the protected characteristics have sometimes come from the margins of society where they have felt less than accepted, sometimes abused and neglected. That often informs their work, their attitudes and their interests.
Our Strategy
How we will do this
This is an extract of our mission, vision and programme aims. For further information please refer enquiries to our office. contact@outspokenarts.org
The Board of Directors of OUTSPOKEN ARTS SCOTLAND LIMITED is a voluntary membership group of non-executive company directors. The Board meets four or five times per year as well as officiating at a few key public events. Board members are entirely voluntary/unpaid and cannot enter into production or service contracts or be employed or remunerated by the Charity.
The role of Board members is to provide governance and support to the small staff team in the development and delivery of its programme of activities, policies and practices. The Charity is regulated by OSCR and the role of board members/trustees is governed by the following guidance http://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-your-charity/trustee-duties/
The organisation is seeking a number of new Board members to bring additional marketing, finance and fundraising skills and as well as gender balance.
Interested individuals willing to be considered as potential Board members should email a CV to
Steven Thomson, Company Secretary
OUTSPOKEN ARTS SCOTLAND LIMITED *
mailto:steventhomson@outspokenarts.org
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: as at May 2018
Vicky Gunn, Chair
Professor Vicky Gunn is the Head of Learning and Teaching at Glasgow School of Art. She has a research and teaching profile in tertiary learning and teaching in the Arts and Humanities. Bio
Lynn Sheridan
Lynn Sheridan has worked in social work for several years before taking up a teaching role in 2004 at Glasgow Caledonian Univesity. Bio
Garry MacLaughlin
Garry is the founder of Unthank Comics, a small press label based in Glasgow, and Cosmic Designs, a visual arts charity. Bio
Lisa Charlwood-Green
Lisa, Founder and Director of The WOW Network, has actively championed for LGBT equality and diversity for over 17 years, starting with her work at LGBT Switchboard as a trained counsellor, through to volunteering with LGBT Youth, LGBT Health and Wellbeing and LEAP Sports.
Ezra Rowan Wilson
Ezra is an non-binary person from Scotland, actively involved in the Transgender community. he has held positions with the National Union of Students UK and runs his own organisation: TransForm Renfrewshire.
* Note: the charity changed its name in August 2015.
It was formerly known as Gala Scotland Ltd and traded as the Glasgay! festival.
1993
Cordelia Ditton, Joint Artistic Director
Dominic D’Angelo, Joint Artistic Director
1995
Cordelia Ditton, Artistic Director
Lorna Ferguson & Diane Hutchison, Joint Co-ordinators
1997
The festival was managed by its board of directors in this year.
1998
Gillian Garrity, Administrator
1999
Lindsay Mitchell, Festival Producer
Robert Thomson, Programme Co-ordinator
2000
Lindsay Mitchell, Festival Producer
Paul Fitzpatrick, Programme Co-ordinator
Dearbhla Murphy, Press & Marketing
2001
Lindsay Mitchell, Festival Producer
Dearbhla Murphy, Press & Marketing
2002
David Leddy, Festival Producer
Di Robson, Development
Sandra Marron, Press
Niall Walker, Design
2003
David Leddy, Festival Producer
Sandra Marron, Press
Niall Walker, Design
2004
Steven Thomson, Producer
Niall Walker, Design
Alan Miller, Press
2005
Steven Thomson, Producer
Sandra Marron, Press
Niall Walker, Design
2006
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alan Miller, Press
Marketing, Richard Bryson
Niall Walker, Design
2007
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Eloise Roser, Marketing
Niall Walker, Design
2008
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Sophie McCready, Marketing
Niall Walker, Design
2009
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Niall Walker, Design
Kara Szifris, Marketing
Roxanne Claxton, Outreach
2010
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Niall Walker, Design
Lisa Watt, Marketing
2011
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Niall Walker, Design
Lisa Watt, Marketing
2012
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Ash Paterson, Design
Leo Glaister, Marketing
2013
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Roisin Anne Hughes, Marketing
2014
Steven Thomson, Producer
Alphonso Harrison, Administrator
Alan Miller, Press
Laura McIntyre, Marketing
Outspoken Arts Scotland is regularly funded by Glasgow City Council.
Glasgow, with a population of around 600,000, is Scotland’s largest city and is the commercial capital of Scotland. It is the UK’s largest retail centre after London.
Situated in the Central Belt of Scotland on the west coast it is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
Glasgow is one of Europe’s top 20 financial centres and is home to many of Scotland’s leading businesses.
The city houses many wonderful municipal art galleries and museums, first class sports and leisure facilities; excellent theatres; an array of restaurants, pubs and clubs; and beautiful parks. Spectacular countryside and coastal views are within easy reach and the city is only 42 miles from Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh.
The city is administered by Glasgow City Council with the municipal headquarters, the City Chambers, situated in George Square, at the heart of the city.
The City Council works with partner agencies including Scottish Enterprise, the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board, Greater Glasgow Health Board, public sector organisations, educational institutions and the private and voluntary sectors to raise the profile of the city and make it an attractive place to live in, study in, work in, or visit.
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