Press Release 30 August 2016
Hebrides Contemporary Arts to Launch at An Lanntair on 8th Sept
On the 8th of September, An Lanntair will launch Hebrides Contemporary Arts (HCA), a new artist support scheme for local new and emerging artists and creative practitioners.
Funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the project will be led by a new member of staff, the artist, curator and An Lanntair’s new Artist Support Coordinator, Alex Boyd.
HCA will offer visual artists, musicians, theatre practitioners, writers and others looking to get their creative careers off the ground all sorts of exciting new opportunities; from mentoring and coaching to workshops with industry professionals, funding advice, networking and sharing events, portfolio reviews, exhibitions and even concerts.
An Lanntair is a hub for the growth of the creative industries in the islands. We seek to build on this role by opening our doors to new local artists, providing real industry opportunities for development and learning, and helping to bring networks of local creative enterprises together to share and collaborate.
Join us for the first sharing and launch event of this exciting new scheme on Thursday the 8th of September at 7pm.
Elly Fletcher, Chief Executive of An Lanntair said: “This is a very exciting and important moment in An Lanntair’s work with the local artist community. An Lanntair has such an important role to play as a hub for the support and growth of emerging talent from the islands. What HCA will do is offer real opportunities and real resources in a diverse programme of support. I hope that more and more of the incredibly talented artists from the islands will start to access these opportunities and to benefit from connecting, networking and even collaborating together on the programme.”
A call for artists will be issued in the autumn and you can find out more and check for opportunities here:www.lanntair.com/for-artists/artists-resources/
Info on the launch night –
• The night will see the launch of Hebrides Contemporary Arts (HCA) a new An Lanntair initiative dedicated to helping the creative community. Alex Boyd will introduce the project and his role and upcoming opportunities.
• Artist Geoff Stear will give a short talk about his work and give a tour around his new exhibition iNorge.
• Live debut of Mother Night a new Stornoway band featuring Callum Macleod and Fraser Crosby.
• Pocket Cinema will be previewing exclusive tasters of some short films to be shown in the Autumn.
• Artists makers and musicians will have the chance to sign up to the new Mentoring and Support Scheme.
The launch of Hebrides Contemporary Arts will share several exciting opportunities such as exhibitions, workshops, publications and mentoring sessions. Several artists have already signed up for one on one mentoring sessions, receiving help on topics such as how to set up a business, support for making new work, and identifying what skills need to be developed.
We ask that any artists, musicians, writers and others working in the creative fields come along to our launch night on September 8th to find out more, or get in touch via alexboyd@lanntair.com to find out more about the scheme and how it might benefit them.
About Alex Boyd:
Alex Boyd is a photographer and curator based in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Educated at the University of Glasgow, his work has been widely shown internationally with solo exhibitions at the Scottish Parliament, as well as group exhibitions at the Royal Academy, Royal Ulster Academy and Royal Scottish Academy. He is best known for his collaboration ‘Sonnets’ with Scots Makar Edwin Morgan. In 2012 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Art (FRSA). In 2013 he was Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye. His work is held in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Photographic Society, the Royal Scottish Academy, and the Yale Centre for British Art in the US.
- Notes to Editor:
- For more information on Hebrides Contemporary Arts please contact Alex Boyd on alexboyd@lanntair.com
- For more information on An Lanntair please contact Head of Marketing Kathryn Lamont Smith at kathryn@lanntair.com or visit www.lanntair.com
- “Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. We do this by funding the charitable work of organisations with the ideas and ability to achieve positive change.