Council Welcomes Culture Minister
Published on:
11
December 2007
Tullibody will see the opening of a new art gallery today (Tuesday) by Culture Minister Linda Fabiani.
Ms Fabiani comes to Clackmannanshire one year after the area was granted Pathfinder status to see for herself what the prestigious award has meant for the county.
The visit will include a small outdoor light show in Tron Court of 'Tullibody from the Air'.
Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani said: "The Scottish Government is committed to making sure that people throughout Scotland have access to our wonderful cultural heritage.
"This project in Tullibody is an excellent example of how local artists and traders benefit from working together while opening up exciting cultural activities for the whole local community.
"I'm delighted to see first hand today the new art gallery in Clackmannanshire and the excellent work that is taking place here in one of the 13 Cultural Pathfinder projects we are supporting across Scotland."
The Pathfinder award was given to the Council's Culture and Community Services to commission an Artist in Residence. Digital Artist Kenny Bean has taken up that residence at 2 Tron Court, a former newsagents which has been converted into The Art Shop. Working in partnership with Tullibody Healthy Living Initiative, the shop has become a base for a wealth of arts and crafts activities attended by residents from across the county of all generations, experience and circumstances.
Kenny's main task is to record and evaluate participants in the Shop and he has now spent 50 of the planned 100 days on the project. His creative work with people, encouraging confidence and opinions has resulted in resident portraits and portfolios of their own photographic work, drawings made from working with light and film, enhanced DJ performance, and even aerial views of the town which have been used to encourage residents to have a sense of place. Kenny has collaborated with Tom Murray, one of Clackmannanshire's Writers in Residence and Bobbi Vetter, who was originally commissioned by the Tullibody Healthy Living Initiative to give arts and crafts classes.
The joint working of these three artists with the public has already resulted in a vast selection of art across all media including a listening booth where visitors can hear local people telling local stories, children's artwork that merges photography with painting and drawing, plans for video installation and even sketching walks.
The next stop for the Minister will be the Wee Gallery - a newly converted bus which is currently displaying a range recent work. The exhibition includes work from Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust, Retro Glass, and many individual artists working in the area.
To conclude the visit the Minister will visit a tiny gallery newly opened to the public in nearby Delph Road. Appropriately named The Vessel, the space will be the Council's new 'container' for Scotland's up and coming talent.
For sale and on show will be works by local artists and crafts people and students from Scotland's top art colleges. As another first for Scotland, this gallery will promote artisans that work with the Council to educate and inspire more creativity in the Wee County. All funds made from sales will create a new arts fund for the area.
The Vessel will be open 6 days a week (closed Mondays) - a great place to find unique gifts in time for Christmas. The gallery will sell, glass, jewellery, textiles and painting and pottery. Through this project Clackmannanshire Council celebrates heritage while creating a future for artisans once again.
Ron Carthy Culture and Community Services Manager said: "The Minister's visit marks the end of a busy and productive year for our service in Tullibody and elsewhere in the county. We have seen the installation of beautiful pieces of art in public places, the partnership with the Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust established, the purchase of the travelling gallery and plans prepared for a new library, museum and performance space in Alloa. We now have a really solid cultural base to build on next year and well into the future. We are the wee county with big plans and big ambition."
For more information please contact Kathleen O'Neill, Cultural Planner koneill@clacks.gov.uk
Notes to Editor
Visit timetable - December 11th 4.30-6.30pm, Tullibody.
Starting at 2 Tron Court and touring 3 venues.
1. The Art Shop - 2 Tron Court
2. The Wee Gallery - Clackmannanshire's new mobile gallery
3. The Vessel - Clackmannanshire's new gallery - a tiny container for new talent.