CUTS in ARTS FUNDING, 15th November

We had good news of minimum pricing for alcohol which the Scottish government has been pushing for 5 years now. Scotland is now the first country in the world to do so, after the UK supreme court ruled in its favour.

The idea is to push up the price of cheap booze, such as cider at £3 a bottle to £11.52 a bottle. Ten years ago we didn’t have this amount of cheap alcohol, cheaper than water!

Alcohol costs the NHS a great deal. Some wonder why the retailers should benefit financially from this 50p a unit.

Today I also heard the director of the Traverse theatre Edinburgh, speak of severe cuts in the Scottish Arts. Since the UK government deregulated Lottery tickets and the price has gone up, the funds being raised are down over 15%, with a reduction of 300m in 2016. There have been several press articles on this issues which is a huge concern for Scotland's major festivals such as Celtic Connections and Edinburgh Fringe. Lottery income makes up 40 per cent of Creative Scotland’s and SportScotland’s total income.

I had an IDEA!!

Can we use the extra money raised with minimum pricing for alcohol to help fund our ARTS! – for music concerts, art exhibitions, theatre shows, top festivals such as Celtic Connections and Edinburgh festivals.

For me the arts are a life saver – they offer people hopes and dreams, that can often make the biggest difference. I'd also like to see accessible arts - with funding for local and community arts, music, dance or drama.  To encourage the free Fringe access and for youth music, art and drama.  All the arts need healthy grassroots funding also. Festivals like Celtic connections do offer Education programs, free open mic sessions and much more! 

Arts cuts are coming warns Creative Scotland in letter to cultural companies.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15591707.Arts_cuts_are_coming__warns_Creative_Scotland_in_letter_to_cultural_companies/

ARTS companies across Scotland could lose their funding as cash for culture falls in the coming years, the nation's main cultural funder has warned.

A reduction in National Lottery money, has led to Iain Munro, deputy chief executive of Creative Scotland, to warn arts, theatre, dance, literature and music companies that some will lose out in looming spending round.

He admitted it is "unrealistic" to expect funding of companies to be the same from 2018 to 2021 as it is now, given the expected cut in lottery and, potentially, government funds.

Westminster ignoring Holyrood ministers over warnings of an arts crisis.

http://www.thenational.scot/news/15655164.Westminster_ignores_Holyrood_s_warning_of_an_arts_crisis_after_more_lottery_cash_is_cut/

Dougie MacLean at Milngavie folk club

‘Dougie captured the mood with his embracing warm and spiritual voice’

He has become something of a legend for many in Scotland and his songs have deep connections to the land. Dougie grew up in Perthshire where he now runs the MacLean Perthshire Amber festival – his grandfather was a shepherd and his father a gardener. Both his parents taught him the love of music – his mother played melodeon and his father fiddle. His family came from Mull, where they were crofters. Dougie now runs the old school both he and is father attended, as his studio.

For his first set he sang songs from his new album, 'New Tomorrow’ along with older favourites -   

‘Shadow of the Mountain’, ‘Talking with my Father’ when he spoke of his father walking over the moors to school. He spoke of his travels to gig at many far flung places. He sang of the ‘Singing Land’ (Shine on Your Singing Tree), 'Holding On', 'Feel So Near', and 'Holding Back'.

And a moving song too to his grandson ‘New Tomorrow’ with the words – If time will be our friend / I’ll help you to defend/ Your new tomorrows. If fear should enter in /You’ll find me hiding in the wings / Ever near you.

He sang ‘Broken Wings’ at the start of his second set and ‘Child of this Place.'  We all sang along to - Will you Catch me if I’m Falling ‘On This Wild and Windy Night’, Dougie enthusiastically encourages his audience to sing his choruses.His songs are often poignant and tender. And we sang his well loved 'Caledonia’, and ‘She Loves me when I’m Gone’. 

His Encore song was ‘This Love will Carry me.' 

His ’Caledonia’ has become part of Scottish culture – and is sung at weddings, major events and played at the Edinburgh Tattoo. He wrote this song while on a French beach and thinking of his Scottish homeland. He is also a passionate supporter of freedom for Scotland. One fan spoke of the emotions at Stirling castle Hogmanay event a few years ago when Dougie played Caledonia at the new year and hoped that Westminster might hear the singing!

Dougie knows the beauty of keeping things simple – with catchy choruses and also hidden depths.

the Friel Sisters

 *He was ably supported by the award-winning and talented Friel Sisters – whose roots are in Ireland’s Donegal. They included a quality guitarist from Japan.

Celtic Connections 25th festival 2018!

Karen Matheson & Julie Fowlis

Celtic Connections festival celebrates its 25^th anniversary 2018 - with an ambitious and eclectic line-up of world class musicians from all corners of the roots, folk, world, Americana, and indie music world.

I’ve enjoyed some of my best ever concerts at Celtic Connections – The opening concert with the GRIT orchestra, Cara Dillon, Rura the Old Fruitmarket, Jerry Douglas and his band, the legendary Rab Noakes and Dick Gaughan. Mary Chapman Carpenter, Richard Thompson, The Chieftains, Punch Brothers, concert for Gerry Rafferty; concert for Michael Marra.

the awesome Transatlantic Sessions, beautiful Gaelic singers – Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Rhiannon Gibbons,

Some at the bigger venues, some at intimate smaller venues and the many medium sized. In fact Glasgow is ideal, providing colour, history and upbeat vibes. Celtic takes over most of Glasgow’s renowned venues from the warm hub at the concert hall, the atmospheric Fruitmarket, the world famous Barrowlands, intimacy Oran Mor, the historic St Andrews in the Square.

There is always such as unique vibe – from the behind the scenes meetings, the quality musicians who come worldwide, the exciting new talents at the Danny Kyle Stage, the fun Fruitmarket ceilidhs, the famous names, late sessions and so much more.  

Celtic Connections offers subtle intonation, creative musicianship, artistic storytelling, friendly collaborations

Thursday 18 January - Sunday 4 February 2018. The 18 days of the festival will brighten up the winter nights with one-off musical collaborations, talks, workshops, film screenings, ceilidhs, art exhibitions, free events and late night sessions. Celtic Connections festival now has over 300 events across 26 stages and an attendance figure of over 100,000. Begun 25 years ago, some wondered how successful a time January might be, but it has proved that fine music certainly warms the soul in mid-winter nights!

Aly Bain

Highlights of the 25^th Festival

Following its stand out opening concert at the Celtic Connections 2015, the GRIT Orchestra of folk, jazz and classical musicians, will world premier Martyn Bennett’s Bothy Culture at the Hydro, arranged by Greg Lawson. They will be joined by stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill (55m views YouTube). The GRIT Orchestra is a unique ensemble of Scotland’s diverse contemporary music scene, a scene that Bennett himself helped pave the way for.

Blazin Fiddles

Gaelic singers with the Scottish National orchestra – Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheosn.

There will be a tribute concert for Dundee bard, the late great Michael Marra with friends and fans, at the Glasgow Pavilion.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS include - American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, Shetland’s Fiddler’s Bid, Finnish seven-piece Frigg, award-winning Kate Rusby, punk folk band the Levellers, Irelands Sharon Shannon, Skerryvore, The Mavericks, Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean.  

Highlanders Blazin’ Fiddles, have their 20^th anniversary show, with Jenna Reid, Rua MacMillan, Kristan Harvey, Anna Massie and Angus Lyon – PLUS Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Catriona Macdonald, Iain MacFarlane, Allan Henderson, Marc Clement and Andy Thorburn.

The ever popular Celtic finale, Transatlantic Sessions concert will have special guests, the US country queen Suzy Bogguss, duo The Secret Sisters, Southern gospel, bluegrass and swing; Arkansas instrumentalist Shawn Camp; blue grass players Douglas in the Flatt & Earls of Leicester, Dubliner Daoirí Farrell, and North Uist Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.

This year the festival will partner with Ireland with many well known and emerging Irish talent appearing at the festival.

Tickets on sale from Wednesday 25 October 2017.  The festival will run from Thursday 18 January - Sunday 4 February 2018.

Follow the conversation @ccfest

For the programme line-up and tickets : www.celticconnections.com

**Celtic Connections 2018 will embrace music from the past to music of the present and will look ahead to the future of an increasingly experimental and exciting music scene. With this year’s line-up and collaborations the festival will show how much Scotland’s music scene has changed over the last 25 years, with more musical styles and cross genre fusions of jazz, classical, folk, world and electronica.

Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Celtic Connections, said: “Since the inception of Celtic Connections in 1994 the Scottish music scene has developed and diversified hugely. When the festival began there was still significant compartmentalisation of genres, which although has its place at times, has become less prevalent over the years. The influence and inspiration that the traditional music scene has had across the whole musical landscape in Scotland and worldwide has helped to make the journey of Celtic Connections all the more adventurous and exciting. As an internationally renowned festival we continually strive for better and the 25^th edition is no exception. Audiences will be treated to performances from some of the best artists from across the world and an array of unique collaborations and an eclectic mix of world music.”

Brexit threat to Scottish Musicians

The weak pound is having a negative effect on major Scottish arts and music festivals, such as Celtic Connections and Edinburgh International festival. Musicians, particularly folk, jazz, and classical depend on collaborating and touring across Europe. Fashion and the arts and design also thrive on these European collaborations. Scottish musicians are campaigning for exemptions for musicians for ease of travel across Europe.

The Scottish duo The Proclaimers are warning that Brexit could be catastrophic to Scotland’s major festivals and also for touring musicians. http://www.heraldscotland.com/Fringe_no_more

Brexiteers claim Britain will now instead look ‘Globally’ to china, Australia, US – while maintaining links to Europe. I’ve no idea what they mean. Scotland’s links to Europe run much deeper, plus Europe is a closer trading partner than these far flung trading partners.

RATHER than "Bathgate no more" and "Linwood no more" we could soon be singing "Fringe no more" and "Celtic Connections no more".  The Proclaimers - famed for their anthem 'Letter from America' - are among a host of Scottish music stars who are warning that Brexit risks devastating Scottish culture. A new campaign by the Musicians' Union is warning that Brexit that will usher an era "disastrous" decline for Scotland's flagship cultural festivals.

Iconic events such as Glasgow's Celtic connections and the Edinburgh International Festival face being devastated by restrictions on European musicians visiting the UK after Brexit, campaigners say. There are also concerns that the careers of Scottish musicians will be damaged by the limits put on them in terms of working across continental Europe.

Fiona Hyslop, SNP Culture secretary at The Lorient Interceltic Festival 2017 in France spoke of how freedom of movement within the EU is fundamental to Scotland’s culture. Scotland was the ‘country of honour’ with a sold-out programme, to highlight the important contributions from the EU in developing the Scottish cultural sector) “European cultural collaboration is central to Scotland’s open international cultural outlook and EU membership is a very important modern dimensi‎on to this.

Lisardo Lombardia, Director of Festival Interceltique de Lorient:  "When the festival was born in 1971, Europe was only a project in construction. This festival has made a choice: to build bridges and not walls. The festival has always welcomed Scotland and it has been one of the festival’s most faithful supporters. The free circulation of culture and ideas, particularly for artists and works of art, has helped Scotland develop its strong reputation in arts, music and creativity and become a major country for European culture.  We want that to continue in the future.

“Despite the anxiety caused by Brexit, we will continue to support the free circulation of cultures and ideas, in particular for artists and works of art. This is what has helped Scotland develop such a strong reputation in arts, music and creativity. It has helped Scotland to become a major country for European culture." 

(PS  Why will Europe give Britain as good a trading deal as members of the EU? Its ridiculous. Yet Brexiteers want their cake and eat it too. They believe the EU will offer free trade with no strings attached and not agreeing to EU regulations!?  Scotland is run by incompetents.

They have truly messed up running Scotland’s oil and gas industry too – not simply mismanaged but screwed up.  Why does Scotland sleep walk into this noose as if we have no other choices?  It is really possible that those in Scotland might do a much much better job running our own resources!! Yes really!)

Either the UK joins EFTA - not likely as UK economy too big – or we crash out with nothing.