ARTS & CULTURE


£1m for Scottish culture/ tourism organisations


Cultural, heritage and tourism groups in Scotland are being invited to apply for a share of £1m to encourage collaboration as part of the Year of Creative Scotland. Te year-long campaign will celebrate


and promote Scottish culture and creativ- ity, with the National Lottery support made available through Creative Scotland. Groups are being urged to bid for fund-


ing before a final deadline of 31 January 2012, with the Year of Creative Scotland part of a wider countdown to the Homecoming celebrations scheduled for 2014.


2012 launch for London project


London’s Pleasure Gardens, a major new 60,000sq m (645,835sq ſt) arts and enter- tainment destination for the capital, is to open on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend next June. Te project, which will cre-


ate a new cultural attraction, was named as the winner of the Mayor of London and Newham Council’s ‘Meanwhile London’ competition. It is hoped the project will


act as a catalyst for further regeneration of the Royal Docks, while also celebrat- ing the capital’s diversity and supporting the cultural legacy of London 2012. Located within the Olympic Red Zone oppo-


Te scheme will lead to the transformation of London’s Pontoon Dock


site ExCeL, London’s Pleasure Gardens will transform Pontoon Dock into a new destina- tion for Londoners and tourists. Facilities will include a 36,000sq m (387,501sq ſt) outdoor


Te piece has been in Trafalgar Square since 2010


NMM/Art Fund launch Shonibare artwork appeal


A fundraising appeal has been unveiled by the National Maritime Museum (NMM) and the Art Fund in a bid to acquire Yinka Shonibare’s Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle. Te scale replica of Admiral Nelson’s his-


toric warship HMS Victory is currently on show at Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth until next year, following a two-year stay. A £50,000 grant has been announced by


the Art Fund, although £362,500 more is still required to secure the artwork, which is to move outside NMM’s Sammy Ofer wing. More details: http://lei.sr?a=V1t7U


£500,000 funding for Suffolk’s John Peel Centre


Te John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket, Suffolk, has been awarded £500,000 of funding by Biffa towards the next stage of its redevelopment. Named aſter late broadcaster John Peel,


the facility was the only cultural venue to be handed a Biffa Flagship Project grant and is now seeking additional match-funding. Te latest award will go towards a third


phase of work to transform the building into a fully-operational arts and events venue, which is due to start in May 2012 and includes new lighting and sound systems.


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live events space; water attractions such as a floating cinema; a boutique art hotel and res- taurant; and a multi-arts dome venue. Te Hub night gallery and dance arena; the


wilderness meadow and beach; a kids’ climb- ing area; and an adults’ playground are also planned. More details: http://lei.sr?a=w3u7g


New operator named for Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre


Liverpool’s Epstein Teatre, which was for- merly known as Te Neptune, is to be revived as a “lively music venue” aſter Liverpool Sound City was selected as its new operator. Liverpool City Council appointed Liverpool Sound City to operate Te Epstein Teatre


following a tender process and based on its plans for a “strong programme of music”. Te organisation also pledged to use the


building in order to showcase “cutting edge art and pop culture”, which is expected to range from drama productions to exhibitions.


ACE opens bid process for touring scheme


Arts Council England (ACE) has opened the bidding pro- cess for its new £45m Strategic touring programme, which aims to promote collaboration between cultural groups. New guidance for prospec-


tive applicants has also been published, with the scheme offering awards of at least £10,000 towards touring a range of arts disciplines. Te programme is open to


any individual or organisation that meets the eligibility cri- teria, while museums and libraries can also apply if work is “primarily arts focused”. It is one of the methods in which ACE is


Te £45m programme will support touring a number of arts disciplines Te strategic funding also complements


planning to invest strategic funding between 2012 and 2015 and is financed largely through its National Lottery income.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


a £1.04bn investment in National Portfolio groups and aims to target key areas and take advantage of new opportunities.


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011


image: 6348103963/shutterstock.com


image: james o jenkins


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