25 May 2023
Taking creative approaches to regenerate communities: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
SURF and the Scottish Government work together to identify and highlight excellence and innovation in initiatives that address social and economic challenges in disadvantaged communities through the annual SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.
Overview
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow 25th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards linking creative arts and culture into regeneration initiatives. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Creative Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.
Workshop guests will firstly hear from a project representative from the ‘Creative Regeneration’ category winner Alchemy Film & Arts. Based in Hawick, Alchemy provide year-round access to cultural and creative learning opportunities and deliver Scotland’s biggest experimental film festival.
Guests will then hear from highly commended Findhorn Bay Arts. Working throughout Moray, FBA bring increased creative opportunities and investment to the region.
Finally, guests will then hear from the second of the highly commended projects Centrestage. Centrestage, Ayrshire’s Arts Academy, allows people in East Ayrshire to participate in creative and expressive arts.
The event will close with presentations from Creative Scotland providing detail on their current priorities towards supporting artists and creative arts organisations, and an overview of the work by Creative Lives. It will then open up to a discussion on National Policy.
The SURF Awards ‘Creative Regeneration’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of Creative Scotland, Bellsmyre Development Trust, Historic Environment Scotland and RIG Arts – were particularly enthused by the projects ability to leave a lasting impact in their community within all three shortlisted projects in this category.
This workshop is being delivered with support from Creative Scotland.
Programme
10:00am Registration and networking
10:30am Welcome and Introduction: Euan Leitch, Chief Executive, SURF
10:35am Presentation, Alchemy Film & Arts: Tom Swift, Alchemy Film &Arts
10:50am Presentation, Findhorn Bay Arts: Kresanna Aigner, Findhorn Bay Arts
11:00am Presentation, Centrestage: Fiona McKenzie, Centrestage
11:10am Questions and Comments with project representatives
11:25am Presentation, Creative Scotland: Karen Dick, Creative Scotland
11:35am Presentation, Creative Lives: David McDonald, Creative Lives
11:45am Open Discussion on National Policy
12:05pm Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Euan Leitch and Emma Scott, Events, Information & Communications Manager, SURF
12:15pm Close and Networking Lunch
