Support Us

Tag: What We Do Now

WWDN Digital: Introductory Webinar

#image_title

March 6 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

This online webinar will launch our programme of digital media sessions taking place in the newly established digital suites of A’ the Airts (Sanquhar) and XL Youth Projects (Langholm) alongside workshops at The Stove (Dumfries).

Facilitators and hosts from across this diverse programme will share their work and approach to digital working covering topics from print, radio, film, music production, gaming, and podcasting to basic IT skills. Though activities are mostly aimed at a younger audience there will be sessions available for all ages and this introductory session is open to all who are interested.

Take a look at the Digital Programme on offer:

A’ THE AIRTS: GO DIGITAL
XCEL PROJECTS: PLAY DIGITAL
THE STOVE NETWORK: OFF THE MARGIN
Our Facilitators

Derry Rogerson: Passionate about all things IT and web design, I’ve recently returned to Scotland to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. Founding Battlestations LTD, my company specializes in gaming streaming and content creation. With a deep-seated love for hardware and software across various technologies, I’m dedicated to delivering top-notch gaming experiences. Through Battlestations LTD, I aim to push boundaries, inspire creativity, and foster community within the gaming world. Join me on this exciting journey as we explore the limitless possibilities of gaming and content creation together.

Saskia Coulson (CT Productions): Coulson & Tennant (Saskia Coulson & Colin Tennant) are an award winning artist partnership who develop projects through a lens-based practice, combining genres of documentary and fine art. They create artistic, documentary and environmental work for a wide range of clients and organisations as well as their own personal projects. They have travelled to some of the most remote places in the world but their favourite place is Dumfries & Galloway and they have been living in Thornhill for the past three years. They have worked on many film and photography projects across the region but also enjoy sharing their passion for image making and all things digital through the various teaching projects they have been involved in.

Halina Rifai: Halina Rifai is a podcast producer, music writer, PR & digital marketer. She founded music site Podcart in 2009 and went on to become a Podcast Producer, working with the likes of The Big Light, BBC Scotland, The Ferret, Mental Health Foundation, Fringe of Colour and many more.  Podcasts she has worked on and continue to work on include Sheku Bayoh: The Inquiry, A Sonic Hug, Before the Applause and Word Up! Halina is Communications Manager for We Are Here Scotland – A space aimed at supporting and raising the voices of Black People and People of Colour creatives across Scotland. She is also co-curator of award-winning Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh live music series AMPLIFI.

Geoff McQueen: Geoff McQueen is a seasoned professional in the world of audio production. With a background in podcasting, radio production, and academia, he’s produced and presented for the BBC and several community radio stations across the UK. Geoff’s main interest lies in exploring the practical applications of innovative sound use. With a decade of solid experience in teaching at further and higher education levels, he’s committed to sharing his knowledge and shaping the next generation of audio creators. In his spare time, you’ll likely find him tinkering with audio equipment or running (slowly) in the hills of Dumfries and Galloway.

Kathleen Cronie: Mostly Ghostly, a quirky quartet of award-winning storytellers, are the creators of an eclectic range of ghost and local history tours based in Dumfries and Galloway. Thriving on their collective passion for history, folklore, and the supernatural, they bring the region’s hidden and curious aspects to life. Established in 2008, Mostly Ghostly’s dynamic collaborations and passionate delivery have made them known for warm welcomes and engaging experiences. Their commitment to promoting Dumfries and Galloway as a destination of discovery extends to founding the Festival of Folklore and can be seen through their various tailored events and community ventures across the region.

Craig Duncan: Is a friendly, creative game-making Scot experienced in design and production management. They started their game development journey in 2016 and haven’t looked back. Craig adores coming up with fun and novel experiences for players while working alongside diverse and talented teams. Having worked on 2 shipped games and backed up with the academic excellence of Abertay University, they continue with their game development journey as a freelancer.

This programme is supported by WWDN Network and funded through the Scottish Government Community Led Local Development Fund, administered from Dumfries and Galloway by Third Sector D&G.

Free

WWDN

View Organiser Website

Access Information: Level Access in rear of building through adjacent close to left-hand side of the Cafe (facing the front of the building). To ensure your experience with us is as best as it can be, please do let us know if you have any specific access requirements and we’d be happy to help. Please email Kevin or Sal on: [email protected] or phone 01387 252435 and speak with one of our team. We are able to provide walk-throughs of the building before attending our events as well as assign seating before your arrival.

Categories
Opportunities Project Updates

Creative Commission – What We Do Now: Lockerbie

WWDN: Lockerbie

(This Opportunity is Now Closed)

Lockerbie Old School (LOS) in collaboration with the Stove Network are seeking to commission a creative practitioner(s) to work with LOS, its board, and local partners in engaging the community through an arts project exploring themes of possibility, identity, and re-connection.

Fee: £3,500*

Time: Flexible. To be agreed in early stages of the commencement of the project.

*There is a separate production budget associated with the project for materials and other expenses.

The Brief:

The creative practitioner(s) will work in Lockerbie, based at their High Street location, and use their practice to develop a project/series of events/artwork which invites the involvement of local people. The creative practitioner(s) will lead this co-created process to inspire new connections between people in the town and through this for possible future identities for the town to emerge which can be part of LoS’s ongoing work for the local community to take charge of its own future.

Following the key themes of; Possibility, Identity, Re-Connection, the creative practitioner(s) will work with key partners, community members and the residents of the town, it is expected the creative practitioner(s) will connect with individuals and groups in skills-based activity and conversation to understand, interpret and explore the future identity of the town.

LOS are eager to collaborate with a creative practitioner with a ‘hands-on’ practice in textiles, design, or craft to engage the community in new skills, utilising a dynamic creative practice to inspire and awaken new perspectives, ideas and hopes for the future. The project, it is expected, may serve as a prototype for forthcoming arts and community activities involving the wider community locally and regionally.

The commissioned artist will work with the Stove Network and LOS in determining the direction and approach of the project through a research an development period agreed by all parties, outlining key interaction points and determining the most beneficial approach to realise the project’s aims.

WWDN: Lockerbie, contributes in part to the ongoing ‘creative place-making* network’ of Dumfries & Galloway entitled What We Do Now. A collaborative project placing creative practitioners with community anchor organisations across Dumfries & Galloway, working with communities in a co-created process to explore and develop imaginative possibilities for residents, communities, and groups across the region.

The project, initially funded by Culture Collective, is one within a national network of socially-engaged, community-based creative practice across Scotland. LoS alongside the Stove Network are eager to hear from practitioners with experience in community-embedded practice, workshop facilitation and production.

*We define Creative Placemaking as: a community led approach that uses creative activity to support collective decision-making and positive change for people and the places they live.

About Lockerbie Old School:

The Lockerbie Old School Community Hub (LoS) are an anchor organisation for change within the town of Lockerbie and the DG11 postal region, aiming to put local people at the heart of regeneration efforts for their town. The Trust is run by a Board of volunteers who are working towards a number of significant projects in Lockerbie. Having been successful in gaining ownership of the former Academy through a Community Asset Transfer they have advanced plans to develop a not for profit but financially viable Community Venue where the people of Lockerbie can gather, learn and grow as a community. LoS are in the process of acquiring a permanent base on the High Street. It is intended that the space be a test-bed for future activity and will feature a community workshop space as well as act as a ‘front door’ to the Lockerbie Old School project for the local community to engage in.

How to Apply

To apply please send the following before 5pm, Wednesday 15th December 2022

  • Letter of Interest. This should tell us why you are interested in the commission, why you think you and your practice are suited to this opportunity and give us an outline idea of how you might approach the project if you were successful (NB we are NOT looking for fully formed project proposals at this stage – we are committed to arts practice whereby a project is formed by being in a place and working with the people there)
  • CV. This should tell us about your personal history, your experience and to date and give us an idea of the skills that you have.
  • Up to 5 examples of previous work. If you do not have 5 don’t worry – we are committed to making opportunities for people at all stages of their career, this is exactly the kind of thing we can discuss in an initial chat. We are looking for you to show us what you do in the way that you are most comfortable and happy with and can accept submissions in weblinks, photo files, sound files, or physical works (though please don’t send us original artworks!).

Please send your application to [email protected]

Submissions should not exceed 10MB in size. If you want to send or deliver a physical submission our address is: The Stove, 100 High Street, Dumfries DG1 2BJ

Selection Process

We are keen to hear from practitioners at all stages of development and from all disciplines. We’d encourage anyone interested in finding out more about the opportunity to get in touch for an initial informal chat – particularly people at earlier stages of their careers as we can explain more about what is involved in a project like this and what to include in an application. Please email [email protected] and we’ll arrange a time to talk (BSL interpretation is available)

It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you. We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role.

OPTIONAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FORM

Categories
News Project Updates

Sanquhar in Focus

Image credit – Baillie Reid, Sanquhar Camera Club

Young people have been exploring Sanquhar life through a lens and documenting what it is like to grow up in the town. Part of the What We Do Now (WWDN) project, Sanquhar in Focus is the first exhibition of Sanquhar Camera Club (SCC ). It opens on and runs to Friday 8 April to Friday 6 May 2022. 

The five talented young photographers and filmmakers who formed the SCC are Elliot Brydon Brown, Tarian Hunter, Baillie Reid, Hannah Smith and Hollie Walker. They are supported by WWDN artists, Colin Tennant and Saskia Coulson, who have delivered talks and presentations in Sanqhuar Academy including a six-week photo workshop programme.

Image credit – Sanquhar Camera Club

On the creation of the club Saskia Coulson said: “often as artists, we are invited to join an existing group or community to collaborate or share a certain skill set with. For What We Do Now in Sanquhar, a community of young people interested in creative practice didn’t exist from the get-go and there were months of working with A’ the Airts, the local community and secondary school to establish the collective.” 

“I wish this group had been running for years because I love it.”

SCC Student Hollie Walker

SCC students have emersed themselves in learning about the creative industries and developing a wide range of photographic and filmmaking skills. Many of these skills were brand new to the group. 

“I didn’t even know I liked photography and filmmaking, but I really enjoy it now and want to become a professional photographer.”

SCC Student Baillie Reid

The Sanquhar in Focus exhibition of new work by the Sanquhar Camera Club opens on Friday 8  April from 4 to 6pm at A’ the Airts (8-12 High Street, Sanquhar, DG4 6BL). It runs until Friday 6 May during regular opening times. 

Image credit – Sanquhar Camera Club

Sanquhar Spring Half Term Activities 

A’ the Airts is hosting a programme of creative events and workshops for young people during the April half-term holiday.  to learn about other areas of the creative industries including graphic design, screen printing, sculpture and many more. 

The events and workshops, open for all young people between 13-18, have been organised by What We Do Now (WWDN) artists, Colin Tennant and Saskia Coulson and emerging Sanquhar artist, Jack Stancliffe. 

Colin said “we’ve invited several very talented creatives who are all from Dumfries and Galloway and in their 20s and 30s to lead the workshops. We’ve done this because we want the young people of Sanquhar to meet and learn from young adults who come from a similar area and background and are working professionally in different disciplines across the creative industries. Essentially, it’s about connecting them with inspirational people to help them understand that anything can be possible through creativity.”

Find out more

Screen Printing and Sanquhar Stamp Design, Thursday 7 & Friday 8 April, 11.30am to 4pm

Post Office Sculpture Building, Saturday 9 April, 12noon – onwards.

Fashion & Design – The Sanquhar Pattern with Kirsty Geddes, Monday 11 April, 1 to 4pm

Publications & Magazines – DIY (Do It Yourself) ZINES with Callai Watson, Tuesday 12 April, 1 to 4pm

Music Videos – Creating Music Videos and Band Photos with Ruari Barber-Fleming, Wednesday 13 April, 1 to 4pm

Categories
News Project Updates

Patrick Rooney on What We Do Now, Dumfries & Sanquhar

As the Artists, place hubs and the communities of the five towns participating in What We Do Now, begin to move into the next phase of the project, we caught up with Patrick Rooney, one of the two What We Do Now documentarians. 

Patrick Rooney – Image Credit: Kirstin McEwan

Patrick has recently spent time with the artists and communities in two of the five towns engaged the What We Do Now project.

Capturing the progress in both Northwest Dumfries and Sanquhar, Patrick shares with us two short films and his thoughts on the work being carried out in by the artists so far…

Northwest Dumfries

“What excites me most about documenting this project in Northwest Dumfries, in partnership with LIFT, is the goal that the three artists; Rosie, Alice and Andy have set out to achieve from the start, which is to build an art cabin for the community to use in Lochside.

I’m really like this concept that and I’m excited to see this come to fruition because it has so much potential to positively impact that community and make a difference to their lives.”

In this clip we get a brief glimpse into the collaborative and relaxed way of working that Rosie, Alice and Andy have together, showing how their creative process is a positive, open experience for everyone to be involved with from the start.

Sanquhar

“For me, the most interesting aspect of Colin and Saskia’s project in Sanquhar is their interaction with young people in the area.

Their efforts to educate and bring young people together to create digital art has been really positive. Seeing those involved get excited about being creative, learning not be afraid to share their ideas and express themselves is a really wonderful thing and I’m thrilled to be able to document it.”

This short video gives a taste of how personable and engaging these workshops are and shows the opportunities that the young people living in Sanquhar have been offered by Colin and Saskia’s work as part of the WWDN project.

Categories
News Opportunities

Work With Us:

We’re looking for a Content Coordinator to join the team

Website Content Coordinator

Contract Term: March 2022 – January 2023

Responsible to: Head of Communications & Engagement  (HoC&E)

Fee: £6,000

Equates to: 1.5 Days Per Week (£600 PCM)

The Stove Network, Scotland’s only arts led development trust, are looking to recruit a website and social media content coordinator to work specifically on our Culture Collective project, ‘What We Do Now’.  Interested? Keep reading…

You’ll be working on a new website due to launch at the end March 2022. The aim of this role is, initially, to provide content migration support during the pre launch phase of the site and to ensure all necessary content is included on the website and is laid out in a way that suits the user. Once the website is launched, you’ll work collaboratively with the Artistic Director and HoC&E to ensure consistent brand messages across all touchpoints, be responsible for writing, proofreading, and editing content, and sometimes sourcing and commissioning creative practitioners to deliver audio and visual assets.

We are looking for a candidate who can think both creatively and analytically and someone who is able to work with internal and external stakeholders to understand their projects and able to develop exciting and engaging messaging.

The successful candidate will receive technical training and support from The Stove Networks’s Web Developer & Analyst.

Key Responsibilities

  • General maintenance of the website and associated social media channels 
  • Work with the HofC&E to formulate both short-term and long-term digital content strategies to meet aims of the WWDN project
  • Writing, editing and proofreading content
  • Work collaboratively with the AD and HoC&E to plan and develop site content, style and layout
  • Develop an editorial calendar highlighting key project milestones
  • Identify and commission additional content support where needed eg: copywriting, photography, graphic design, videography, etc.
  • Utilise analytics tools to track website traffic and to report on content engagement levels

Desired Experience

(Some training will be provided)

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Highly computer literate
  • Experienced with digital analytic software
  • Analysis and report writing
  • Experience of keyword placement and SEO best practises
  • Experience in the management of social media platforms
  • Creativity and the ability to develop original content that provokes engagement
  • Able to translate complex information into clear and concise messaging
  • Experience of editing images and videos

To be considered for this role please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected]

Closing date for applications: Midnight 27th February 2022

We welcome applications from everyone and anyone who feels they can fulfil this role as described.

Categories
News Project Updates

WWDN – Project Update

As the WWDN project develops, we’re excited to share with you an update from the towns, community groups (place hubs) and artists involved.

Currently in the research and development stage of the yearlong initiative, each of the five towns represented by the project, have begun to outline their respective project approaches, in collaboration with the commissioned artists and place hubs. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing with you, the ideas evolving in each place and hearing from the community groups from each town, with video and images provided by our Documentarian Duo, Patrick Rooney and Kirstin McEwan.

Stranraer is a town in a stage of transition, dealing with the effects of post-industrial decline but with a wealth of human and natural resources.

Stranraer Pier
Stranraer Millennium Centre

Working through the project Place Hub, Stranraer Millennium Centre, a state-of-the-art building, facilitating a diverse range of community activities; artists, Hope London and Rory Laycock have begun to connect with community groups.

Hope London
Rory Laycock

Testing ideas and encouraging participation through a series of activities involving visual art, animation, music, words and new technologies they aim to encourage people to release their passions about the community.

Their work has begun with seaside-style mini-murals with blank, comic-book thought and speech bubbles for people to dream about possibilities, insert their thoughts and comments, and take photos which can then be shared with the wider community via social media.

It is their creativity and ideas of people in the town that the artists aim to build into their project.

For more information about the artists and to follow their progress click here

The NW Dumfries project is called ‘Living in Flats Together’ and will see artists Alice Francis, Rosie Giblin and Andy Brooke work with the residents of the c.70 flats that make up the six housing blocks on Dunlop Road in Lochside.

Rosie Giblin
Alice Francis
Andy Brooke

The commissioned artists are working through the project Place Hub, LIFT D+G and building a working relationship with Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership who own and manage the flats.

Angie Gilmour explains more about LIFT D&G below:

The artists ran a workshop activity as part of the recent Lochside Gala and got a fantastic response from community members, their focus now is on an initial series of pop-up events for the Dunlop Road residents which will involve food and creative activities, this will be first of series of events aimed at co-creating with residents a shared set of aims for their year together.

The artists hope to develop new spaces for longer-term activities with residents through the year and co-create some meaningful improvements for Dunlop Road.

Community Sculpture at LIFT D&G

Follow Andy’s personal blog here and find out more about the artists and follow their journey here.

Stay tuned for the remaining updates from the towns, community groups (place hubs) and artists involved…

OutPost Arts will work with artists Jim Buchanan and Sian Yeshe to re-activate existing play and meeting spaces, and create new digital spaces for young people focusing on themes of ‘Ownership & Voice’.

Sian Yeshe

Emerging artist, Sian Yeshe, is working with young people in Langholm through the Arts Bronze Award in Langholm High School, exploring the role of film and filmmaking in the creative expression of young people’s voices. Whilst in residence, Sian is exploring the use of digital technology to create in collaboration with young people, an online space, owned, managed, and programmed by people under 25 in Langholm.

Jim Buchanan

Artist Jim Buchanan is exploring play as a means of activating forgotten spaces within the town. From play parks to trails, Buchanan is focused on uniting community voices around the possibilities of play through a variety of creative activities from parkour to projection to illuminate and inspire new imaginative possibilities for the future use of these areas.

Find out more about Jim, Sian and Outpost Arts here

A multipurpose arts centre, A’ the Airts, works with the community in the production and development of community festivals, art projects and related activity.

A’ The Airts, Sanquhar

Artists Jack Stancliffe and Saskia Coulson and Colin Tennant are working with A’ the Airts to engage young people in a creative project, exploring their relationship to their town and their voice within it.

Jack Stancliffe

Jack Stancliffe, a creative practitioner in fields of education, amateur art, and contemporary performance, will be facilitating a playful and energetic approach, inviting young people into an artistic response to the town, where it was, where it’s going and how we get there.

Saskia Coulson & Colin Tennent, CT Productions

Filmmakers and photographers, Saskia Coulson and Colin Tennant, will work collaboratively with young people to create visual stories that explore and share their understanding of identity and connection with place, and will invite other creative practitioners from music, design and gaming to connect with and inspire the young people of Sanquhar.

Saskia Coulson and Colin Tennant prepping for interview with Patrick Rooney.

For more information about the artists and to follow the project, click here

The What We Do Now project, in Castle Douglas, has begun by finding practical ways for the community to meet the commissioned artists, Martin Danziger and Kiera Manson.

Martin Danziger

The artists attended Castle Douglas’ food and bike festival in July, running three short circus workshops for children, on Market Hill in the Talking Horse marquee, which was very well received by the community!

Kiera Manson

Martin and Keira have engaged an action research approach to get to know CDDF and the community through participating in a live event to understand a better what the community needs and hopes for.

Through conversations, and active participation, we hope to begin to shape our What We Do Now project in Castle Douglas around community interests and needs. Our hopes are to build a vision that incorporates community arts as central to our development of Castle Douglas as a family friendly town and a place for creative play.

Discover more about the artists and CDDF here

Skip to content