June 2020 News
Thursday 28th May
As we enter phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s route map through and out of the crisis, Out of the Blue are working with our partners to ensure we continue to do all we can to support the health and wellbeing of our staff, studio artists and the local community. Huge thanks to our supporters, stakeholders and funders for support which enables us in turn to provide for others. In this regard Out of the Blue have been making the case to the Scottish Government that the Business Support Grant should be made more widely accessible to creative industry studio based organisations. We are delighted that the eligibility criteria has now been amended accordingly.
Our partnership with the SCRAN Academy to provide free healthy meals to people in need continues to develop. By opening up the Drill Hall Cafe kitchen for meal preparation we continue to enable food distribution to those in need in Leith.
While the majority of our staff are currently furloughed, many of them are taking part in voluntary work to support their communities. We are very proud to work with such committed people who are supporting our communities to recover. Likewise, many of our studio artists are also finding ways to continue to make and share creative work as highlighted below.
We appreciate there are many people and organisations in dire need. We are pursuing all avenues open to us in order to secure the additional funding that will help ensure that all of our spaces can re-open and thrive in the new normal. We anticipate innovative and appropriate activity will be initiated. However, while we look forward to reopening as soon as we can, activity will resume in tune with the Scottish Government route map phases. The impact of the pandemic will be felt by many for months ahead.
So we are asking all of our supporters to help if they can, and in whatever way they can. So far we have raised over £5,000 from donations, which is helping us continue to sustain Out of the Blue and support the 200+ artists based in our studios. Thank you to all who have donated. Your support is appreciated and we are touched by the messages of support that have accompanied them. However, the challenge we face is substantial and the prospect of months of disruption means that we must continue to find ways in which to protect the financial sustainability of the organisation.
We know that many of you will have nothing to spare, but if you can make a donation, however big or small, it will help us in ensuring that Out of the Blue is here for another 25 years, doors open and welcoming everyone who needs a place to do their thing.
To support us, click here
Thank you!
Rob Hoon
Manager
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust
Gretna 100 5 year anniversary
It’s been 5 years since the Gretna 100 project at the Drill Hall – a participatory arts project which explored the impact on the Leith community of the worst train crash in British history. Watch Out of the Blue film maker Ray Bird’s brilliant documentary which details the project and features all of the wonderful project collaborators including Active Inquiry, Strange Town, Pilmeny Youth Centre and Citizen Curator. Gretna 100 documentary
Whilst Zine Project
Out of the Blue artists and businesses have been asked what they’ve been doing during the lockdown and how the pandemic has impacted their work/life. Their contributions, whether that be a photograph of new work, a painting or words illustrating how they’ve coped during the pandemic, will be collated to create a final risograph printed zine. Whilst Zine Project
Makers Raffle
Two Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios tenants Borja Moronta and Kirsty Jay Anderson have organised a raffle to raise funds for Edinburgh North East Foodbank which has already raised over £5000. 40 artists from across Scotland have donated work, including AMS artists Frances Priest, Helen Miles, Sarah Kwan, Lorna Brown and Edinburgh Ceramics Workshop artists Borja Moronta, Kjastudio, Emporium Julium and Lil Pots. It’s only £2 to enter and the raffle will be drawn on 31st May. Makers Raffle Page
