AGENDA
:— Art’s elder statesman
The ABSA Goodman and Garrett Awards for encouraging business support of the arts probably do not rate highly in terms of public recognition. but they do recognise a crucial area which might otherwise be taken for granted. For the first time. both the I994 awards will come to Scotland. with Nina Havergal. once of Scottish Ballet and the Edinburgh Festival. but now a freelance sponsorship consultant. taking the Garrett award for outstanding achievement in a professional capacity. while Alex Clark receives the Goodman award for volunteer services.
For Clark‘s nominee. the Glasgow Film Theatre. this is a well-deserved plaudit for a man whose commitment to the arts in Scotland has been lifelong. Clark. now 72. grew up in a Lanarkshire mining community where ‘we had to make our own culture'. and was involved with choirs and drama
from an early age. His first venture in
Alex Clark; arts for all
I raising sponsorship was to secure a deal I with the (‘o-operatiyc Society to aid a
tour of Glasgow Unity Theatre‘s Mm Slum/r1 Il’ee/r in the late 40s.
His principal posts in the arts included 7 being secretary of British Actors Equity
(1969-84) and the first STlIC Arts ()ff'lcer ( 1985-87). and although now retired. he still holds seats on the boards of various
organisations.including Mayfest. which he was instrumental in Iaunching.the Glasgow International Jazz Festival. GI’I‘. and his latest cause. the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust. which aims to establish an arts centre in a disused church in l.amlash ((“lark now lives in B rod ick‘ ).
The last two will be the beneficiaries ofthe Reed lilsevier-sponsored prize. with £8000 going to (il’f. and £2000 to the Arran Trust. (.‘lark cites the launch of Mayfest as his most satisfying achievement. both for the transformation which it has brought to the (ilasgow scene. and for the way irl which it represented a change of local authority attitudes at that time.
‘.-\cccssibility in the arts was my aim long before it became a media buzzword. While I have been pleased at being able to persuade the large battalions to support arts. it has always been every bit as important to me to encourage community arts. both with local people and by bringing artists into those communities. William Morris said that he did not want art for the few. or education for the few. or freedom for
the few. and I have tried to follow that
principle.' (Kenny Mathieson)
I Video nation In the wake of recent threats to video certification. a new report claims that relaxing with a video is now the nation‘s number one leisure pursuit. The report. commissioned by the British Video Association. suggested that video was ‘an integral part ofthe social fabric of this country‘. and 8] per cent of viewers surveyed believed video was here to stay.
I Widespread Gaels Channel 4 is screening the first Gaelic programme to be shown throughout the UK. Co Sinn ls Carson is a five-part series covering Scottish history. The series will be shown without subtitles. and was financed by the Govemment‘s Gaelic Television Committee.
concern
I Royal address The Princess Royal addresses a major Scottish conference on youth crime in Edinburgh. The conference at the Scandic Crown Hotel. organised by Crime Concern Scotland takes place on Friday 27 May. and brings together representatives of the police, local authorities and youth- orientated agencies.
I Bearing the Brunton The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh has been given a £400,000 grant from East Lothian District Council to fund a complete refurbishment. A new trust has been formed to oversee the refurbishment and operation of the theatre, though day to day mangement will still be carried out by the district council. It is hoped that by putting the theatre in the hands of the trust. the Brunton will be able to attract funding from other sources which are not available to the council. The refurbishment work is due to begin next year.
hangings
Tempers flared, words flew, but the paintings remained where they were in the latest bout of the llational Gallery of Scottish Art debate. As the dust settles and the petty East versus West squabbles are set aside, some things are beginning to become clear.
The Portrait Gallery is to be retained
and will even be enhanced by the recent donation of the vacant site at one side of the building, which has been purchased by an anonymous benefactor. At the same time there seems to be general agreement that if a new gallery is to be built, it should be in Glasgow. The initial designs, commissioned by the GDA from llorman Foster and Terry Farrel for Kelvlngrove, and the proposals for converting the old Sheriff Gourt were better received than the scheme for the Dean Centre in Edinburgh.
While nobody has put any money on the table as yet, Julian Spalding has said that Glasgow is pressing ahead with preparing approaches to the
Millennium fund, whose support would be an essential element in meeting the construction costs. Spalding has also welcomed Secretary of State Ian Lang’s commitment to consider the possibility of revenue funding a new gallery once it is built.
lan Lang also picked up on one of the recommendations of the independent
consultants PIEDA, who drew attention
to the need for upgrading the Royal Scottish Academy. At present this prime location cannot be used for international loan exhibitions as it does not meet the strict conservation standards set for atmospheric and temperature controls.
Questions remain about the attitude displayed by the Trustees of the llational Gallery. Faced with the real problems of overcrowded stores, limited exhibition space and motivated by a worthwhile desire to enhance the status of Scottish Art, they failed to draw together the various strands of opinion of the visual arts community or to consult fully their own staff. If the further proposals called for by the Secretary of State are to have results, a broader consensus will be needed.
V ACTION
I EIA Ceilidh The Environmental Investigation Agency is holding a fundraising ceilidh on Friday 20 May from 8pm at the Walpole Hall in Chester Street. Edinburgh with music from 'I‘apsilteerie. Money raised from ticket sales (£5 and £3.50) will go towards the ElA's campaigns to protect wildlife and the natural world.
I Banned From The Land? A public meeting about the implications ofthe Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, currently before Parliament, will be held at Tollcross Primary School in Edinburgh on Wednesday 25 May 7.30--9.30pm. The meeting is organised by the Edinburgh Adult Learning Project. who are increasingly worried by the implications ofthe Bill for their education programme. They are particularly concerned at the lack of information available on the impact in Scotland ofthe Bill which could seriorrsly affect people‘s rights to roam the countryside unhindered. the right of peaceful protest and the right to a travelling lifestyle. Further details from ALP. I84 Dalry Road. Edinburgh. 337 5442.
I The Centre Stays Open! The Edinburgh Unemployed Workers Centre. which is threatened with eviction from its premises at 103 Broughton Street. will be holding a demonstration at the Lothian Regional Council meeting at the Regional Chambers. Parliament Square on Wednesday 25 May 9.30—10.30am. Music, food. speakers and much more are promised at the demonstration and participants are asked to bring banners, instruments and whistles. Members of the centre believe that the resources, activities and services it provides - ranging from a meeting room. cafe and photographic dark room to advice and solidarity on benefits for claimants - are too important to lose.
I Carnival Against The llazis The Edinburgh and Glasgow branches of the Anti Nazi League are organising buses to the national carnival against the Nazis which will be held in London‘s Brockwell Park at lprn on Sunday 28 May. After marching from
Kennington Park at llam. the day’s festivities will include the usual round of speakers with live entertainment from such bands as The Levellers. Manic Street Preachers, African Head Charge and Credit To The Nation. The buses leave Waterloo Place. Edinburgh at 10.30pm (details from 031 554 9209) and George Square. Glasgow at llpm (details from 041 336 6l78) on Fri 27.
I Glasgow Women’s Library A women- only benefit disco will be held at the Glasgow School of Art's Assembly Hall above the Vic Bar on Sunday 29 May from 10pm to raise money for the Glasgow Women’s Library. DJ Michelle will spin the vinyl and tickets cost £4 and £2. Proceeds from the event will go towards helping the library move out of its present address at 50 Hill Street.
I If you have news of any events or courses which you want publicised In this column, please forward the. to ‘Action’ at The List, 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE and include a day- time phone number.
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The List 20 May-2 June 1994 5