Arts & Business Scotland Awards 2008 Winners Announced:

Bank of Scotland & Edinburgh Festival Fringe

An innovative partnership to between Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe and the Bank of Scotland has been rewarded with an Arts and Business Young People Award, jointly sponsored by Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.

With the Fringe Junior Press Gang and Fringe Sunday Stage School, the winning partnership was congratulated for creating a dynamic connection with young people through the arts.

Over 1,300 young people from across 10 schools were given an opportunity to participate in the Fringe Junior Press Gang.  Each school hosted a performance and young people wrote their own review of the show.  The best reviewers were then invited to spend a day as an ‘arts journalist’, reviewing a live Fringe show – with a little help from some of Scotland’s leading arts writers. The Press Gang allowed young people to develop their writing skills, as well as introducing them to the worlds biggest arts festival.

A further 100 young people took the opportunity to take part in the Fringe Sunday Stage School. Traditionally a ‘family day’, Fringe Sunday this year offered workshops in a special marquee which gave our budding artists an opportunity to learn more about appearing on stage with coaching in dance, theatre and music.

At a glittering ceremony in Aberdeen, Scottish Arts Council Chief Executive Jim Tough praised the partnership for its foresight in developing arts audiences for the future and commented:  ‘Over 1000 young people have had an opportunity to engage with the arts that they may not have had previously, which not only stimulates their creativity, but also links in with the curriculum.’

The shortlist is selected by an independent panel comprised of members of the cultural and commercial sector.  The 30th Arts & Business Awards recognise partnerships that share creativity, ingenuity and rigour to achieve success.