International arts scene receives triple boost
25/11/2008
New York and Amsterdam, both artistic and cultural hubs, will host three Scottish artists’ residencies designed to cultivate homegrown talent by strengthening their creativity and profile on an international platform.
Designed to give artists time to develop new work in cities renowned for their artistic heritage and contemporary arts scenes, cities with unrivalled opportunities for stimulus, inspiration and networking, these residencies signifiy the importance of supporting and promoting Scottish artists at home and abroad.
Amanda Catto, Head of Visual Arts at the Scottish Arts Council:
‘Scotland’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in and for the visual arts owes a great deal to the quality and ambition of the work being produced by the artists that choose to live and study here. The residencies in New York and Amsterdam underline our ongoing commitment to providing artists with the support they need to take risks and innovate within their work. They also provide an invaluable opportunity for artistic exchange and greater participation in the international discourse that informs contemporary visual arts practice.
‘Given the very high standard of applications received for the Amsterdam residency we took the decision to offer the opportunity to two artists, both of whom we feel will benefit significantly from having time to further develop their practice. Additional funding is being provided to enable the continued development of work beyond the residency as this is often a critical time in consolidating ideas.’
Amsterdam Residency:
The Scottish Arts Council has this year offered two bursaries of £8,000 to support two artists to live and work for six months in a furnished studio/apartment in Amsterdam. The residency period will run from February 2009 to January 2010. On completion of each residency both artists will be awarded a further £5.000 to support their creative and professional development.
Laura Aldridge: 6 months from August 2009 to January 2010 awarded £8,000 and accommodation including a studio in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam.
Sally Osborne 6 months from Feb 2009 to July 2009 awarded £8,000 and accommodation including a studio in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam.
2009's recipients:
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Laura Aldridge graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2006 with a Master’s degree in Fine Art and has previously exhibited in Glasgow, Denmark, Los Angeles and London. Laura’s work explores ideas related to the decorative, public space and physicality of material. |
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Sally Osborn graduated in 2003 from Glasgow School of Art and has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally. Glasgow-based artist Sally Osborn identifies her own practise to be twofold, driven jointly by the process of research and the process of making. Her work is a study of subjectivity, of intuition, suggestion, attraction, possibility and materiality. |
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New York Residency
The Scottish Arts Council’s New York Residency offers a visual artist, resident in Scotland, the opportunity to live and work in New York City by participating in the international residency programme at Location One for five months from February 1 to June 30 2009 with financial support of £7,500 and an accommodation allowance of £5,000.
2009's recipient:
Born in Aylesbury in 1972, Sophie Macpherson graduated in 1996 with a BA in Fine Art from Glasgow School of Art. Macpherson served as a committee member at Transmission Gallery, Glasgow from 1998 to 2000. Recent exhibitions include: ‘Synth’, Kunstraum B/2, Leipzig (2004); ‘Sophie Macpherson & Daria Martin’, GSS, Glasgow (2004); ‘Pallas’, The Changing Room, Stirling (2003) and ‘Greyscale/CMYK’, Tramway, Glasgow/Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin (2003). Macpherson lives and works in Glasgow and is represented by Sorcha Dallas Contemporary Art.
Images available from Kim Oliver: kim.oliver@scottisharts.org.uk
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor. The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding.
- For more information on Location One, visit: www.location1.org
- For more information on Laura Aldridge, visit : http://re-title.com/artists/laura-aldridge.asp
- For more information on Sally Osborn, visit Sally Osborn webpage
- For more information on Sophie McPherson, visit http://www.sorchadallas.com/artists/1
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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