South of Scotland Cultural Partnership
| Organisation |
South of Scotland Cultural Partnership |
| Project |
A collaborative approach to stabilising and increasing audiences for the arts in a region badly affected by the Foot and Mouth epidemic |
| Artform |
Multi artform |
| Location |
Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway |
| Application type |
Full project |
| Date |
2001/03 |
| Status |
Completed |
| Grant |
£34,000 |
| Total project cost |
£53,850 |
The South of Scotland Cultural Partnership is an informal consortium comprising Scottish Borders Council Arts Service, Dumfries and Galloway Council Arts Service and Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association. The partnership was formed in response to the Foot and Mouth epidemic which has had a damaging impact on the arts and cultural scene across the south of Scotland. It aims to share ideas, skills, experience and resources and specifically to develop techniques and pioneer product for audiences and sales development.
A number of collaborative projects involving the three partners, designed to test different approaches to working across the region on joint promotions and campaigns in order to stabilise and increase audiences for the arts.
- To implement a proactive response to the impact of the Foot and Mouth epidemic on the arts in southern Scotland
- To develop and extend a collaborative approach to programming and audience development initiatives across the region
- To increase the number of arts events, focussing on the best of touring product and local artists and performers
- To undertake research into current, lapsed and potential audiences
- To improve the information provision about events in the region to attract local people, visiting friends and relatives and tourists
To be achieved through:
- Creating shared databases of adult and childrens' audiences.
- Improving print quality and distribution, and increasing advertising.
- Producing guides to the regional festivals and galleries/studios
- Promoting an increased number of performances, winter concerts, ceilidhs, workshops and a film festival
- Reducing ticket prices
15 different projects including direct promotions such a gallery guide, a touring calendar, a film festival and arts events for children as well as support for a range of projects such as concessionary ticket prices, company regeneration and festival support all contributed to this partnership which aimed to aid regional recovery from the foot & mouth epidemic. The project also aimed to further communicate with audiences and broaden the audience base.
An independent evaluation of the project was undertaken by Dr Donald Macleod from the University of Glasgow, as follows:
- The vast majority of projects, 12 out of 15, were successful in meeting their specific targets
- Collaboration between the partners and with different organisers has been successful in many areas, manifest principally in the entire venture and through the various guides and events. This should be encouraged further in the future, leading to sustained development, economies of scale, increased audience figures and improved communication and shared experience.
- Participant satisfaction was generally high throughout the project, positive contributions to the community were made and the projects played an important role in supporting the artists and other professionals involved. Consequently crucial support was given to these vital components of society during a time of crisis.
- The project highlighted a need for a better understanding of the audience (regular, local and tourist) and the potential market, with product development and the visitor market being prioritised.
- There is a lot of potential for attracting tourists and further collaboration is advised
- Of the 15 projects only one was a completely new event: the Borders Film Festival and the evaluation recommends that there should be more opportunities for nascent events in need of start-up funding and expertise.
- The entire project was deemed a major success and the structures and linkages developed through its implementation should be encouraged to grow. In order to build on this initial success the parties involved should commit to improved communication and shared development and aim for increased financial support.
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries
DG1 1NW
Tel: 01387 262084
Fax: 01387 255173
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association
Gracefield Art Centre
Dumfries
Tel: 01387 253383
Fax: 01387 253303
Web: www.dgaa.net
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