The arts and health sector is being mapped out by potential funders using a tight definition. Creative Scotland (link 1) sees this activity as being led by professional artists, with explicit artistic and health/wellbeing objectives, and designed to improve health and wellbeing.
Continue reading “What Lies Beyond Objectives and Definitions in Arts and Mental Health?”
In the last week I’ve heard the term ‘the perfect storm’ on repeat, from multiple sources, in relation to the perceived threats to Scottish arts organisations’ future existence.
Continue reading “The Perfect Storm”
The Paisley Townscape Heritage Conservation Area Scheme 2 (Paisley TH.CARS2) is a £4.5M regeneration programme led by Renfrewshire Council, with match funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Continue reading “The Making of Paisley: Communities, Heritage Learning and Regeneration”
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow reopened to the public on 29 March 2022, after a major refurbishment that lasted nearly 6 years.The A-listed home of The Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park is now a modern, greener museum that shows more of the Collection to visitors and gives access to over a third more of the building.
Continue reading “The Burrell Collection, Glasgow”
On boarding the 12.30 LNER high-speed from Edinburgh Waverly to London Kings Cross, little did I expect that the journey itself would begin in such a decidedly uncanny manner.
Continue reading “‘Dry’ Trains to Newcastle…”
We know that arts and cultural participation leads to a range of positive outcomes for children and young people, both in terms of their cognitive development and their wellbeing.
Continue reading “Arts and Cultural Engagement Participation Support for Vulnerable Children and Young People”
As the new academic year pick up pace, we find ourselves tentatively adjusting to something of a return to a more conventional office life. Albeit one in which venturing out in public my still result in failure to recognise someone you’ve known for years on account of only being able to see half of their face!
Continue reading “CCSE: A (half) Year in Review”
The Aim of my research as a PhD student over the last two and half years has been to examine how the Japanese and Tokyo governments, through sports diplomacy, will use the Olympic Games as a soft power tool.
Continue reading “The Olympic Games as a Weak Excuse”
For a few months now the summer sun – punctuated with episodes of deluging rain – has provided the backdrop for the continued gradual reopening of our social, sporting and cultural venues.
Continue reading “A Second Summer of COVID, Nearing (New) Normality?”
Football is Nothing Without Fans – Matt Busby
Bellshill’s finest football thinker, Matt Busby, predicted the uncanny experience of people watching cultural and sporting events take place in empty spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Continue reading “Football is Nothing Without Fans – Football, Theatre & COVID19”
The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to the way we live our lives and interact with others. This was only too evident with national lockdowns putting an end to all but essential contact in early 2020.
Continue reading “The Future of Events – A New CPD Programme for Event Practitioners”
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns, many museums developed and put in place online digital offerings. This prompted quite a lot of hand-wringing and self-reflection across the sector, as well as for me personally.
Continue reading “Big Questions & Resourceful Answers: V&A Dundee’s Covid 19 Response”
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns, many museums developed and put in place online digital offerings. This prompted quite a lot of handwringing and self-reflection across the sector, as well as for me personally. I immediately felt slightly guilty – what is the point of a museum? Is it really that important? Is it relevant? Who are we for? Why are we here?
Continue reading “Big Questions & Resourceful Answers: V&A Dundee’s Covid 19 Response”