Aberdeen Arts Centre has announced three new bursaries as part of their Artist Development programme.

Since an initial workshop in February 2023 supported by the Scottish Casting Workshop, Aberdeen Arts Centre has supported seven emerging and established professional creatives develop their creative practice with mentor support, space and bursaries.

Recipients of these bursaries have done research and development, public sharings, applications to funding bodies like Creatiev Scotland to further their work, and prepared for performances at the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe Festivals, APA’s Light the Blue Festival and for wider national touring.

Amy Liptrott, Director of Aberdeen Arts Centre, understands the importance of encouraging and developing creative talent. She said: “Supporting professional creatives is incredibly important to ensure a vibrant and exciting creative ecology.

"As a theatre director, I benefitted from time, space, mentoring and advice in my early career. The infrastructure for professional creatives is limited in Aberdeen and all our brilliant local arts organisations support local professional as much as they can.

"Aberdeen Arts Centre is proud to enhance this work by offering another three £500 bursaries with additional space in kind and mentoring support.”

Previous bursary recipients include Essa Flett, Sarah Ord, and Imogen Stirling.

Essa Flett was awarded a bursary to support her work on The Selkie’s Wife, a new queer gig performance inspired by the folk lore of the Selkie. The bursary supported her with time and space to develop her ideas ahead of taking the work to Copenhagen, Dundee, London and this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Sarah Ord was awarded a bursary to develop her ideas for a new piece of theatre for young people, May Fly, May Not, which most recently had a sharing at Aberdeen Performing Art’s Light the Blue Festival. "I am so grateful for all the space, time and energy that Aberdeen Arts Centre has given to my development as an Artist and Theatre Maker. By awarding me a Bursary- they gave me the courage to diversify my practice and the permission to believe in myself and my ideas"

Imogen Stirling is about to embark on a tour of her work Love the Sinner, supported by Creative Scotland. She said: “I had an idea for a play that I needed a couple of days in a room to imagine into being. With no strings attached, Aberdeen Arts Centre offered financial support to pay for a group of creatives to come together and explore, plus the generous in-kind support of Amy's attendance.

"It is such a rare thing to be offered support so readily and kindly, where excitement for the art is the priority. This support catapulted the idea into motion and I am so grateful for it.”

The deadline for applications for this round of bursaries is July 3 and professional creatives from all art forms are encouraged to apply.

“We are keen to hear from local creative professionals who need time, space and support at any stage of the idea they are looking to develop. The process of making new work is different in every instance and we look forward to hearing your ideas.”

For anyone who would like to support and sponsor the development of creative talent in Aberdeen, please get in touch.

More information about the Artist Development Programme at Aberdeen Arts Centre can be found here: https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/latest/artist-development-bursaries-2024

For budding professional creatives ages 0-17 yrs, Aberdeen Arts Centre is running Summer Sessions: https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/creative-learning/summer-sessions-2024

For further information:

E: amy@aberdeenartscentre.com

T: 01224 635208

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