Falkirk!.....Meet your VAA

Getting on Online

Expert Social Media help for free from Voluntary Arts Scotland.

Voluntary and community groups around Scotland are being offered FREE training on how to get the best out of the internet.

Run by Voluntary Arts Scotland, the sessions are aimed at people who are happy using the internet, but aren’t sure how it could help promote their activity – who may have a Facebook page but not enough ‘likes’, and are thinking about Twitter but aren’t sure what to tweet.

At the training session participants can:

• Learn how to make the most of Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites

• Discover why using videos and photography is a great way to tell your ‘story’

• Find out about the benefits of blogging

• Make the most of time spent online

To find out if there’s a session near you and to book your FREE place, visit www.vascotland.org.uk/gettingon

Who are Voluntary Arts Scotland? 

Voluntary Arts Scotland is the national development agency for amateur arts and crafts. We offer information and support for the thousands of people who take part in cultural activity for the love of it.

From amateur dramatics companies to choirs, knitting circles to painting groups, we’re here to promote existing activity and encourage newcomers to join in. For more information, visit www.vascotland.org.uk

Free Social Media Help

Call for entries Summer 2013

Now on it's third issue [Untitled] is an A5 quarterly artist 'zine dedicated to celebrating Falkirk's voluntary and amateur art groups and artists. Edited by Voluntary Arts Ambassador and Contemporary artist Craig Allan.

[Untitled] are now open for submissions of any art form for the third issue, we are looking for original, inspiring and local artwork that will address the theme and engage with the people of Falkirk as well as promoting arts in the area.

The Theme:
Black and White

This theme can be interpreted literally as a black and white drawing in any media or explored conceptually for example: opposites or contrasts. All work must be submitted in greyscale!  



Requirements:
Text based work
- Poems must be no more than 25 lines
- Short Fiction has a 2000 word count, no more. 
- Each entrant can submit up to three poems or stories for consideration.

Visual Art
- Image must be 300dpi or more
- Greyscale (black and white) images only
- Original 
- Able to be printed at A5 size
- Each entrant can submit up to three photographs, illustrations, prints for consideration.

Previously published work is accepted as long as you have retained full publishing rights, we will ask where it has been previously published.

Submit your work by 30th of August 2013

Submissions should be sent to: 
vaa-falkirk@vascotland.org.uk

Work should be accompanied with a cover page detailing the artists name, what arts group they are a member of, email address and a short history of their art career or interests. 

[Untitled] is available from various outlets throughout Falkirk town centre. 

For more information please like [Untitled]

Writing Opportunity

Dactyl is a new print zine for poetry, creative writing and prose. See below for all the info you need on how to submit your work for the launch issue. Theme: Lost & Found.

Description

Hello.

Welcome to Dactyl.

We are open for submissions from writers anywhere in the world for our Launch issue scheduled for print publication in early Autumn 2013. We are looking for the best in new and exciting writing to publish, promote and feel proud of in our first edition.

We are open to fiction and non fiction, haiku, senryu, tanka, flash fiction, 5 paragraph prose, poetry, creative writing, typography and lettering, calligraphy, lyrical loveliness, blackout poetry, thoughts and opinion and any creative concotions relating to the written word you can think of. Surprise us. We like surprises.

To get things going, we have selected the theme: Lost & Found.
Please feel free to interpret this as literally or laterally as you wish. The possibilities are endless, but here are a few ideas on the theme Lost & Found to maybe get you started:

A journey, treasure, a love affair, searching for clues, property, death & dying, freedom, discovery, transitions, health, youth, inquisitiveness, intrigue, experience,opposites, fear,relief and Oliver Freakin' Jeffers.


All we ask is:

Your work must fit on 2 A5 sides of paper maximum.
It must not have been published elsewhere before.
You must submit by midnight on the closing date 31st July 2013
Please submit your work to us at: wearedactyl@gmail.com.

We cannot wait to see what you create and look forward to your work possibly being included in our launch issue.

Thanks,

Dactyl


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactyl_(poetry)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dactyl/235722486570472?ref=tn_tnmn

New VAA online diary

Craig

Welcome, 

 As a recent BA(Hons) Fine Art graduate from the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, the art practice of Craig Allan, aims to question the role the artist and the art object has to play within a community, focusing on relational performance and sculptural works that interact directly with the public. This idea of promoting and establishing the arts within the area through collaborative projects saw Craig appointed as the Voluntary Arts Ambassador for Falkirk in 2011.

In his role as Voluntary Arts Ambassador Craig has successfully raised the awareness of the arts by providing local amateur/voluntary art groups; exhibition spaces, social networking opportunities, [Untitled] a quarterly publication, an arts festival and a direct contact with the local authority. Creating in July 2012 (with the aid of Falkirk Delivers) Falkirk's only arts venue that primarily supports local voluntary arts groups on Falkirk High Street, has saw numerous groups working in all disciplines exhibit their work to a wider audience;  a fashion show, an exhibit of oil paintings, contemporary art, sculpture and craft shows has saw the gallery generate an audience over 6000 people within ten months. Currently working on creating a social enterprise that aims to increase the skill level of local young people as well as providing a space in which voluntary art groups can meet and develop their own practice within a professional environment.

Something built by Craig

Working as the VAA has allowed Craig to establish a reputation as not only a contemporary artist but as a person enthusiastic to support local amateur art groups with the aim of establishing an arts and craft scene in Falkirk, that is prominent throughout the Forth Valley area. The only public list of Falkirk's arts and crafts groups can be found on this blog, for further information please visitUntitled. This list is always being updated.

If you know anyone who participates in the arts or would like to then please share this blog or get in touch, there is a group out there for everyone.

A facebook page has been set up to promote local art groups activities, please like this page to find out more. The page can be found here.

Keep up to date with voluntary arts activities by following the fantastic vaa diary blog - http://vaafalkirk.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy Reading,
Craig

Falkirk Art Groups at FVOS

For it's third year running the artists of Larbert's Wee Art Group will be exhibiting a selection of paintings for every taste. Group members will be on hand to chat about their art and the work on display is available for purchase. An abundance of subject matter including floral, seascapes, landscapes, figurative and more. All visitors will be welcomed with a cup of tea and a friendly smile!

Directions:

Situated next to the Red Lion Hotel (in Main Street) on Larbert Cross. Parking in Old Falkirk Road opposite studio or at Red Lion Hotel. Door may be closed but please just come in.

Opening Times

Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5	10-5

Red Leaf Studio Art Group.
This year for the first time members of Red Leaf Studio's Art Classes will be forming a group to exhibit alongside tutor and resident artist Michele Mathieson.
We will be exhibiting a selection of work demonstrating the wide range of techniques, media, skills and styles we use at the classes.
Tea and coffee will be available all week.

Directions:

From Grangemouth direction approach Bo’ness and turn left onto A904 for town centre, then continue to the roundabout. Red Leaf Studio is just up the right hand exit, however free public parking can be found if you continue forward at the roundabout.
From Edinburgh direction, enter Bo’ness and continue until you reach crossroads at traffic lights. Turn right and continue down the hill, Red Leaf Studio is on the left as you approach the roundabout at the bottom. Parking is available to the right of the roundabout.

Opening Times

Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
12-5	12-5	12-5	12-7	12-5	-	-	12-5	12-5

All information courtesy of Forth Valley Open Studios

Info. (2013). Artists. Available: http://forthvalleyopenstudios.com/index.php/routes/falkirk/110. Last accessed 5th June 2013.

About Open Studios

Artists across Central Scotland open their doors.
Over 145 artists will be taking part in this year’s Forth Valley Open Studios; a nine-day art event across Central Scotland for artists, designers, makers, art clubs and galleries. Artists open their studios and work spaces inviting all members of the community to view their work. Many offer demonstrations and provide the public with an experience, taking time to engage with the audiences and explain their ideas and inspiration for their work. The studios are organised around 4 coloured routes with numbers and maps. When visiting studios look out for the bunting and signs displaying the FVOS logo.

Avril Nicol, Project Co-ordinator FVOS

“This is our fourth year and we offer a special welcome to the new artists participating for the first time. You will see that we have introduced a number of innovative features this year.

Our website has been updated and re-launched to make it more inter-active. We have launched an app which will we hope make it easier for visitors to find their way around the many different studios and enhance the experience. Also new is a scheme for recent art school graduates to encourage them to participate in this event.

As a not-for-profit organisation we are committed to connecting communities through art while at the same time providing a mechanism for artists to sell work and to meet the public many of whom will never have had the opportunity before to visit an artist in his or her own studio.

We would like to give a special thanks to all our supporters and advertisers who make this event possible and of course to the artists themselves for all the hard work they do in preparing for the event and ensuring that it runs smoothly- not an easy matter where there are over 80 venues and more than 150 artists!

As Project Co-ordinator I am confident 2013 will be our best ever event and wish all our artists every success.”

Avril Nicol – avril@forthvalleyopenstudios.com – tel 07711 285545
Ann Shaw – ann@forthvalleyopenstudios.com – tel 07543 671260

We are extremely grateful for the support from our Honorary Chair Lys Hansen.

The Forth Valley Open Studios is registered as a Community Interest Company which is a not for profit organisation.
Forth Valley Open Studios CIC.  SC410605 

DISCLAIMER
Visitors to studios mentioned in this website and on the app and brochure visit entirely at their own risk. Adults are responsible for the supervision of any children in their care. Those involved in this website, app or brochure cannot accept liability for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any of the public during their visits to the studios. Artists’ studios and makers’ workshops are working environments and may contain hazardous tools, machinery and materials, so care must be taken when visiting them. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this studio guide, Forth Valley Open Studios cannot be held responsible for any variations, errors or omissions.

All information courtesy of Forth Valley Open Studios

Info. (2013). About us. Available: http://forthvalleyopenstudios.com/index.php/about/about-us/. Last accessed 5th June 2013.

Photos from Voluntary Arts Week 2013

The 13th of May saw the opening of Larbert's Wee Art Group's exhibition of oil painting in the name of Voluntary Arts Week. With over 60 original works of art by local artists the exhibition has surpassed the previous group's weekly total in a couple of hours. The exhibition continues until the 19th of May, however the group can be seen in June during Forth Valley Open Studios.

all photographs courtesy of Craig Allan

Larbet's Wee Art Group 13-19th May 2013Po

Artwork by Marjory Sime - Poster by Craig Allan

Falkirk Tryst Orchestra Recruitment

RECRUITING NOW!!
Falkirk Tryst Orchestra

Falkirk Tryst Orchestra are currently recruiting players of any age, playing any instrument at grade 4 level upwards to join them in delivering three concerts a year - May, October and December, meeting 6 to 8 times prior to each planned concert, usually Monday/Wednesday.

For further information please contact Wilma
wilmaboyd@yahoo.co.uk