Photo's from The Progression Of The Working Man

Installation of Craig Allan's exhibition at Resonate Arts House in Alloa. The Progression Of The Working Man is open until the 13th of January. For more please visit craigallanarts

Leasing a Community Education Centre

Letting information

There's a great variety of halls in the Falkirk Council area ranging from large venues such as Ettrick Dochart Community Hall, to small village halls in rural areas such as Limerigg Community Hall. The majority of these are directly managed by local management committees, but at present 3 of them are managed by the Council.

Halls can be used for a variety of activities such as pre-5s and other children's or youth activities, meetings, keep-fit classes, hobbies and other interest activities, some sports, social and community events and older person's clubs and events.

The halls are booked through either the individual Management Committee contact or through the Community Learning & Development Section. Contact details are provided for each hall.

Each locally managed hall has its own schedule of charges that applies.

Locations

The community halls are located as below:

• Airth
• Avonbridge
• Bainsford
• Banknock
• Bo'ness
  • Cowdenhill
  • Jamieson Avenue (not for hire)
• Bothkennar
• Brightons
• Broompark
• California
• Carronshore
• Falkirk Central
  • Thornhill
  • Westfield
• Grangemouth
  • Bowhouse
  • Dalgrain
  • Newlands
• Hallglen
  
  • Ettrick Dochart
• Laurieston
• Limerigg
• Polmont
• Reddingmuirhead
• Shieldhill
• Tamfourhill

All information provided by the Falkirk council website for more information please visit http://www.falkirk.gov.uk or email The locations of all Falkirk's community education centres and halls that participate in arts and crafts events can be found on the Falkirk Art Map.

Falkirk and District Arts and Civic Council

F&DA&CC is the organisation which advocates the arts and civic amenity to Falkirk Council, supports member organisations in their projects and is a forum for mutual help and advice.

History

In the summer of 1950 a group of people with an interest in the arts met in premises in Falkirk High Street. The subject of the discussion was how to promote The Arts in Falkirk. This meeting led to the formation of Falkirk & District Arts and Civic Council. The first chairman was Councillor James Middlemass.

For over fifty years F&DA&CC has continued to support, promote and campaign for the Arts and an enhanced civic amenity for the Falkirk District. Although two local government boundary changes have taken place in the fifty years the fundamental principles remain constant.

Aims and Objectives

• To encourage and stimulate interest in the promotion, understanding, performance and appreciation of the arts in the community
• To consult with local and national organisations devoted to the arts
• To act as a co-ordinating body for member organisations
• To provide a means of communication and liaison between organisations, individuals and the local authority
• To be sensitive to needs of the community and organise events to service the need
• To encourage and advocate awareness of civic amenity

Membership

Membership of F&DA&CC is open to groups which are engaged in activities which add to the artistic life of Falkirk or whose aims and activities encourage an awareness in civic amenity. Groups seeking membership should write to the Secretary and enclose a copy of a constitution or a statement of the aims and objectives and a list of office bearers. There is an annual registration fee which is at present £25

Meetings

The General Council meets monthly from September to June on a Friday evening in the Council Chambers of Falkirk Council. All member organisations are entitled to send a representative to these meetings.
In addition there are Executive Committee meetings. The Executive Committee and Office bearers are elected at the Annual General Meeting in June.

The Office Bearers for 2012/13

Chairperson - Agnes Mullen
Vice-Chair - Amanda-Louise Clark
Secretary - Barbara Hammond

All information provided is courtesy of the FDACC website and belongs to the original poster, for more information regarding FDACC and their activities please visit http://www.fdacc.org.uk/ or like their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FalkirkDistrictArts

Looking for a venue?

The Tryst Community Education Centre in Stenhousemuir are currently on the look for self-led amateur or voluntary arts and crafts groups to take up residence. No matter how old or how many members your group has the facilities available are suitable for a small group wishing to develop and gain a larger membership in a convenient location or for a larger established group looking for a venue to host a one off production.

Groups that meet the Council's criteria will be able to take advantage of free or reduced price lets, for example; a self led not for profit group that encouraged the elderly to head outdoors and socialise with like minded people at the community centre would qualify.

For more information please get in touch through the [Untitled] facebook page where you will be put in touch with the local development officer for Falkirk west.

Information on all of Falkirk Council's Community Education Centres can be found on their website: http://bit.ly/I5Tfbj

[Untitled]#3

[Untitled#3 is now available for download.

ISSUE 3

Issue 3 includes black and white photography by the excellent Bonnybridge Camera Club, fashion designs by graduate Rachel Fowler, Flash fiction produced by both Falkirk Writer's Umbrella and Writer's Circle, A short story by Stephen Shirries of Livingston Writers, Illustration by Christopher Duff from Resonate Arts House, funding information provided by Falkirk Council and poetry from published poet Karen French and [Untitled] editor Craig Allan

[Untitled] #3

What is it like to win an Epic Award?

Barra Bunting Project tell their story

“We were very humbled to win the Scottish Epic Award,” says Sarah MacLean of Barra Bunting Project, “and are still coming to terms with the fact that our little project won!

“The Epic Award has given us an excellent start to the project and is something we are extremely proud of. It has given us excellent publicity and the prize has allowed us to promote the project better, in our local area and further afield.

“We really enjoyed the trip to the beautiful City of Derry for the Winners’ Reception, to find out about all the other winning projects and make connections.  Recently we were visited by some of the Welsh winners and it was super to have that link.

“The flags are currently up in our local produce shop where they can be admired, and they will decorate all the local community events throughout the summer.  We are hoping to be able to take on a sessional worker soon, who will be employed to take the project to the next level.”

Information courtesy of the epic awards website - visit the website http://blog.epicawards.co.uk

Epic Awards 2013

The Epic Awards

Voluntary and Amateur Arts in the spotlight

After last year's huge success for Falkirk's own Forth Bridges Accordion Band, who won the people's choice award in Dublin, the Epic Awards are back!!

So what are the Epic Awards and who can apply?

The EPIC Awards have been set up to shine a spotlight on the excellent practice taking place within the voluntary and amateur arts.
The awards are an initiative of Voluntary Arts England, the national development agency for arts participation.

General information

Any voluntary or amateur art and craft group / organisation in the UK or Republic of Ireland can apply if they meet the following criteria:

- Arts and crafts activities that people undertake for self-improvement, social networking and leisure, but not primarily for payment.
- Groups that are self-organised. They may have support and guidance from a paid worker, particularly if there are support needs within the group, but generally the definition would be a group run by volunteers, and whose participants are volunteers.
- Not for profit community groups where arts and crafts make up a significant proportion if not the total sum of the group's activities.

You can't apply for an Epic Award if:

- Your group is not based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland
- Your group is not a voluntary / amateur art or craft group
- The entry projects / initiative was completed before January 2010

Think your group fits the bill?

To nominate your group! please visit the Epic Awards website:

http://epicawards.co.uk/

or like the facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/epicawards

Art in the South of Falkirk

Launched in mid 2013 by [Untitled] creator Craig Allan, Falkirk Art Map provides a way of documenting and promoting voluntary/amateur art groups, events, venues and landmarks across the entire Falkirk District, the aim of providing an easy accessible guide to Falkirk's rich cultural landscape. Currently proudly displaying the locations of over 40 arts and crafts groups ranging from metal detecting groups to sculpture, the art map aims to have a marker depicting the arts in every town and village throughout the district. Local members of art groups are encouraged to get in contact with Craig at the address provided below to have their group placed on the Falkirk Art Map.

The mission to have at least one arts or crafts group from every town in the district, requires groups to come forward and make their group know about regardless of how small and amateur it is. One first glance of the current Falkirk Art Map it is evident that groups in the South of Falkirk, need to start filling the blank space that is currently the towns of Maddiston, Avonbridge and Hallglen. If you are a member of a group operating in these towns then Falkirk Art Map wants to hear from you.

The Art Map is produced with the support of [Untitled] and the Voluntary Arts Ambassador for Falkirk, created entirely for free with the intention of mapping Falkirk's groups, opening them up to new members and a wider audience. 

Email address

More information on the Falkirk Art Map can be found in the next issue of [Untitled] and on Facebook, like the page here.

Visit the art map and see if your group is currently listed click here

Bonnybridge Camera Club

BONNYBRIDGE CAMERA CLUB

We were originally formed in 2008 and based in Greenhill Community Flat under the name Vale of Bonny Photography Society our aim then was for like minded enthusiasts to meet up and go for walks and take photos.

In 2011 we moved to Bonnybridge Education Centre and changed our name to Bonnybridge Camera Club which we felt was less off putting for beginners and potential members.

We meet every Thursday from 7-9pm in Bonnybridge Community Centre. We currently have around 12 members and new faces are always welcome. Our ethos is based on equality and diversity, open to all comers of all abilities .

Our membership is pretty enthusiastic and we provide practical tuition on camera techniques etc, we believe that all of our members have something to offer.

We are fairly informal and regularly organise outings which are well attended and greatly enjoyed.

web: www.bonnybridgecameraclub.com

email : bonnybridgecameraclub@gmail.com

tel: 07910700557

Falkirk Writers Umbrella

The Writers' Umbrella

The Writers' Club that comes to you

The Writers' Umbrella offer a simple newsletter by post or e-mail six times a year, containing information and articles of interest to writers. Membership costs £5 per annum e-mail, £10 per annum postal.

Regular features include: bi-monthly free to enter cash prize competitions for poetry; short stories and factual articles, a forum for your queries; complaints, ideas and suggestions; hints and tips on the art of writing plus information on publication opportunities, national competitions and websites of interest to writers.

In addition we offer a review service for your writing. Personal answers to your questions and a genuine interest in your writing and successes. We have a free-to-join website giving members with access to the Internet updates on writing news between newsletters. 

For free introductory newsletter and more information contact: barbara@ladysgate.freeserve.co.uk

Front Cover for Issue 3?

The first draft of [Untitled]'s black and white themed issue three has been unveiled, featuring an image of the German born American poet,

novelist and short story writer Charles Bukowski.

Issue 3 specialises in monochrome works of art, whether it be the black ink on a white page of a Haiku or the high contrast levels of a black and white photograph, [Untitled] is dedicated to supporting Falkirk's voluntary and amateur artists, ensuring that they are well represented.

For the first time [Untitled] includes information on how small groups can obtain local funding, briefings on how to promote your group on social networking platforms and introduces the fantastic new Falkirk Art Map. As well as providing high quality artwork and texts from Falkirk's art groups, Bonnybridge Camera Club are the featured group.

More information to follow.

Falkirk Art Map

View Falkirk Art Map in a larger map

 Falkirk's art groups, classes and venues all on one map. Map created by Craig Allan. If your group wishes to be added to the Art Map then get in touch with your details. How many did you know about?

A lovely piece on the vaa diary blog

[Untitled] is a free artist led publication that celebrates Falkirk's voluntary and amateur art groups by providing an opportunity to showcase their work/events to a wider audience in an accessible format.

Created in 2011 by local artist Craig Allan [Untitled] to address the lack of exhibition or promotion opportunities for amateur artists throughout the area. This problem was made evident when speaking to numerous art groups who all spoke about the disgust for lack of exposure, the only current available space for groups to exhibit in was a gardening centre, something they and myself found unacceptable. Having previously submitted work and edited issues for another Glasgow/Carlisle based artist 'zine (Manifesto) that also acted as a portable exhibition space for emerging artists it was obvious this vehicle of promoting work could be translated into Falkirk art groups.

Manifesto #8

Working closely with art groups to find out and address the issues they felt were holding back their group, were the foundations on which [Untitled] started, growing organically to cover a wider range of topics. [Untitled] began with a black and white photocopied issue that displayed full pages of artist's work; drawings, design, paintings and text, whom were invited for to enter for free as long as they were Falkirk based artists working within an amateur arts group. Printed by the help of Voluntary Arts Schotland [Untitled] was distributed throughout the Falkirk area via willing retail units. Every issue of [Untitled] sold old meeting the target of reaching a wider audience as members of the public who would not normally consider Falkirk's art groups were exposed to their work.

Issue 2 of [Untitled] in full colour saw a development in the approach towards representing Falkirk's art groups, due to the increased audience range and interest from varied art groups willing to participate, a new design was created that allowed non visual art groups to enter,

[Untitled] #1

with spotlights on art groups, examples of written word as well as visual art, #2 also introduced advertisement space for groups to promote their upcoming events and press releases. Groups who submitted were; painting group Larbert's wee art group, Falkirk Camera Club and Grangemouth's Project Theatre with critical essays by sculptor Sam Smith and Craig Allan, accompanied by examples of fine art by Vic Firth, poetry from Karen French and photography by Kit Mead.

Issue 2 also saw the introduction of [Untitled]'s popular online content which includes a full downloadable copy of the publication, (something which has been downloaded over a thousand times). A blog, phone app, email newsletter and various social network plaftforms are now online and providing up to date relevant information on Falkirk's voluntary arts, containing a what's on, opportunities page, a Falkirk art map, the only database of art groups and special features on local events such as the Tryst Festival, Open Studios and Voluntary Arts Week.

Now on it's third issue and the first issue to have a set theme for artists to work towards, [Untitled] aims to showcase an even larger amount of art groups to a wider audience, with online content 

[Untitled] #2

firmly on place and a call for entries currently circulating the web on sites like Scottish Book Trust and Creative Scotland, the goal is in sight as numerous groups have expressed interest in submitting to next exciting issue. Issue 3 also aims to create a dialogue between Falkirk's art groups, local authorities and businesses to ensure that the work started with [Untitled] can be continued on a larger community scale and the groups get the exposure they deserve. Work to bring groups together has already begun by inviting groups to attend groups exhibitions and events, the last being the successful Voluntary Arts Week, which brought Tryst Theatre, Festival Chorus, Denny WASP, Larbert's Wee Art Group, FVRG and Sing Forth.

These exhibitions have drawn the attention and imagination of fellow art groups, for example Bonnybridge Camera Club now make frequent contact and express interest in taking part in most events, Falkirk Camera Club are now regularly exhibiting photographs throughout the area, something they were reluctant to do and individual artists within Larbert's Wee Art Group have been inspired to set up their own exhibitions or submit their work for events such as the Pittenween Art Festival.

The portable nature of [Untitled] has allowed these groups to be exposed to people they would not normally be able to reach, numerous copies are available throughout the area at the one time, this is the key to [Untitled]'s success. [Untitled]'s online content has been used in the promotion of art groups and is becoming one of the main port of calls for people discovering Falkirk's voluntary arts.

[Untitled] brief as seen on Creative Scotland

[Untitled] is currently seeking entries from art groups for the third issue, to find out the requirements and specifications on how to submit your work please visit the [Untitled] blog - click here

To find out more up to date information on Falkirk's art groups like [Untitled] on Facebook

To download the fantastic second issue of [Untitled] click here

For any more enquiries or questions email vaa-falkirk@vascotland.org.uk

http://vaafalkirk.blogspot.co.uk/

Transmitted Live: Nam June Paik Resounds

As a practicing artist with an interest in sculpture and performance work I was naturally going to be excited about Scotland's first exhibition of Korea's Nam June Piak at Talbot Rice in Edinburgh.

Combining technology with art making processes Paik prophesied about the role of the artist and the world itself in the future, portrayed in his seminal 1963 works Participation TV and Random Access Information. Celebrating 50 years since Paik's first solo show, Exposition of Music - Electronic Televsion at Wuppertal in 1963, Transmitted Live: Nam June Paik Resounds documents the ideas of counter-culture movements of the 60's and Paik's belief that technology should be treated as a material within an artist's repertoire, televisions, lasers, video and satellites feature heavily within his work.

TV Cello - Nam June Piak

The main floor of Talbot Rice contains an bizarre bazaar array of work that includes homemade robots created from television robots that are seen socialising with Duchamp and Beuys who feature within a series of documentary videos. His iconic TV Cello (1971) sits along side video work that represents Paik's collaborative work with the likes of John Cage and Merce Cunnigham. Upstairs contains a wide range of work and includes exhibition memorabilia creating an intimate portrait of a man at the height of his powers. The round room is home to his trademark TV Buddha (1974) sits alone in a self reflecting meditation. In contrast the Gregorian gallery is filled with the sounds and sights of Global Groove (1973) that juxtaposes catchy pop hits and dancing with avante garde performance and rituals coupled with the dangling wires and televisions of Video Chandelier No. 1.

Global Groove - Nam June Piak

The work selected for display at Talbot Rice is what any fan of Piak would hope to see and hear, however the curation of these works is suspect, TV Cello sat on a plinth, objects created work displayed behind glass, posters and photographs of previous exhibitions presented as if they were equal to the performances themselves, therefore creating a sssh don't touch atmosphere that was not incorporated in the original works, TV Cello was made to be played, synthesizers were to be used and the posters for promotion only. On the upper floor sits a piece in which the audience is encouraged to speak into a microphone in which the pitch of their voices changes the shape on the screen accordingly that harks back to the original use of the work. Several photographs of the artist with fellow Flux member Yoko Ono and John Lennon, works with John Cage act as a justification to unfamiliar Fringe audience members as to why Talbot Rice should show this retrospective. The result of this is that instead of celebrating the genius of Piak the show merely documents a period in time, the old fashioned technology displayed in cabinets is reminiscent of a museum that depicts ancient artifacts.