£360,000 of funding has been awarded to Argyll and Bute Council on behalf of the Argyll and the Isles Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHArts) to deliver the Place Partnership Project to strengthen and grow the sector in Argyll and Bute. 

£200,000 has been awarded by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Place Partnership Funding scheme, and a further £160,000 has been secured from the Argyll and the Islands LEADER programme.

CHArts will work with practitioners, events, venues and volunteers to grow local creative opportunities and establish strong economic sustainability. It aims to maintain and develop resources to increase best practice and to share knowledge and resources through the sector.

The partnership will provide access to business training and support, maintain links and further develop youth arts activities and develop a healthy, supported and accessible voluntary sector, focusing on training and development of young people.

Councillor Robin Currie, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Communities, Housing, Islands and Gaelic said:

“Culture, heritage and arts play an important role in both the social fabric and economy of Argyll and Bute and identified as a key business growth area.

“It has been estimated that the sector employs around 850 people and supports around 2,700 volunteers as well as contributing up to £120 million to the local economy each year.”

“This welcome funding will deliver the Place Partnership Plan which brings together culture, heritage and arts organisations from across the area under the CHArts umbrella. It will allow the sector to have an identity, provide support for businesses and volunteers, and a platform to reach out to an international marketplace.”

David Price, Chair of the CHArts Steering Group, said:

"The culture, heritage and art of Argyll and the Isles, with a few notable exceptions, remain a hidden gem. Visitors and residents are frequently unware of the rich vein of creative talent in our area and may pass right by our historic heritage sites, barely aware of their existence or significance.

“The funding secured from Creative Scotland and LEADER provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to unlock the social and economic potential of the sector, and make Argyll and the Isles a more fulfilling place to visit and to live in.’’

Gary Cameron, Head of Place, Partnerships and Communities at Creative Scotland said:

“Argyll and Bute is home to a wealth of creative talent and cultural organisations working across many different artforms to inspire creativity and enrich people’s lives.

“Our Place Partnership programmes provide the tools for better partnership working in the cultural sector, growing networks and enabling greater access to and participation in quality cultural activity across local areas.

“We look forward to continuing our work with Argyll and Bute Council on their Place Partnership plans and harnessing the fantastic creative potential of the area.”

Argyll and Bute Council, working with CHArts, has contracted  a team led by icecream architecture (ICA) to deliver the principal activities undertake a series of activities and commissions over the two-year Place Partnership project. 

ICA will work with local venues, practitioners and cultural providers to undertake activities and commissions including data collection and analysis, brand development, sector marketing and promotion, and showcase events. 

If you are involved in a cultural, heritage or arts group and want to take part in this exciting project you should contact Sarah@icecreamarchitecture.com or sarah@chartsargyllandisles.org or on 07513074991.

Notes to Editors

Argyll and the Isles LEADER supports community-led economic growth and sustainable rural development within the Argyll and the Islands Local Area Group.

The Place Partnership Programme is a strategic programme designed to encourage and support local partners to work together with their creative community. The partnership should aim to make significant interventions which address opportunities and issues, and help to strengthen creative development in their area. www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/place-programme

icecream architecture - www.icecreamarchitecture.com

About Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. Creative Scotland enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. It distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com  Follow on social media @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland