SOS ~ Save Open Studios

Since its inception in 2003, NEOS has grown amazingly and now beginning its 9th year NEOS urgently needs the membership to help make sure NEOS still continues to thrive.

North East Open Studios will be losing 8 of the 12 committee members at this year's AGM.

This is major news and will certainly have a detrimental effect on the future of NEOS if the membership cannot help.
No committee means no NEOS 2012!

URGENT CALL FOR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS!

If you are interested in joining the committee, or know of someone who is, we will shortly be sending out role descriptions for each position listed below for you to consider, as well as nomination forms to be returned.
Please feel free to forward this information on to anyone you think may be interested.

We ask you to consider your commitment to the committee and the membership carefully if you do wish to fill one of the positions available. NEOS has been very lucky to have a supportive, proactive and attentive volunteer team
and needs this to continue, it does not need sleeping members!


Roles to fill: Chairperson, Treasurer, Coordinator, Graphic Design & Web, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, and Press & Social Media.

Perrr-fect News!!

Alice Stewart was delighted to tell us that she and other NEOS artists had been approached to design & decorate one of the 15 Kelly's Cats in this years fund raising for the The Diced Cap Charitable Trust. Kelly’s Cats are iconic to Aberdonians and are the leopards that adorn Union Bridge.

The Diced Cap Charitable Trust was founded in 1990 and is a Registered Scottish Charity unique in the UK, being run voluntarily by Police officers, support staff from Grampian Police along with a number of retired officers and associates. Although associated with Grampian Police the charity exists as a separate entity.

The aim is to improve the health and well being of any deserving persons, resident in or connected with the Grampian Police force area. Although it is a comparatively small charity DCCT has raised and donated a considerable amount of money and this year, their 20th year, they hope to hit the £1,000,000 mark.
Acting as an effective catalyst in attracting other sponsors / monies to the many individuals, charities and organisations that Diced Cap supports.

DCCT Aim is to:
• Create immediate impact locally.
• Bond communities.
• Help those abandoned by other agencies.
• Reduce social exclusion.
• Empower rather than enforce.
• Encourage & recognise good citizenship.

As this is a special year for the trust, they are trying new initiatives to raise money, so the completed Kelly's cats were auctioned off at their Winter Ball at the Marcliffe, Pitfodels on Saturday 13 November, with money donated to local causes.

Creative Cultures Scotland - Networking night in Inverurie 16th September 2010

Networking - Sept 16th at the Wyness Hall (Inverurie) 6 - 8pm

As part of the NEOS event, Creative Cultures Scotland are delighted to bring you a networking event in Aberdeenshire! After the fantastic Lemon Tree networking / itchee wasp exhibition, where ACC's Gary Cameron had talked briefly about the Aberdeen City & Shire visual arts and crafts awards, Saskia Gibbon will be presenting information, and a reminder that the deadline is fast approaching for the first round of applications. We will also be joined by Gabrielle Reith (NEOS coordinator) giving us an update of how NEOS is going, from feedback received that week, as well as Morag McGee (ceramicist) Giving us insight into her working practice. CCS' Aurelie Bureau will also be talking about her role in helping people find funds for "big projects". (Wine and nibbles included as always!)

If you would like to come, please send an email to : creativeculturescotland@googlemail.com
CCS will also be working with CityMoves and SMart Consultants for more networking opportunities later in the year... October 14th is a date to keep clear in you diaries... 

Creative Cultures - Opportunties

Weekly updates for opportunities in the creative sectors from Creative Cultures Scotland...

e.g. :
deadline: 31 July 2009
The European Cultural Fund (ECF) is seeking applications to its Artistic Project Grants programme. Grants are available to both cultural organisations and individual artists but need to include partners from other eligible European countries. The programme supports outstanding artistic projects which show vision in illuminating the issues of diversity in Europe. The usual grant given by the Foundation is between £30,000 and £60,000.
For more information visit www.eurocult.org/we-support-culturalcooperation/grants.

RSA MORTON AWARD FOR LENS BASED WORK 2009

DEADLINE - 28 MAY 2009

About the Award
The Morton Award is for artists working in lens-based media and is administered by the Royal Scottish Academy and funded by the Morton Charitable Trust. It consists of a monetary award of £4,300 to develop and produce a new work in a lens based medium around a theme selected by the Royal Scottish Academy, and an exhibition of the completed new work at the RSA Annual Exhibition in 2009.

The Royal Scottish Academy is delighted to have secured a grant from the Morton Charitable Trust for new commissions by artists who were born in or are currently living and working in Scotland. The Morton Award will support artists in developing new works in photography or film loosely based on a theme concerning cultural, socio-economic, environmental or political developments in Scotland. Each year, the works by the Morton Award winner will be showcased at the RSA Annual Exhibition.

A short list of artists will be invited to present their project to the Panel of Adjudicators at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. Adjudicators for this year are Arthur Watson RSA, Calum Colvin RSA, Marion Smith RSA and Colin R Greenslade, Programme Director, RSA

click the title for more information...

Craft Makers Award: North East Scotland

Aberdeenshire Council has established the ‘Craft Makers Award: North East Scotland’ in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council to support local makers in their creative development and encourage innovative professional practice...visit http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/arts/CraftMakersAwardNorthEastScotland.asp for full details



NEOS 2009: September 12th - 21st. Visit www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk for more information