Scottish Art Highlights & Opportunities: March 2018

Before delving into the incredible arts opportunities out there this March, we’d like to give a burst of praise to all of the exhibition openings and programme launches that survived the beast from the east. Both The Hidden Door Festival and The Travelling Gallery managed to push through the snowy disruptions to highlight their upcoming programmes, and as ever the variety of arts organisations scattered throughout Scotland kept their cool (excuse the pun)!

Exhibition Highlights

We’ve been harping on about the incredible exhibitions currently on at Talbot Rice Gallery for several weeks, and are unlikely to stop until you’ve all explored Rachel Maclean’s work Spite Your Face – which was first commissioned for the Venice Biennale in 2017, and has now been brought to Scotland for its UK premiere (24 Feb-5 May). Alongside this exhibition comes the opportunity to listen to Maclean talk about the exhibition as well as her broader practice (29 Mar) which will offer a unique insight into the practice of a young, dynamic and provocative artist.

As well as Rachel Maclean’s work Spite Your Face, Talbot Rice are playing host to internationally acclaimed video artist David Claerbout (until 5 May). The exhibition marries perfectly with the upcoming event Pine’s Eye, an interdisciplinary evening event bringing together performance artists, poets and academics to offer a provocative series of digressions related to contemporary image-making practice (18 Apr).

This is the last week to explore Tramway’s exciting exhibition of Glasgow painting legend Steven Campbell’s experimental collage works (closes 25 Mar). In Edinburgh, Fruitmarket Gallery will be presenting work by the late Lee Lozano who was a major figure in the New York art scene of the 1960s and early 1970s, making furiously inventive, irreverent and often tiny paintings and drawings. (10 Mar-3 Jun). Alongside the exhibition are several events and talks, including a crocheting rude bits evening (19 Apr) inspired by the work of Lee Lozano, and a panel discussion exploring the language-rich work of the artist (26 Apr).

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art will be carrying on their programme of celebrating contemporary artists in the third iteration of NOW featuring a major survey of works by renowned British artist Jenny Saville, as well as work by contemporary sculptors Sara Barker and Christine Borland and many others (24 Mar-16 Sep). Saville will be presenting an opening talk which will see her in conversation with Simon Groom, the director of the galleries, the day before the exhibition opens (23 Mar).

CCA in Glasgow have, as always, a huge amount going on, but we are particularly excited about the TIME is Love Screening – an international video art program that explores the theme of love in hard times (31 Mar) as well as their upcoming exhibition by artist Susannah Stark. Unnatural Wealth will see the personal, political, spiritual and economic woven together in a rotating sound and moving image listening experience (21 & 22 Apr).

At the end of March Stills: Centre for Photography will be presenting a curator’s talk exploring their current exhibition The Archive of Modern Conflict (running until 8 Apr) – this will provide a one-off insight into the works on display from an astonishing array of galleries such as Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery, as well as various North American institutions and at events such as the Rencontres d’Arles, Brighton Photo Biennial and Paris Photo (29 Mar).

Programme Announcements

Edinburgh International Festival, although not heavy in their visual art programming, have launched their 2018 line-up, and with it a number of exciting events such as Power, Gender and the Arts which will see performers, producers, activists and cultural workers come together to investigate where power really lies and what needs to be done to ensure genuine diversity and equality of expression (10 Aug).

Edinburgh Art Festival are set to release initial details of their 2018 programme on Monday 26 March – find out first on theskinny.co.uk/art.

Learning opportunities

There will be a number of bursaries available, as well as regular paid spots for Hospitalfield’s Fieldwork opportunity: a unique chance to fully immerse yourself with other artists and practitioners in order to explore 'A wobble, a shake and a no for an answer.' The three day intensive opportunity will incorporate talks, workshops and discussions in order to explore ideas around refusal, recollection and rebirth. Deadline: 1 April

The Scottish Sculpture Workshop are offering an Introduction to Ceramics and Raku over several weekends in the spring, which will allow participants the opportunity to learn basic ceramic techniques alongside Raku, a technique used for decorative results that produces a wide range of glaze effects and colours. Find out about the course here.

Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, are offering older artists the opportunity to explore how creativity can be nourished and how artists can challenge themselves to develop. Aimed specifically at those in the early stages of their artistic careers and open to artists aged 50 or over, this is an exciting chance to explore the possibilities of new practices. Find out more about the opportunity here. Deadline: 26 March

As ever The Glasgow Sculpture Studios have a huge array of learning opportunities, varying from those aimed at the professional sculptors to those of us who have only ever moulded playdough. Explore their astounding programme of learning opportunities here. While Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop is offering a phenomenal spring programme of courses and workshops as well – find out more here – there are literally dozens of opportunities to explore a variety of sculptural practices across the central belt this spring.

Calls for Submissions

The Scottish Sculpture Workshop are offering a one month residency to help develop artistic practices. Whether you’re looking to experiment, research or produce, you don’t need to be a practicing sculptor to apply as artists from a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to take part in this fantastic programme. Deadline: 26 March

A truly inspiring possibility to be part of the UK’s largest ever mass participation artwork has opened up with PROCESSIONS which represents a chance to celebrate 100 years of women’s right to vote. Join this opportunity to create banners and artworks for a project that will inspire and be inspired by hundreds of women across the country. There is no deadline to sign up, and you don’t need to be a practising artist to take part either.

Edinburgh is brimming with submission opportunities this month: first up Summerhall are seeking recent graduates and young artists who are VAS (Visual Arts Scotland) registered, to submit their work for consideration into the Satellite exhibition which will celebrate 25 artists' works. Don’t worry if you’re not a VAS member though, registration is only £20 and is relatively quick and painless. Find out more about the process here. Deadline: 27 April

Also in the capital, Embassy Gallery are excited to announce their annual Open Call for their Members to submit work to the 2018 Members’ show: THE SALON. Accepting a vast array of art works, this is a fantastic opportunity for artists from all backgrounds. Deadline: 25 March

Funding Opportunities 

The London based Sunny Art Centre have announced their Sunny Art Prize initiative, which will offer participating artists the opportunity to win up to £3000 as well as artist residencies, exhibition possibilities and opportunities for cultural exchanges across East Asia. Deadline: 20 June 

There is an opportunity to receive a quarterly grant from The Forest which has initially been set up to support artists wanting to create “any type of creative worthwhile project” – the brief is very open meaning the possibilities are endless. Deadline: 1 April (with more opportunities to apply throughout the year)

Dewar Arts Awards are inviting applications from individuals in any art form, to submit online applications for funding that will support them at a crucial time in their development. Previous awardees include Alan Benzie, Jenni Fagan and Paul Wright. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time.