Scottish Art Events and Opportunities: April 2019

You might be wondering how the first quarter of the year has managed to flash past. This is no April Fool’s, 25% of the year has come and gone. The good news is there’s still a sweet nine months left to see mindbending artwork. Sorry to say, seeing it on Instagram only counts for a half point so get these dates down because April’s bringing many opportunities to catch-up with the Scottish art scene, not to mention some worthy deadlines to keep in mind for the artists out there.

Exhibitions and events

After a long period of development, research and engagement with the sex workers’ communities involved, Collective this month present an exhibition by artist Petra Bauer. At the centre is Workers!, the result of the long term collaboration between Collective, Scottish sex worker charity SCOT-PEP and the Swedish artist and filmmaker. Sex workers’ voices as experts on their labour and lives are given priority, and the film’s approach is inspired by feminist film practitioners 'who emphasise the importance of making films with their subjects, not about them.' The exhibition is open from 13 April-13 June.

Also on 13 April from 12-4.30pm, Rhubaba host an intimate presentation of new work in development by the choreographer Mark Bleakley. What will be presented is a performance lasting three hours, during which three performers will build a sculptural landscape of 'flesh and plastic that is simultaneously revered and disposed of', opening up questions about contemporary value systems and the body. The performance will be followed by a reflective discussion with artists with similar interests to Bleakley. Booking is necessary: email markrbleakley@gmail.com with the subject line ‘HWHTS appointment’.

Throughout April, Embassy Gallery in Edinburgh runs its members’ show, providing an opportunity for their members to show in the space. With Embassy members spanning the breadth of the artistic scene, the show is always a packed sample of artists making work around Edinburgh and beyond.

Stills and Street Level Photography team up this month to put on the exhibition Ambit, which collects a diverse range of artists who are all working experimentally in relation to photography. Across the exhibitors, they work with drones, cameraless photography and across locations in Scotland and Ethiopia. The preview is from 6-8pm on 11 April and the exhibition continues from 12 April-2 June.

Residences and Open Calls

Scottish Sculpture Workshop are seeking applications for their summer residencies until 15 April. Each residency lasts four weeks and allows the artist to spend one month working on the development of their practice – whether this is for production, research or experimentation. The summer residencies run from June to September. There’s the chance to use their production facilities, as well as receive timetabled support from the technical and curatorial team, and a loose programme of activities, including 'film and sauna nights'. Though not completely supported, the residencies are heavily subsidised.

Until 23 April at 10am, LUX Scotland are accepting proposals from artists to be included in their Margaret Tait 100 Programme. Ten works will be commissioned, five of which will be drawn from this open call to Scotland-based artists and filmmakers for 'new short moving image works that respond to the life, work, approach or attitude of Tait'. They are envisioned as ‘one-minute for Margaret’. Each successful proposal will receive an award of £1000 which should cover both production costs and artists’ fee.

Grampian Hospital Trust are also offering a £17,500 budget for a horticulture-interested artist to develop a new patient garden in the Inverurie Community Hospital Site. The deadline is Monday 15 April at 5pm.