Annual Report 2017-18 /fifecontemp @fifecontemp @fifecontemp
Support to artists Several short CPD events were organised and newsflashes remained fortnightly as determined by the readership CPD events for artists 5 events were organised - Critical Feedback Session; 3 Hothouse mentoring days in partnership with Craft Council; talk by Tim Fitzpatrick for artists. Attended by 35 people. Newsflashes 36 newsflashes were sent out to a mailing list which grew to 713 recipients by the end of March 2018, an increase of around 4%. VACMA (Artists’ Grants) A total of 16 artists’ Project grants were made. These are co-funded by Creative Scotland and Fife Council, administered by Fife Contemporary and Fife Cultural Trust. General advice Fife Contemporary was contacted by 40 artists from Fife and beyond for advice on a wide variety of artistic matters.
“It’s a great service, I’ve often forwarded it to friends outwith Fife, and my artist daughter living in Glasgow got a project through it. (She’s now on your list!)” Fife artist/Newsflash reader
Exhibitions & projects Fife Contemporary organised 7 exhibitions which were visited by an estimated 6,976 people Limomolum - Jeremy Hutchison: Ran in Kirkcaldy Galleries until June, exploring the deindustrialisation of Kirkcaldy. 1,303 visitors Fife Diversity Week - banners’ exhibition: Made by young people in Fife during Fife Contemporary workshops & used at Fife’s first Pride march. 500 visitors In Time, In Land - Containers’ project pilot: Inspired by Scotland’s themed Year of History, Heritage & Archaeology, craft exhibition in shipping container at The Silo, Cupar, plus associated events. 143 visitors Associations - Carol Sinclair: Presented as part of Luminate 2017, light on delicate ceramic wallpieces explored fragility of memories. 1,971 visitors Ley Lines - Kate Scardifield: Australian artist explored 6 museum collections including Fife’s to create new work reframing Scottish and Australian connections. Curated by Panel, Glasgow. 1,397 visitors My Drawing Day - Alan Vest (StAnza 2018): A series of original illustrations created for The Guardian’s ‘My Drawing Day’. 1,389 visitors NEXUS: Meetings at the Edge: Boundaries between jewellery, silversmithing, ceramics, and texiles were challenged. Curated by Dr Elizabeth Goring, in partnership with Ruthin Craft Centre. 273 visitors on 31 March
“This was a very engaging exhibition and I will be back to see it again.“ Visitor to ‘Ley Lines - Kate Scardifield
Craft development Fife Contemporary rolled out the first of its new craft development initiatives, supporting new makers MATERIALISE - online exhibition Featuring work by 9 recent craft & design graduates, selected from Scottish art schools & colleges by Fife Contemporary’s Craft Development Officer, this was the first online exhibition with an aim to promote new work by new makers. The artists were Abi Bruce, Scott Crawford, Ruth Gilmour, Roberta Lee, Joanne Mearns, Lauren O’Mara, Eileen Pottle, Isla Rustrick, Maddie Williams. 1,035 page views Craft Pods’ Tour 2017-18 The Craft Pods toured to 5 Fife libraries (Dalgety Bay, Inverkeithing, Rosyth, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly), plus 3 high schools (Woodmill, Dunfermline; Levenmouth Academy, Buckhaven; Madras College, St Andrews) and 2 stops at St Andrews Town Hall, with a display of Jasleen Kaur’s ‘Masters of the Universe’ sculptures and background information about the artist. 14,850 visitors
“...the pods have been greatly welcomed by all and it is such a fantastic way in which to showcase exhibits and bring the arts to Levenmouth. We cannot wait to see what is next! Craft Pods’ Tour 2017-18, Levenmouth Academy art & design teacher
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Participatory & educational events Fife Contemporary organised 27 events, attended by 2,261 LGBT+ banner-making & t-shirt workshops 8 workshops, led by Claire Heminsley & Charlotte Duffy-Scott, held in Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, & Levenmouth with local youth groups. Attended by 38 Limomolum - Jeremy Hutchison A lino-cutting workshop & closing event were held. Attended by 21. Jeremy also ran informal workshops at a homeless hostel & job centre. Summer School - senior Fife school pupils (3 days) Held again at Cambo Estate, 4 artists led workshops for 15 pupils. Drop-in activities, Fife Pride Approximately 2,000 took part in rainbow-hued activities to celebrate Fife’s first Pride event. In Time, In Land - containers’ pilot project 7 events were run, attended by 112: Meet Your Maker workshops by Julia Complin (Castlehill Primary, Cupar, & Fife Folk Museum) & CHALK at Bell Baxter High School, Cupar,; plus John Creed performances, all co-funded by Craft Scotland; special preview). Fife Carers’ Centre - workshops with Carol Sinclair 3 ceramic workshops were attended by 8. Ley Lines - Kate Scardifield 4 events ran during Kate’s exhibition - 3 talks (including one by Kate) & a banner-making workshop with artist Claire Heminsley. My Drawing Day - StAnza Poetry Festival 2018 Alan Vest took part in a Meet the Artist event, attended by 10.
“It made me a happier person and reminded me to do things for me.” Attendee at Fife Carers’ Centre workshops
Information services & digital Digital technology continued to be used widely New branding - FCA&C became Fife Contemporary In August 2017, after 11 years as FCA&C, the organisation’s name was simplified to ‘Fife Contemporary’. The updated brand was incorporated into the website & social media accounts. Virtual Venue - www.fcac.co.uk Traffic to our website was recorded at 16,956 visits with the Artist Space proving most popular. 8 craft activity projects were downloaded 98 times. Email marketing This was the first full year of fortnightly Newsflashes to artists and monthly Programme News. 36 Newsflashes were sent out & 11 Programme News. Mailing list sign-ups continued to grow to 713 & 672 respectively by the year end. Social media Using Hootsuite enabled more strategic posting on all platforms: Facebook had 1,874 likes/1,843 follows (approx total annual reach is 146,551, with some 6,392 actions); Twitter had 1,614 likes (with approx 177,790 impressions & 4,664 profile visits). Instagram grew to 1,104 followers (with a reach of 69,868 & engagement of 6,073). Cultural information hub (St Andrews Town Hall) The space continues to be used primarily as a noticeboard for local & national cultural activity.
“Love the new look! simple and stylish!” Comment about design of new brand
Fife Contemporary staff team Diana Sykes (Director) Devises programme, fundraising, liaison with outside organisations Susan Davis (Programme Manager) Administers programme, newsflashes, website, design, press/social Arlene Keddie (Administrator) Finance, Programme News, office management, green arts officer Stefanie Cheong (Craft Development Officer) Develops & manages craft projects Fife Contemporary office Town Hall, Queen’s Gardens St Andrews, KY16 9TA T 01334 474610 / F 01334 749880 E mail@fcac.co.uk / www.fcac.co.uk Usual office hours: Mon-Frid 9.30am-5pm Photos: Exhibit A artists, Keith Hunter, Rob Page, Eileen Pottle, Diana Sykes
Looking forward As well as commissioning new branding in 2017, Fife Contemporary has also become accredited as a Living Wage employer, and continues to embrace its green arts commitments to reducing waste & energy use in the office as well as introducing sustainable practice for offsite projects & travel. An excellent Santander intern will return to complete work on Fife Contemporary’s digital archive which she began in January 2018.
Coming Up.... Exhibit A: curated by Maggie Broadley, this exhibition will combine her knowledge of contemporary craft with her love of Tartan Noir crime fiction. It will also be Fife Contemporary’s first exhibition in the recently re-opened Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. Refugio: after Selkirk after Crusoe: an exhibition celebrating 300 years since the novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ was published by Glasgow-based photographer Roger Palmer which will take place at Kirkcaldy Galleries. LGBT History Month 2019: further work with Fife young LGBT+ groups to make work celebrating the lives & achievements of the LGBT+ community.