Renfrewshire Council

Our Cultural Recovery and Renewal Fund is part of Future Paisley, a radical and wide-ranging cultural regeneration programme, and is administered by Renfrewshire Leisure on behalf of Renfrewshire Council.

The fund recognises the different elements needed to retain a healthy and sustainable cultural sector in Renfrewshire.

There are three grant programmes.

Artist development grants

These grants supported professional artists to continue their practice, enabling artists to continue contributing to the local economy and making Renfrewshire a vibrant and inspiring place to live and work.

Over 30 applications were submitted to the Artist Development Grant Fund with over £60,000 being awarded to successful applicants.

• Iain Forbes - to write, rehearse, record and produce an album of original music
• McNicol and Jackson - to form a collection of short illustrated stories for children inspired by the magic and legends of our surrounding countryside and neighbourhood
• A L Brookes - to research and plan a retrospective exhibition of artwork with an associated programme of community outreach
• Fraser Scott - to produce a short film
• Ciaran Whyte - to release new music
• Sita Pieraccini - to create a new and ambitious record of music/audio work inspired and developed as a companion piece to the live show 'Paisley's Echo'
• Gillian Steel - to carry out a period of research and development around collective imaginative responses to dress, and the potential for re-imagining dress in the time of Covid and climate breakdown
• Maureen Rocks Moore - to research, collate and develop artwork based on life during Covid
• Grant McFarlane - to create an original series of compositions based on local landmarks and heritage sites
• Jane Hunter - to develop previous work in textiles into an expressive series of paintings
• Martin Quinn - to develop and produce a 30-minute comedy sketch pilot
• Joseph McFadden - to research the foundations of the Paisley pattern
• Scott Reid - to develop professional practice in song writing, composition and recording
• Indie McCue - to showcase work of local artists during the covid pandemic
• Ewan Sinclair - to research and develop an art installation using sensory objects and materials that can be experienced through a layer of digital content using VR technology
• Linzi Clark - to write, record and release a 4 track EP
• Christine Cooper - to create a research and development project for Maggie Rose's recently written play, New Caliban
• Laura Murray - to allow artist to progress within the Scottish music scene
• Alan Fleming Baird - to support the research and writing of a new piece of classical music for piano and violin
• Evelyn Laurie - to produce physical copies of a recorded album and a launch at the Bungalow in Paisley
• Mark Robb - to record and release a single using the facilities at Starla Studio in Lochwinnoch
• Karen Herbison - to support developing practice and skills as a playwright
• Alasdair Macdonald - to support Starla Studio to record and produce EPs for two new local bands

Town Centre and Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grants

The Town Centre & Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grants supported the animation of sites in town centres and neighbourhoods through awards to artists to create and install artistic interventions across Renfrewshire.

It recognised the importance of neighbourhoods and encouraging people to return to town centres and neighbourhoods safely after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme supported activity across town centres, neighbourhoods and villages in Renfrewshire including:

• Production of new artistic work happening in public spaces in Renfrewshire: high streets, parks, green spaces, local streets, under utilised spaces, walkways, town centres, shop fronts and pedestrianised areas in Renfrewshire
• The development and installation of the following; visual art installation, film installation, light installation, soundscape, sculpture, environmental art, floating art and water-based pieces, landscape engagement and mixed media pieces - this is not an exhaustive list
• Transformative ideas that add value to public and civic outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed during lockdown restrictions
• Interventions demonstrating how the project will enhance the experience of people using local businesses and outdoor public places
• Projects promoting wellbeing and giving access to green space and wild land.

14 applications were submitted to the Town Centre and Neighbourhood Creative Installations Grant Fund with over £40,000 being awarded to successful applicants. These projects are all subject to the appropriate permissions being granted.

Alis Le May - A Gathering Thread

This project will see an art based installation placed within vacant shop fronts in Renfrewshire. The location is still to be confirmed

Friends of Barshaw Park - Barshaw Park Viewpoint

The group plan to install a viewpoint in Barshaw Park, showcasing Paisley's iconic skyline

Indie McCue - Scope

This project will see four exhibitions of work by local artists showcased within a vacant space in Renfrewshire. It will also be available online as a virtual experience. The location is still to be confirmed.

Jessica Ramm - Fate or Fortune

Jessica's project will highlight the White Cart water by hanging illuminated signs reading 'fate' and 'fortune' where the river divides under St James' Bridge.

Maureen Rocks-Moore - Covid Island Diary

Art exhibitions at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and within a space in one of Renfrewshire's town centres will showcase work created by local artists during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mossvale Community Church - Tree of Hope

The Tree of Hope will be an artistic light installation in the grounds of Mossvale Community Church.

Outspoken Arts - artspace37 installations

Outspoken Arts plan to develop a new gallery space within the Piazza Shopping Centre

Philippa Tomlin - My Place In The Crowd

Philippa will gather local stories about crowds and event and create art pieces depicting these to be placed in shop and venue windows and in outside spaces. The stories will be collated and supported by sound design to listen to while observing the artwork.

Soundplay Projects - Soundplay Streetview

This project will see an audio-visual installation placed in a shop window on Paisley High Street.

Cultural Organisations Support

Designed for not-for-profit cultural organisations ineligible to apply for the Renfrewshire Coronavirus Support Fund and facing significant threat

14 applications were submitted to the Cultural Organisations Support Fund with over £100,000 being awarded to successful applicants.

• Jambo! Radio
• Outspoken Arts
• STAR Project
• Right2dance
• Remode
• CREATE Paisley
• Erskine Arts
• Feis Phaislig
• PACE Theatre Company

For more information on cultural funding and support, email artsteam@renfrewshire.gov.uk