Category Archives: Expressive Arts

Are you mad about music? Are you 14-21?

Scottish Opera needs you!
Call for Connect Chorus auditions

We are looking for talented young singers to audition for our 2014/15 youth opera programme, Scottish Opera Connect, and we thought this might be of interest to you.

Connect is made up of two strands, Connect Chorus and Connect Orchestra, and is a unique programme which gives aspiring singers and musicians the chance to develop their knowledge, technique and skills with the help of Scotland’s top opera professionals. Unfortunately we don’t have any vacancies for Connect Orchestra at present so we’re just recruiting for Connect Chorus.

Interested in signing up? Application Deadline – Monday 16 December 2013

To become a member of Connect Chorus you must be aged between 14 and 21 years old, have some performance experience and be able to read music. Entry is by audition for our Summer Gateway Course (Tue 29 Jul to Sun 3 Aug 2014). This intensive, six-day programme explores opera through practical workshops and seminars and ends in a short performance for your family and friends. Upon completion of our Gateway week, the final Connect Chorus selections for 2014/15 will be made.

Simply download the application form and email your completed form toiona.jack@scottishopera.org.uk

Download the Connect Chorus application form
For full information about Connect, download the Connect flyer

The National Piping Centre Introduce the Highland Bagpipes

In the run up to St Andrew’s Day, join staff from the National Piping Centre, for this exciting glow meet. In this interactive presentation, they will introduce the pupils to the Highland Bagpipes. Pupils will discover a little of the history of the bagpipes in Scotland, and explore what each part of the instrument is used for. There will then be the opportunity to hear some music played on the bagpipes by world class pipers. The target audience is Primary 6 and 7.

Click here for more information.

Authors Live – The Making of Katie Morag with Mairi Hedderwick

Mairi Hedderwick is bringing her most famous character, Katie Morag to Authors Live. Evoking the spirits of island life, Mairi will be telling her favourite Katie Morag stories, giving you an exclusive insight into what it is like to see Katie Morag being brought to life for CBeebies and telling you how the landscape and your surroundings can inspire what to write and draw.  Suitable for Nursery – Primary 3 or 4-7 years.

Click here for more information.

Dangerous Design Competition Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2014

Wanted: Visual, media, communication and creative students from the college sector for an exciting, challenging poster competition.

Prize: This is an outstanding opportunity for a creative communicator to make their name in the industry, with a £200 prize as well as a fantastic chance to undertake a placement with a top design/advertising agency.  In addition, the winner’s name and the name of their college will appear on the final poster.

Designs have to be submitted by Friday 17 January 2014.

View more information on the blog.

23rd International Children’s Painting Competition

The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is an international contest, with regional and overall winners, for young people aged 6 to 14 organised by one of the United Nations agencies. It invites children to produce a painting on the theme of ‘Food Waste’ and saving the planet. The Think.Eat.Save website is designed to help inform their thinking around supply, waste and food security issues

For more information click here.

Young People’s Photographic Competition

The Economic and Social Research Council is running a ‘Young people’s Photographic competition’ (deadline 9th December ) which challenges young people aged between 14 and 18 to produce a picture on the theme of “Where do I belong” – thinking about dimensions such as community, family, friends, country, beliefs, etc. Full details on their website.

Time to shine – Scotland’s first national arts strategy for young people launched

Time To Shine, Scotland’s arts strategy for young people aged 0–25, was launched on 8 November by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs and Janet Archer, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland.

The strategy – which is centred around the three key themes of creating and sustaining engagement; nurturing potential and talent; and developing infrastructure and support – sets out a vision and key recommendations to enable Scotland’s children and young people to flourish and achieve, in and through the arts and creativity.

For more information click here.

Technologies on Glow: Meet the Queen’s Baton Designer (5 & 26 Nov)

In November two exciting Glow Meets around Technologies’ will focus on the Queen’s Baton and its design. Join us on Tuesday 5 November  (4.00-4.45 pm) to learn more about how William Mitchell and his design team  at 4cDesign effectively utilised science, technology, engineering, maths, art and design skills to create the Queen’s Baton and how you and your learners can be involved on 26 November (10.00 – 11.00 am) by considering your own baton design for your school or centre.

Click here for more information.