Latest news with #BeaconArtsCentre
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Improvement plan and £285k investment for Wantage theatre
A £285,000 revamp of an Oxfordshire town's arts centre has been approved, along with an improvement plan for the money from Vale of White Horse District Council will be spent on refurbishing the Beacon Arts Centre, in part of the action plan, food and drink offerings will be reviewed and "more co-ordinated" marketing will be carried out to boost ticket the council said fees and charges had already been increased at the venue - and would be reviewed again in the middle of the year to "assess if any further commercial opportunities exist". The money will also pay for improving the venue's reception area, refurbishing toilets and creating a more attractive entrance. Originally a Civic Hall built in 1973, The Beacon now has a theatre, dance studio and three function improvements are the second phase of an action plan - and the council said it had already done things like start National Theatre Live screenings and re-introduce a Helen Pighill said the authority had to balance The Beacon's "dual role" as an entertainment venue, aiming to be more commercial, and the "valuable public service" it offered for things like training and said: "The first phase action plan for the Beacon, adopted in February 2024, laid the groundwork for improvements and this next phase addresses outstanding actions, while introducing a comprehensive set of new initiatives."The council said it was also developing a "Culture, Heritage and Creative Industries Strategy" for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow School of Art lecturer to launch book and exhibition
Fiona Robertson, a lecturer in the painting and printmaking department since the late 1990s, has encapsulated her experiences in a book of drawings titled INSIDE JOB: Memories of an Art School. Some of these drawings have been reworked for an exhibition at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock. (Image: Christopher Bowen) The book features 100 drawings that fictionalise her memories, describing her experience of teaching fine art and exploring the dual role of artist and teacher. It also reflects on life at the art school, the impact of the two devastating fires in 2014 and 2018, and the Covid pandemic of 2020. Ms Robertson said: "I have been at the Glasgow School of Art for 28 years. (Image: Christopher Bowen) "It is a fantastic privilege to teach there. It is an exciting place to learn and to meet people from all over the world. "The last 10 years have been difficult. The fires had a huge impact. "We perhaps didn't understand what we had in the Mac building until it was gone. 'It was an amazing building. It had a huge sense of tradition. Almost a presence in itself." (Image: Christopher Bowen) She will launch her book and give guests a walkthrough of her exhibition at a free event at the Beacon at 11am on Wednesday, May 28. Tickets for the talk and exhibition are free, but can be pre-booked here. Her show expands on the work in her book, using painting and printmaking to explore materiality and impressions of memories and dreams. Ms Robertson added: "It is exciting for me to have a show of painting. "Many of the works are reworkings of my drawings in the book, but translated into a different medium. "It is more expressive and colourful and imaginative, compared to the graphic and linear nature of the drawings." The Beacon, which was recently awarded multi-year funding from Creative Scotland to support its work, has an annual programme of visual arts exhibitions. The programme is overseen by guest curator Fraser Taylor, who is an honorary professor at the Glasgow School of Art and was previously visiting artist and adjunct professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr Taylor said: "We are delighted to bring Fiona's work to the Beacon. "Fiona's work promises to inspire and delight audiences – and we are all looking forward to hearing her take on life as a teacher and artist at the GSA."
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scotland's first Highland Games of the summer season to kick off this weekend
The event will include a classic caber toss, dancing competitions, and much more. Scotland is renowned for many things, whether that be its whisky or cuisine. Another major and historic aspect of our culture is the Highland Games. Highland Games refers to a competitive strength sport event that is usually held over the summer in Scotland. With different games taking place across the country during the season, they are a celebration of Scottish and Celtic culture—particularly that of the Scottish Highlands. This weekend marks the first major Highland Games of the season. The Gourock Highland Games will take place at Battery Park in Inverclyde on Sunday, May 11, between 12pm and 6pm. The 67th annual Gourock Highland Games will include a number of heavyweight events, with a record number of applicants according to organisers. Traditionally, Highland Games features events such as the stone put, the Scottish hammer throw, the caber toss, and the sheaf toss. The free-to-attend games will also include pipe band and drum competitions, with many bands competing for a variety of trophies. Additionally, the West of Scotland Highland Dance Championships will take place at the games. Another highlight of the Gourock Highland Games will be a circus skills stall hosted by the local Beacon Arts Centre. Meanwhile, Inverclyde librarians will be putting on activities for all ages such as book folding and sessions with local heritage volunteers. For younger visitors, the Gourock Highland Games will feature a variety of children's entertainment. Pupils from local schools will even be taking part in their own miniature-Highland Games. Finally, Battery Park will play host to a number of gift and craft stalls and food vendors. Completing the festivities will be vintage fire engines, a climbing wall, and a funfair. The chieftan of this year's Gourock Highland Games is local Guide leader Sandra McColl, who commented: "I was asked to be chieftain back in January and I can't believe the big day is nearly here. "I've been going to the games for years with the Guides so I know what a brilliant event it is for the whole community of Inverclyde and for the competitors who take part in the heavy, piping and Highland dancing events. "I understand there has been a record number of entries to the heavy and Highland dancing events. The number of applications for stalls and food vendors was also the highest it's ever been. "The games already have a fantastic reputation for a great day out and word is spreading. I can't wait for it to be here and I'm sure the people of Inverclyde will be out to support the games once again." The first Gourock Highland Games took place in July, 1956, in honour of the official opening of the playing fields at Gourock Park. At the time, organisers believed that a Highland Gathering would have a broader appeal than a traditional sports meeting. As part of the inaugural games, eight pipe bands competed and the West of Scotland Highland Dance Championship was established—with more than 50 dancers taking part. Among the events were a 14-mile road race, relay races, a caber toss, and a tug of war. The Gourock Highland Games were initially held in Gourock Park. However, the games moved to the nearby Battery Park for more space and to allow easier access for competitors and spectators. More information about the Gourock Highland Games can be found on the Inverclyde Council website.
