The People’s Parish is a new initiative from TRACS to support communities to discover and rediscover a ‘sense of place’; to dig into the cultural memory and find the resources – stories, traditions, heritage, history – with which it can be expressed creatively. Sign Up to The People’s Parish The Statistical Accounts of Scotland were … Continued

A creative exploration of storymaking, music and song for parents and their pre-school children: a partnership project with Craigroyston and Granton Early Years Centre .  The slow embedding of a new project based in two Early Years Centres, and the building of trust with vulnerable parents and families, have been part of an important learning … Continued

“As you were sleeping on your pillows Dreamt ye ought o’ oor poor fellows? Darkling as they face the billows A’ to fill the woven willow.” (Wha’ll buy my) Caller Herring Apprentice storyteller Jan Bee Brown moved back to Newhaven three years ago and has launched a new project, inspired by the rich history of the area, … Continued

Collaborative workshops connecting the rhythms of song, dance, body percussion and beatboxing Guest blog by Sophie Stephenson

Guest blog by Michael Williams I’d like you to close your eyes for a moment and think of your “special place”. It could be your back garden, your home town, a place you visited on holiday, a beach, a mountaintop, or just somewhere that you feel relaxed in, a place that nourishes heart and soul. … Continued

Last month, dynamic storytelling duo Suit and Pace (Andrew Coull and Beth Hamilton-Cardus) ran two ‘Story Swap’ events as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2016. The sessions focussed on the links between Scottish and Syrian stories, celebrating the similarities between our cultures. Working in partnership with the Fife Arabic Society and the Fife Cultural Trust, … Continued

The 30th April was a very special date for the BBC’s long-running Take the Floor as presenter Robbie Shepherd celebrated his 80th birthday. Robbie has been the voice of the show now for over 35 years, and his rich, Doric dialect makes him instantly recognisable, not only in Scotland, but all around the world. The … Continued

“If you want ideas on how to narrow the attainment gap then I think politicians are forgetting to ask the most important people. John Swinney should go and speak to those support teachers. More importantly still, he should talk to these young authors and ask, “how did you achieve this and why did you want … Continued

“You know, in times past, ceilidhs weren’t all about skipping around community halls. It wasn’t just about the dancing, but gathering and sharing, with stories, songs, and whatever else folk had to offer. More about the craic than sets and reels.”

For quite a while I’ve been concerned about the wellbeing of the people I work alongside. I’m a freelance arts manager; I produce concerts and arts projects for a variety of independent artists and small artist-led groups. Most days I find myself on the phone to a colleague asking, ‘Are you OK?’.