Fellowships to assist Scottish arts-science projects

IFACCA/Artshub, 29 October 2004,United Kingdom

A partnership scheme between the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) and Arts Council England will offer artists and scientists across Scotland the chance to collaborate on projects that will further research in both fields. Following the success of the pilot scheme launched in England last year (run by the AHRB and ACE), the Scottish Arts Council has announced it is running full steam ahead with a 2005 series of Arts and Science Research Fellowships for Scottish practitioners in both sectors. The Fellowships provide funding of up to £38,000, can run from six to twelve months, on a full or part-time basis. The proposed Fellow must be a professional working in any aspect of the creative and performing arts, who can show a commitment to research and some experience of collaboration. The scientists involved in the collaboration can be working any area of science or engineering. Among the projects funded in the first round of the scheme were the production of artwork inspired by neuroscience, and an exploration of the contrasts and similarities between biological design, and accepted aesthetics in society. 'The first round of this scheme, run by the AHRB and the Arts Council was a tremendous success,’ said Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council. ’We’re really excited about getting involved with this and enabling researchers from Scotland to also benefit from this opportunity.' 'Many of the most exciting areas of research lie between and across the boundaries of traditional disciplines or subjects’, explains Professor Geoffrey Crossick, Chief Executive of the AHRB. ‘The support of the Scottish Arts Council means that we are now able to open up this opportunity to researchers across the UK.' 'Supporting the individual artist is at the heart of Arts Council England's policies,' adds Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England. 'This important collaboration with the AHRB and the Scottish Arts Council opens up opportunities for artists to work experimentally in new contexts, and to connect artistic research to leading edge research within the sciences.' The closing date for this round of Arts and Science Research Fellowships will be 11th February 2005. For more information, visit www.ahrb.ac.uk or www.scottisharts.org.uk

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