New leader for Beacon Arts

THE Beacon Arts Centre has announced the appointment of Sean Paul O’Hare as its next chief executive.

He will begin his role at the Greenock centre at the beginning of February.

The centre said he arrives with a strong background in arts and community work in Ireland and Scotland.

Chairman Gordon Armour said: “The Board of Directors are absolutely thrilled that Sean will be joining the Beacon.

“His appointment was unanimous and staff who met him on the day were equal in their praise of him”

Mr O’Hare said: “I have visited the Centre several times and I have been so impressed with the stunning building and highly professional staff.

“I have always focused on securing inclusive community support to develop successful arts programmes and it is obvious there are working community partnerships that are making a real impact on the ground.”

www.beaconartscentre.co.uk

GSA in the Saddell

PUPILS from the west of Scotland will have an opportunity to study in one of the Landmark Trust’s historic properties as part of a Widening Participation programme.

The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is one of 11 Higher Education institutions from across the UK to have been accepted on to the 2018 Landmark Futures scheme.

It enables them to benefit from free stays in some of the Landmark Trust’s properties.

The GSA works with 90 schools, and 500 children, across the West of Scotland as part of its Widening Participation programme.

S5 pupils with an interest in studying architecture will be given the special opportunity to undertake a GSA study residency in Saddell House, pictured, in Argyll and Bute, in June.

Caroline Stanford, head of engagement at the Landmark Trust, said: “Landmark’s historic buildings are invariably inspiring and invigorating places for conversation and thought, for reading and writing.”

www.gsa.ac.uk

Portrait project for Castlebrae

THE Castlebrae Portrait Project 2015-2017 is a new and permanent installation of photographic portraits to mark the Edinburgh International Festival’s landmark relationship with the school.

Photographer Aly Wight set up a photography studio in the school each year and invited pupils to have their portrait taken.

The images, now on show in the school, document “change and growth for each pupil over the three years of the residency”, which ended this year.

A high point of the three-year EIF residency saw the school’s gym hall transform into an official International Festival venue in August 2017, a theatre that hosted hip-hop dance group Boy Blue Entertainment.

www.eif.co.uk