Tests for Artists

SCHOOL examination papers from the 1930s and 1960s are to be used as a source of inspiration for contemporary artists.

The National Library of Scotland is offering six bursaries of up to £1,000 each to enable creative reinterpretations of old exam papers.

The Library, which has digitised its collection of exam papers from 1889 to 1963, is keen to demonstrate the re-use potential of its collections for those working in the creative industries

“The idea is that we want to see if a Higher maths question that was set in 1962, for example, can be turned into a choral or even a punk musical performance in 2018,” said Graeme Hawley, the Library’s General Collections Manager.

There will be two opportunities to create dance shows based on the 1932 Geometry (Higher Grade) Section II (question displayed above); two visual art opportunities based on either the 1937 Day School Certificate (Higher) General paper Question 2 or the 1938 Day School Certificate (Higher) General paper Question 2 and two musical performance opportunities (punk, indie or choral) based on questions 1 to 6 of 1962 Mathematics (Higher Grade) Second paper Section I.

The closing date for application is 23 January.

Those interested are asked to submit a CV together with a brief artistic proposals and an outline of costs to:

g.hawley@nls.uk

Chapman to Glasgow

The twice Grammy-nominated Beth Nielsen Chapman is heading to Glasgow in March for a gig at the City Halls.

She will performed on March 6.

As well as her own material she has written songs for artists ranging from Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris to Elton John and Neil Diamond, Trisha Yearwood to Willie Nelson.

Her albums include Deeper Still, Back To Love and Uncovered included.

She was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

The City Halls concert will also be the biggest Glasgow gig for Kevin Morris and The Fallen Angels Club.

www.fallenangelsclub.com

Spark celebration

THE Edinburgh International Book Festival will be presenting Muriel Spark: Creme de la Creme at the Usher Hall on 31 January at 7.30pm. As well as readings from a number of her novels, the festival will also be presenting through performed extracts, for the first time since 1963, Spark's play Doctors of Philosophy directed by the Lyceum's Artistic Director, David Greig.

The event is part of the Muriel Spark 100 celebrations and the Book Festival’s Booked! Programme of events.

At the event, Ms Spark's friend, the literary critic and author of Appointment in Arezzo Alan Taylor, and Rosemary Goring, Herald Literary Editor and adapter of Far Cry from Kensington for radio, will guide the audience through the life of the writer.

For the first time since 1963, Spark’s play Doctors of Philosophy will be presented on stage through performed extracts.

Literary figures including Ian Rankin will share their stories and favourite novels.

www.usherhall.co.uk,

YDANCE celebration

FOURTEEN youth dance groups from across the country have been selected to perform alongside the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland at a celebration of young dance talent.

YDance Routes Destinations is an annual showcase of the best youth dance companies from across Scotland.

The event, held this year at Tramway, Glasgow on 24 February, brings together national youth dance talent in a series of performances.

The 14 groups taking part were selected by YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) – the national dance organisation for children and young people in Scotland - through an application process after the company was inundated with submissions from talented groups.

The evening will also include the premiere of the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland’s new piece for 2018, Di-ver-gent choreographed by Anna Kenrick, YDance Artistic Director.

There will also be a special performance by invited guests, Dublin Youth Dance Company who will perform their piece Six Degrees of Separation, choreographed by Mariam Ribón and the dancers.

www.tramway.org.