News and updates on the work of Scottish actors around the world.
Today we are proud to raise the curtain on the finalists for the first Creative Scotland Awards – a glittering event that will showcase the artists, singers, writers, actors and performers who lit up our nation in 2012.
We asked the people of Scotland to pick their favourites and nominations came in thick and fast from all over our great country, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders.
Our judges whittled them down to a final shortlist, with 12 categories.
And what a wonderful variety of finalists – from unsung heroes to giants of the world stage, they reflect the best of Scotland. Big names include Ken Loach’s The Angels’ Share, the late great artist George Wyllie, Harry Potter composer Patrick Doyle and the National Theatre of Scotland.
The winners will be unveiled at a star-studded night in Kelvingrove Art Gallery on Thursday, December 13.
Allan Rennie, editor-in-chief of the Daily Record, said: “The nominations from the people of Scotland reflect the amazing depth and diversity of our nation’s creative talent.
“These truly are the people’s awards and I would like to thank all our readers for their nominations.”
Andrew Dixon, chief executive of Creative Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be working with The Daily Record on these awards – spotlighting and celebrating cultural success. 2012 has been the Year of Creative Scotland – the awards are an opportunity to share stories and experiences behind the work.”
Scottish Film & TV Award
Glasgow Film Festival – More than 35,000 tickets were sold this year, putting this fast-growing film festival firmly on the international circuit.
The Angels’ Share – Ken Loach film starring Paul Brannigan about a young father’s journey to redemption.
The Perfect Fit – A contender for an Oscar nomination, the story of a shoemaker who devotes his life to making the perfect ballet shoe.
Music AwardAdmiral Fallow – Fronted by singer Louis Abbott, the album Tree Bursts In Snow has been the subject of much critical acclaim, as have their live performances across the UK and abroad.
Frightened Rabbit – The Glasgow-based indie outfit released the EP State Hospital this year, touring the US where they’ve built a solid fanbase.
Rachel Sermanni – Carrbridge singer-songwriter whose debut album Under Mountains was released this year after incessant touring.
Best Visual Award
Karla Black – Turner Prize nominee who creates large installations from a combination of traditional materials as well as others drawn from the everyday environment such as make-up and toiletries.
Elph – Graffiti artist who has gone from bus stop-tagging in Drylaw to being exhibited in New York, Berlin and London alongside Banksy.
Harry Papadopoulos/Street Level Gallery: What Presence! Exhibition showcasing the work of a photographer who captured seminal bands such as Aztec Camera and Josef K in their early days.
George Wyllie – A year-long retrospective celebrating the late Inverclyde artist’s work in his 90th year.
Theatre Award
Dundee Rep Ensemble – Further than the Furthest Thing – Zinnie Harris’s play capturing the epic sweep of nature and exploring the consequences of people being forced to leave behind all they have known for a new life.
Magnetic North – Pass The Spoon – Offbeat crossover theatre featuring visual artist David Shrigley, composer David Fennessy and Magnetic North artistic director Nicholas Bone. An opera, a pantomime and a cookery show.
The Arches – Whatever Gets You Through The Night – Cora Bissett and David Greig’s celebration of goings-on between 12am-4am in Scotland, with writers, actors and musicians.
Community Arts Award
Elderflowers – Run by health charity Hearts and Minds, this project used performing arts to overcome issues faced by elderly people with dementia.
Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us – The brainchild of artists TS Beall and Matt Baker, the public art event used obsolete technology to hurl communications across the River Clyde in Govan.
The Zombie Project – Gave kids from the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley the chance to write, direct and star in their own zombie film and comic project.
Creativity in School Award
Samantha MacDonald and Lesley Riddell-Robertson from Architecture + Design Scotland – Staged workshops allowing children the chance to design a creative intervention on where they come from and film it from the air.
Kibble Education and Care Centre – Run by Gavin Sinclair, who uses drama and theatre as a vehicle for inter-subject learning. His work enables pupils to devise shows that tackle issues, subjects and themes that are appropriate for other areas of the curriculum.
Lorna Gourley, South Ayrshire Council – A musical celebration of the Olympic Torch Relay that saw a local composer come together with local schoolkids to compose a tune for the torch’s passage through Ayrshire.
Feis Rois – Partnership at The Bridge Centre to engage and inspire young vulnerable people through music, with traditional musicians holding weekly workshops.
Best New Talent Award
Alex Boyd – Photographic artist who this year exhibited a tribute to poet Edwin Morgan at Glasgow’s House for An Art Lover.
Blair Mowat – Emerging film score composer who premiered his first full-length score, Electric Man, as part of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival.
Paul Brannigan – Ken Loach’s new protégé who grew up amid drugs, gangs and guns in the east end of Glasgow, and who went on to critical acclaim as the star of The Angels’ Share.
Literature Award
Alan Bissett – Works include Boyracers, The Incredible Adam Spark, Death of a Ladies Man and Pack Men. Alan, from Falkirk, is a regular contributor to Arches poetry night Discombobulate and was also part of The Arches’ Whatever Gets You Through The Night.
Angus Peter Campbell – Once described by Sorley MacLean as “one of the few really significant living poets in Scotland”, Aibisidh is Angus Peter’s most recent award-winning collection of poems.
Janice Galloway – Scotland’s most celebrated writer, Janice is the author of such works as The Trick Is To Keep Breathing, Foreign Parts and two memoirs, This Is Not About Me and All Made Up.
Ewan Morrison – Originally from Caithness, his most recent work, Close Your Eyes, deals with alternatives to modern lifestyles. He is recognised as one of the most daring voices in Scottish literature.
Creative Business Award
Colin Beattie/Oran Mor – Thriving multi-arts venue, which this year put on its 250th Play, Pie and Pint lunchtime theatre production.
Denki Ltd – Dundee-based producers of more than 180 digital games, putting the city on the map as a major hub for digital entertainment and multi-media collaboration.
Show Them Pictures – Edinburgh animation studio whose work includes pro-bono productions for charities such as the Refugee Survival Trust, for whom they made the short film Destitution.
Arts Ambassador Award
Patrick Doyle – Glasgow composer whose scores include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sense and Sensibility and Hamlet, as well as Disney/Pixar’s Brave.
Donald Shaw – Director of the major winter arts festival Celtic Connections, the Capercaillie musician curates a line-up of broad scope and international respect.
National Theatre of Scotland – Seminal production Black Watch continues to tour, with other offerings including The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart and Beautiful Burnout.
Traditional Arts, Scots & Gaelic Award
Manran – The energetic Gaelic six-piece are one of the country’s most popular traditional outfits with some success in the mainstream market, recording a charity single with pop singer Michelle McManus this year.
The Boy and The Bunnet – A Scots and Gaelic language project which introduces children and adults to Scottish music, instruments and folk themes.
Dannsa – Traditional dance group, which showcases stunning dancing to live musicians and Gaelic singers.
Year of Creative Scotland Event
Big Noise The Big Concert – Kids of Stirling’s Raploch estate learned to play instruments on a scheme based on El Sistema, which helped slum kids in Venezuela, culminating in a concert with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela under conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Enchanted Forest – Magical sound and light installation in Faskally Wood near Pitlochry, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, bringing together the talents of Simon Wilkinson, RJ McConnell and Dalziel + Scullion.
The Barrowlands Project – Created by Michael Clark whose dance company joined with 50 locals to create a dance experience, celebrating community and the arts.
Scottish composer and actor Patrick Doyle has written music for and appeared in several of Kenneth Branagh's films. Before coming to films, Doyle received his education at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. In 1981, he appeared in his début feature, Chariots of Fire (1981). He began his association with Branagh in 1987 when he joined the Renaissance Theatre Company. There Doyle composed music, served as musical director and acted in Branagh's productions. He began composing film scores in 1989 with Henry V. He has since worked steadily in films, both as an actor and a composer. ~ Sandra Brennan, RoviSource: YouTube
