PRESS RELEASE
Pitlochry Festival Theatre receives funding from SSE – Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund to support access to the arts in local primary schools in Perthshire
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is delighted to announce that it has received a funding grant of £15,000 from the SSE – Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund, to deliver another year of drama-based activities in local primary schools in the community council areas of Aberfeldy, Ballinluig and Dunkeld.
With the support of SSE – Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will deliver a high-quality drama-based programme of activities for children aged between 7-11 in rural areas in Highland Perthshire and aims to enrich the skills development of these young people, creating arts opportunities and connections between primary schools in the region.
The Theatre will work in partnership with four schools – Breadalbane Academy Primary, Logierait Primary School, Royal School of Dunkeld and Glenlyon Primary School engaging with P4 to P7 pupils, aged 7 to 11, to build on the foundations laid through the first Common Ground project, funded by SSE, which was delivered last year. Pitlochry Festival Theatre is building on the success of that project to create and co-design an expanded range of arts participatory opportunities delivered in the schools and at the Theatre.
Specialist drama practitioners will deliver arts activities and drama-based workshops in the schools that will increase confidence, creativity, self-expression, connection, and collaboration, especially for those transitioning to high school.
In partnership with world renowned, Glasgow based Visible Fictions, who specialise in telling stories for young audiences through live theatre, immersive and site-specific experiences, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will offer a high-quality theatre production which will be performed in each school with accompanying bespoke educational activities and resources.
The project will culminate in bringing all groups to the Theatre to share work on the campus and establish relationships for further arts activity in the future.
Common Ground was created last year in response to conversations with local people exploring what the Theatre can offer to enrich the local community, and the lives of young people post pandemic. Currently there is a crisis of mental health, low self-esteem, and confidence in young people, especially those preparing for secondary schools. Pitlochry Festival Theatre believes there should be more affordable arts provision available in the area to help overcome some of the challenges of rural isolation and disconnection due to limited public transport and creative opportunity.
Deborah Dickinson, Producer at Pitlochry Festival Theatre said:
“We are thrilled that SSE- Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund is once again supporting this important project enabling young people to be enriched by the arts, to learn about story-telling and making theatre and interact with other young people from different communities.”
SSE – Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund is one of the world’s largest developers of renewable energy. They believe in sharing the value of their renewable energy projects with communities, maximising the benefits of local, sustainable power.
Cassie McGunnigle, Community Investment Manager for SSE says:
“SSE Renewables are proud to support Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s work with local schools. Access to arts experiences can have a transformative impact on young people’s confidence, communication skills and overall wellbeing, particularly in rural areas where opportunities can be limited. This project aligns with our commitment to investing in community projects that make a lasting difference. It is excellent to see how Common Ground is helping to build connections between schools and enriching the lives of young people across Highland Perthshire.”
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Notes to editors
SSE Renewables – Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund is one of the world’s largest developers of renewable energy. We have always believed in sharing the value of our renewable energy projects with communities, maximising the benefits of local, sustainable power.
We made a commitment in 2012 to invest in local communities. Our ambition is to make sure every single penny of that money is spent wisely; it makes a difference and reflects the priorities of local people. We think the best way to achieve this is for the grant decisions to be made by local people.
Griffin and Calliachar
Through our Griffin and Calliachar wind farms we make around £500,000 per year available for community and charitable projects. Between 2011 and 2036 we expect to invest £11 million in local projects.
Visible Fictions - visiblefictions.co.uk
We are Visible Fictions. We tell stories for young audiences through live theatre, immersive and site-specific experiences, film, animation, online content, and creative learning. It’s been our passion since 1991.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre. A Theatre for Everyone. A Theatre for a Lifetime.
Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting over 100,000 visitors every year, we’re more than simply a place to come and see a show – we’re Scotland’s leading producer of musical theatre, a champion of ensemble practice and the country’s only rurally-located, major arts organisation. Our purpose is to improve lives by sharing Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry. Our aim is to create life-enhancing experiences in our Theatre and its glorious eleven-acre campus that encompasses the magical Explorers Garden. In everything we do, we are committed to nurturing an exciting creative and cultural future for Scotland.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a charity supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, and trusts and foundations who support us; without their generosity we could not continue to produce exceptional theatre.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a registered Scottish Charity. No SC013055
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is supported by the following organisations:
