BRITISH COUNCIL'S PROGRAMME FOR GLASGOW 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
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Issue 2 BRITISH COUNCIL’S PROGRAMME FOR GLASGOW 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES www.britishcouncil.org
This year the XX Commonwealth Games will celebrate sporting excellence and shine a spotlight on Glasgow’s rich cultural and educational traditions: home to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Sir William Burrell, the Scottish Colourists, the Glasgow Boys, the Kelvingrove and Hunterian museums, as well as universities that have fostered creative and literary success since their inception. In more recent times, commentators point to Glasgow’s cultural rebirth: Europe’s City of Culture in 1990, UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999, and producing five Turner Prize winners including Douglas Gordon, Simon Starling and Martin Boyce. The city has a revered music scene, of which Belle and Sebastian, Franz Ferdinand and Mogwai have been the latest flag bearers. In Celtic Connections, Glasgow hosts an annual music festival of world renown. Glasgow 2014 provides a unique opportunity for the British Council to use education, the arts and English as tools with which to build enduring relationships and trust between nations; making international connections between Scotland, the wider UK and the Commonwealth through the exchange of creative expertise, knowledge and ideas. The British Council’s cultural programme for Glasgow 2014 creates a platform for voices from across the Commonwealth to be heard through music, dance, film, visual arts and the written word. Projects include new music commissions, uniting poets from different nations, showcasing contemporary Caribbean writing, sharing a passion for music between children in India and Scotland, and mounting the first ever nationwide exhibition of contemporary Scottish artists.
Already, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra has marked the
arrival of the Queen’s Baton in India with a lively concert for primary
school children at the Glasgow City Halls; introducing the children
to a classical orchestra and famous composers past and present,
including Beethoven, Ravel, James MacMillan and A R Rahman.
The concert was streamed live to school children and followed by
a live debate with the conductor through Commonwealth Class.
Commonwealth Class is a collaboration with the BBC and
Commonwealth Secretariat aimed at connecting schools, pupils and
teachers around the world. The project promotes global citizenship
among young people across the Commonwealth. Short films by the
BBC are bringing current issues such as women in sport and the
Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to the
attention of young people, providing themes for online debates.
Sporting excellence is, of course, the focal point for the Commonwealth
Games, but it is also a unique celebration of our culturally rich
Commonwealth. I am looking forward to seeing the many and diverse
projects in this programme as they unfold over the coming year.
Sir Martin Davidson kcmg
Chief Executive, British Council
DANCE
Big Dance
School children across the world will be able to learn a Scottish Ballet
choreographed dance and participate in the Big Dance Schools
Pledge through our Schools Online website. Ahead of this event, we
also plan to provide step by step guides for Commonwealth schools
on how to take part, alongside teaching resources that will provide
an introduction to dance.
Big Dance is the world’s largest dance programme, founded in 2006
by the Mayor of London in partnership with Arts Council England.
In 2014, Big Dance has commissioned Scottish Ballet to choreograph
a piece to be performed by a group of young people at the Tramway
in Glasgow in May, as part of Get Scotland Dancing 2013 –14.
Join dancers around the world by performing your dance on 16 May 2014.
schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org
© British Council
Big Dance event in Mozambique
© British Council Big Dance event in Beirut
EDUCATION
© Mat Wright
Commonwealth Class
Commonwealth Class provides teaching resources,
online debates and interactive activities for schools
to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
It celebrates the values of the Commonwealth and
connects its schools and young people so that they
can learn together how to be active, responsible
global citizens, as part of the Commonwealth family.
Commonwealth Class will reach more than 100,000
schools; of which 10,000 will be involved in online
learning activities and 150 of the most enthusiastic
will have the chance to work on collaborative projects
in cross-Commonwealth teams.
The BBC, British Council and Commonwealth Secretariat
have joined forces to deliver Commonwealth Class,
In collaboration with
a Legacy 2014 educational programme.
www.britishcouncil.org/commonwealthclass
bbc.co.uk/commonwealthclass
Future News
Future News will give 16 to 19 year olds from the Commonwealth and Scotland
a unique insight into the media. In April, top international journalists will offer
training in everything from video editing to media ethics at a major three-day
conference in Glasgow, host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Following the conference, through an online platform, participants will continue
to experience the excitement of a live newsroom and practise reporting and
editing for different media.
Future News is a partnership between Glasgow Life, Tinopolis, the Herald &
Times Group, Glasgow 2014 and the British Council. Reuters, CNN and other
media organisations are providing in kind support.
www.futurenews.org.uk
© Mat Wright
film
9.88 Films
Create a ten second film.
Filmmakers (aged 18 and over) of all levels of
experience across Scotland, the wider UK and the
Commonwealth are invited to showcase their talent
by creating ten second films using any form of
moving image, on any theme.
Entries will be judged by a jury of high profile
filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs. The best
three films will be recognised with an award and
there will be an additional student award.
9.88 Films is a challenge supported by Creative
Scotland and Channel 4 to make an ultra-short film.
It is inspired by the Commonwealth record for the
100m sprint: a global event that captivates audiences
in under ten seconds. 9.88 films is being led by
interactive entertainment specialists Chunk and the
challenge forms part of the official Glasgow 2014
Cultural programme.
Enter your ten second film by 9 April 2014 at
www.9point88.com
© Mat Wright Follow the challenge on Twitter and Facebook: @9point88 facebook.com/9point88
LITERATURE
© Maria Nunes
NGC BOCAS Lit Fest, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Contemporary
Caribbean Writing
The British Council, working in collaboration with
Commonwealth Writers, the Aye Write Festival and
other Scottish and Commonwealth partners, will
present a varied literature programme exploring
cultural connections between Glasgow and
the Caribbean.
The programme will look at the shared history
of Glasgow and the Caribbean through the words
and thoughts of their best contemporary writers.
Events run in partnership with Glasgow’s Aye Write!
and pop up arts venue Empire Café will showcase
poets, novelists, storytellers and shortlisted writers.Commonwealth
Poets United
Commonwealth Poets United is an international exchange between
six Scottish poets and poets from six Commonwealth nations
including: Canada, Nigeria and New Zealand. The exchanges
will build lasting relationships between poets, organisations and
Commonwealth communities.
Poems will be made available nationally and internationally reaching
a wide audience including school children and those who do not usually
engage with poetry.
Commonwealth Poets United forms part of the official Glasgow 2014
Cultural programme and is being delivered by the Scottish Poetry
Library, supported by the BBC, Creative Scotland and the British Council.
Commonwealth means
A free association of independent member nations bound by
Friendship, loyalty, the desire for Democracy, equality, freedom and peace.
Remembering how hard fellow feeling is to summon
When Wealth is what we do not have in Common,
May every individual
And all the peoples in each nation
Work and hope and
Strive for true communication –
Only by a shift and sharing is there any chance
For the Welfare of all our people and Good Governance.
Such words can sound like flagged-up slogans, true.
What we merely say says nothing –
All that matters is what we do.
Extract from Connecting Cultures
by Liz Lochhead© Maria Nunes
Exploring Glasgow’s shared history
with the Caribbean
© Mat Wright© Maria Nunes
NGC BOCAS Lit Fest, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Historical Fiction
Residencies
Inspired by the shared history between Glasgow and the
Caribbean, two Caribbean writers and one Scottish writer
of historical fiction will be invited to explore Glasgow’s
archives and undertake archival research in both Scotland
and the Caribbean. They will share resources about how
to work creatively with history, and will engage the public
in events on the same theme.
The British Council is delivering this project in partnership
with the Mitchell Library, Glasgow Life, Commonweatlh
Writers, and in association with CaribLit, which offers online
and live platforms and resources for Caribbean writers
and publishers.
www.cariblit.orgMUSIC
Anamchara –
Songs of Friendship
Friday 25 July 2014 18.30; Saturday 26 July 2014 14.30 and 18.30;
Sunday 27 July 2014 14.30
Theatre Royal Glasgow
Scottish Opera’s new family opera is based on themes of friendship and the ties
that bind people together, whatever their age and wherever they make their home.
Anamchara – Songs of Friendship is written by acclaimed Scottish novelist Alexander
McCall Smith and composer Pippa Murphy. The multi-cultural cast of over 100
performers includes young professional singers and musicians from Scotland, India,
Canada, New Zealand and Australia, Scottish Opera’s Connect Chorus and Orchestra,
and a community choir made up of children, adults and students from Commonwealth
countries that live and work in Glasgow.
www.scottishopera.org.uk
© Iain Piercy
An Anamchara workshop in BotswanaNew Music Biennial
New Music Biennial is supporting and promoting 20 brand new commissions by some of the UK’s
most exciting composers; to be performed across the country and at two special weekend events
at London’s Southbank Centre (4–6 July 2014) and at Glasgow Concert Halls, to coincide with the
Commonwealth Games (1–2 August 2014).
The New Music Biennial has been developed in partnership with PRS for Music Foundation, Creative
Scotland, Arts Council England and the British Council. All works will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3
and available as downloads from NMC Recordings.
www.newmusicbiennial.com
Commissions include:
• Composer Matthew Herbert will tell the
stories of 20 pianos from across the
world from Steinways at famous locations
to forgotten out-of-tune family pianos.
© Owen Richards
• Composer Niraj Chag will explore his
cultural heritage by taking front pages
of newspapers from East Africa, India
and the UK, pinpointing a date in history.
Judges Cerys Matthews and Jason Yarde at
the announcement of the 20 new commissions
• Mr McFall’s Chamber will celebrate
historic links by commissioning
Bermuda-born composer Gabriel
Jackson to set poems about island
life by both Scottish and Caribbean
poets to music.
• Stephen Montague will write a new
children’s work for six musicians and
a narrator. It will be based on tales
sent in by children from different
countries across the Commonwealth
© Serious
and rewritten by award-winning
playwright Zinnie Harris.
Shingai Shoniwa, lead singer of the Noisettes
is collaborating with David OkumuMusicians from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
will work with young people in both Scotland and India in 2014
© John Wood
India 2014
India 2014 will create a programme of ground-breaking musical
collaborations, workshops, master classes and cultural exploration in
India and Scotland, in order to develop and share skills, extraordinary
experiences, and create stronger links between the two countries.
The project begins in Glasgow in January 2014 with a spectacular
concert as part of Celtic Connections, featuring Bollywood legend
AR Rahman, performing alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony
Orchestra and students from both the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
and Rahman’s own KM Music Conservatory in Chennai. In March
2014 the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, students from the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland, the violinist Nicola Benedetti, composer and
conductor James MacMillan and presenter Paul Rissmann will travel to
Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai for an ambitious programme of workshops,
performances and broadcasts.
India 2014 is being delivered by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
and Royal Conservatoire Scotland, and the British Council is the
international partner.For school children
An Introduction to the Instruments of the Orchestra
Presented by Paul Rissmann
Meet the musicians from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
29 March 2014, Sir Mutha Venkatassubba Rao
Concert Hall, Chennai
James MacMillan
4 April 2014, National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai
An Introduction to the Symphony Orchestra
Presented by Paul Rissmann
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and musicians
from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Nicola Benedetti – Violin
James MacMillan – Conductor
© Hans van der Woerd
28 March 2014, Sir Mutha Venkatassubba Rao
Concert Hall, Chennai
1 April 2014, Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi
5 April 2014, National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai
Public concerts Nicola Benedetti
Conductor – James MacMillan
Violin – Nicola Benedetti
29 March 2014, Sir Mutha Venktassubba Rao
Concert Hall, Chennai
2 April 2014, Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi
6 April 2014, National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai
Concert programme
Mendelssohn – Hebrides Overture
Mozart – Violin Concerto No 5
Tchaikovsky – Symphony No 4
© Simon Fowler
bbc.co.uk/bbcssoCeltic Connections
In 2014, the British Council is helping international artists from
Commonwealth countries to perform in Glasgow as part
of Celtic Connections. We are supporting the following artists:
• Peter Mawanga and The Amaravi Movement, Malawi
• Mahotella Queens, South Africa
• Winston McAnuff, Jamaica
There are also many other artists that British Council has supported
on their journey to Celtic Connections 2014; through New Music
Biennial, India 2014 led by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,
and our connections to a music industry event called Showcase
Scotland (in which India is a feature country).
www.celticconnections.com
Peter MawangaMahotella Queens Winston McAnuff and Fixi
Performances at
Celtic Connections include:
Celtic Connections Opening Concert Celtic Connections and Homecoming Scotland
with Nicola Benedetti and Friends present International Burns Concert
16 January 2014, 19.30, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 25 January 2014, 19.30, The SSE Hydro
Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra and Malcolm Middleton, Jordie Lane,
Peter Mawanga and Amaravi Movement Papon and Dark Northumbrian
18 January 2014, 20.00, Old Fruitmarket 25 January 2014, 19.30, Platform
In the Tradition with Olivia Chaney, Bernadette Women of the World with Fiona Hunter,
Morris, Rachel Sermanni and Papon Parveen Sabrina Khan and Shellie Morris
21 January 2014, 19.30, St Andrew’s in the Square 25 January 2014, 20.00, Tron Theatre
Julie Fowlis and RANT and Jeff Lang and Bobby Singh with Asin Langa
Parveen Sabrina Khan and Bhungar Manganiyar
22 January 2014, 20.00, Old Fruitmarket 25 January 2014, 20.00, National Piping Centre
Väsen and Ruhaniyat The Music of AR Rahman with the BBC
22 January 2014, 20.00, Mitchell Library Scottish Symphony Orchestra
30 January 2014, 19.30, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
On Celtic Drover Tracks and Saurav Moni
23 January 2014, 20.00, Mitchell Library Lau and Annabelle Chvostek
30 January 2014, 19.30, City Halls
Raghu Dixit Project and Shellie Morris
24 January 2014, 19.30, Oran Mòr Winston McAnuff and Fixi and Support
31 January 2014, 19.30, The Arches
Folk Nations and James Duncan MacKenzie
24 January 2014, 20.00, Mitchell Library© Dominic Cocozza
Big Big Singers come together for a flash
mob in Glasgow Central Station
Big Big Sing
The Commonwealth is rich in great singing traditions and
instances of communities coming together in song: something
to be both celebrated and cherished. Big Big Sing aims to
build on these traditions and inspire thousands of people
to sing and share their singing in a global community. Songs
from around the Commonwealth will feature in the Big Big
Commonwealth Songbook.
Song is both universal and personal. Singing is good for your
brain, your breathing, your mental health and your social life.
And it is free! Join in the Big Big Sing in 2014 by going to the
website, which offers a range of ‘How to…’ guides for anyone
interested in doing it for themselves, and tips on how to
organise a flash-mob choir and set up your own choir.
www.bigbigsing.orgBig Big Sing also invites any choir
or singer in the Commonwealth to
share their music with the world on
Commonwealth Music Radio. This free
internet radio station is launched in April
2014 especially for the Big Big Sing, and
is extremely simple to access and use.
Through Commonwealth Music Radio,
© Sandy Young Photography
choirs and singers across the world
will be able to hear each other’s songs
and performances. Find it on the Big Big
Sing website.
Singers learning songs from around the Commonwealth
© Helen Wyllie
Big Big Sing will bring together thousands of singers
to celebrate the Commonwealth GamesVISUAL ARTS
Shilpa Gupta, Where Do I End and You Begin, 2012
Image courtesy of the artist
Kushana Bush, The Rioters 2012
Image courtesy of the artist
Where do I end and you begin
City Art Centre, Edinburgh, 1 August – 19 October 2014
Taking its title from a work by Indian artist, Shilpa Gupta, this major
international exhibition invites perspectives from five points across the
Commonwealth to explore and interrogate the ideas, ideals and myths which
underpin notions of common-wealth and the commons. Led by Edinburgh
Art Festival in collaboration with five curators from Dunedin, Johannesburg,
London, New Delhi and Vancouver, Where do I end and you begin will include
new and recent work by 25 –30 artists.
Presented across four floors of Edinburgh’s City Art Centre as well as several
off site projects, Where do I end and you begin will sit at the heart of the
2014 Edinburgh Art Festival. It is being developed in partnership with City Art
Centre, with support from City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and
EventScotland. International partners include the British Council and Creative
New Zealand.
www.edinburghartfestival.comGENERATION: 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland March – November 2014 GENERATION is a landmark series of exhibitions celebrating 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland. It features an extensive programme of works of art by over 100 artists in over 60 venues across the nation as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. GENERATION is a collaboration between the National Galleries of Scotland, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland. This ambitious programme will shine a light on the past 25 years, a period which has seen Scotland develop an international reputation as a distinguished centre for contemporary art, and aims to raise the profile of contemporary art in Scotland and to increase access and participation. GENERATION partners include VisitScotland, EventScotland, British Council, Museums Galleries Scotland, Education Scotland, Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the BBC. www.nationalgalleries.org/aboutus/special-projects/generation Martin Boyce, Our Love is Like the Flowers, the Rain, the Sea and The Ross Sinclair, ‘Real Life, Rocky Mountain’ 1996. Hours. Installation view Tramway, Glasgow 2002. Courtesy of the Artist Installation view, CCA, Glasgow. and The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd, Glasgow. Photo: Keith Hunter. Image courtesy of the artist
Member Countries of the Commonwealth
Botswana Cameroon Ghana
Malawi Mauritius
Rwanda Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Bangladesh Brunei
Pakistan
Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas
Canada
Grenada Guyana
St Lucia
St Vincent and The Grenadines
Cyprus Malta
Australia Fiji
New Zealand Papua New Guinea
TongaKenya Lesotho
Mozambique Namibia Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Swaziland Uganda
Zambia
India Malaysia Maldives
Singapore Sri Lanka
Barbados Belize
Dominica
Jamaica St Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
Kiribati Nauru
Samoa Solomon Islands
Tuvalu VanuatuMember Countries of the Commonwealth
DANCE
EDUCATION
FILM
LITERATURE
MUSIC
British Council Scotland
Waverley Gate (Fourth Floor)
2– 4 Waterloo Place VISUAL ARTS
Edinburgh EH1 3EG
T +44 (0)131 524 5700
F +44 (0)131 524 5701
© British Council 2014 / D439
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