GET SCOTLAND DANCING Introduction Get Scotland Dancing aimed to encourage more people to get active and participate in dance. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games, provided an unparalleled opportunity to raise the profile of dance as a creative, participative and physical artform. In support of this Scottish Government Policy, Creative Scotland provided £1.5 million across a four-year period, creating an inclusive celebration of dance across Scotland, linking to the wider UK, and marking Scotland’s place in the world. Working with Scotland’s key dance organisations, Get Scotland Dancing brought together professional and amateur dancers of all ages to dance in public spaces in towns, villages and cities to strengthen opportunities to participate in dance and create a lasting legacy for communities throughout Scotland. Creative Scotland allocated £1.5 million from Lottery funds to support the Get Scotland Dancing initiative for the 2011-2014 period. Six dance hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness, Dundee and Aberdeen were allocated £240,000 between them for dance activity during 2011/12; £18000 allocated as 9 Small grants of £2000 to dance artists in local authorities for local BIG Dance activity over the summer of 2012; £35000 funding towards Big Dance Scotland 2012 which benefitted all of Scotland including the direct engagement of six hubs and the Big Dance Schools Pledge. The Barrowlands Project, delivered by the Michael Clark Company in partnership with Dance House and Glasgow Life, was allocated £250,000. Geographical gaps were identified in Inverclyde, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles, areas of low dance provision in the 2009 dance development need report. Dance artist posts have been created for 3 years, with an award of £25,000 per area per year. Get Scotland Dancing’s main objective was to encourage more people to get active and participate in high quality dance and create critical mass and greater demand for dance. This case study showcases and provides evidence to demonstrate key achievements in quality artistic production and experience; audience participation and development; contribution to place identity, and; legacy and sustainability as these were the key drivers identified by the project team and Creative Scotland.
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