Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson and Scottish Arts Council Chairman Richard Holloway have announced an ambitious National Lottery-funded £1.4 million project to enable artists to take their work into communities. The PARTNERS initiative is a new fund which aims to support artist residencies lasting from 3 months to 2 years. The artist will be based in, and work in collaboration with, a local community. Priority will be given to proposals which are in Social Inclusion Partnership areas or which involve people who have few or no opportunities to participate in the arts. As part of the residency, the artist will also have time to develop their own work. Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council, Richard Holloway, said: “One of the things we have learned from all the research that has been done into what is now called social exclusion is that the people caught in that particular trap are not only money-poor, they are culture-poor. “Since the culture-poor find it almost impossible to access the transforming possibilities of art, art has decided to come to them. Like most brilliant ideas, it’s simple, but offers a genuine opportunity to change lives,” he said. Speaking at the launch event, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson added: “Giving people the opportunity to encounter others with expertise and enthusiasm can be truly inspirational. And the Partners scheme will allow that artistic experience and expertise to be shared and help participants discover new skills and new ways to improve their local environments. “The arts can boost young people's educational and creative achievements and play a big part in increasing self-worth and self-confidence. They also play a significant part in regenerating economically disadvantaged areas and communities. “Partners is a significant and imaginative step forward, building on work that is happening across Scotland’s communities to address barriers to participation in cultural activity. I believe that the artists and organisations that take part will experience real and lasting changes in their own lives and the lives of their communities.” For further information, CLICK HERE