Bright Sparks

Lighting the way creatively-Bright Sparks

Three of our region’s creative talents have been awarded funding from DG Unlimited’s (DGU) Bright Sparks Awards which, aims to support practitioners from any discipline to create innovative and ambitious new work. We believe artists and creative practitioners play a necessary and important role in contributing to the overall health, development, and wellbeing of society. They often challenge our view of the world but also help us understand it better. They can bring beauty, excitement and joy to our lives. And they can inspire and provoke in equal measures.

These awards will enable each artist to challenge their approach to their practice, to be bold and to take creative risks. Bright Sparks forms part of our Creatives Unlimited programme which intends to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the region’s creative community.

Given the breadth of creativity across Dumfries and Galloway, unsurprisingly the standard of ‘expressions of interest’ was very high. The panel had a tough choice but, after hearing from the shortlisted proposals, unanimously selected three innovative, exciting – and risk-taking! - ideas.

We are thrilled to unveil Emma Jayne Park, Robbie Coleman and Robert Shields (ONR), as our 2021/22 Bright Sparks Award holders.

Emma is a highly respected dancer, theatre maker, facilitator and micro-activist whose approach to her practice has always begun in the body. Her proposal, ‘Rooted’ will look at the potential of sitespecific dance, co-choreographed with a local community member, captured on film and installed in situ via etched QR codes.

“I believe that rooting it in a place, inspired by the choreographic choices of someone connected to that place could spark an exciting new approach to working.”

Established public artist, Robbie Coleman, is moving outside of his comfort zone. Collaborating with artists John Wallace, Alan Cameron and Bill Coleman, the audience will be able to watch and join in on live collaborations between various creative stations.

“Rituals of Repair - Things seems to be coming together in the project. It’s a collaboration so finding a common creative language is a challenge, but one that is making us work in unexpected ways, which is interesting. We are intending to have an Open Day/work in progress at the beginning of September so if anyone is interested in becoming involved or finding out more about the project, please get in touch.” (robbiecoleman1@hotmail.com)

Robert Shields, known as ONR, is a singer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and producer with high profile supporters, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Niles Rodgers. ‘Everything OK’ is an electronic music project blurring tape and analogue studio recording techniques with modern digital processing, creating a unique, exciting and inspiring live and recorded audio experience.

“I’ve created a character as the face of the project - called Worm - designed by myself and local graphic designer Chris McHenry. When we spoke about creating a face for the music, we really wanted something that felt otherworldly and mysterious and unsettling, but still had an element of fun and childishness to it. All the graphics for each track will have him as the main subject, and we’re thinking of ways to incorporate him into the live show”

Congratulations to all three of these amazing artists - we can’t wait to see how their creative ideas develop, engage with, and inspire people across the region and encourage new audiences to Dumfries and Galloway.

More information on DG Unlimited and the artists can be found by visiting: www.dgunlimited.com

Become a member of DGU - it’s free and open to individuals and organisations. Details at www.dgunlimited.com or email comms.dgu@gmail.com