We are delighted to announce WHALE buy ativan online with mastercard Arts has received a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Stories, Stones and Bones grant. This exciting project, ‘Wester Hailes: Your Story, Our Story’, will use the £9,100 grant to connect community members of all ages with their roots, explore local history and the intersection between art and heritage. This project is part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.

Participants will explore themes of identity, migration, place and belonging through workshops with local historians and heritage partners from Edinburgh’s museums and archives. An artist commission informed by participants’ stories will be produced for the enjoyment and engagement of the community and an exhibition of WHALE Arts archival material will celebrate the complex and fascinating history of Wester Hailes.

Commenting on the award, Meghan Bidwell said:

We are delighted to receive a Heritage Lottery Fund Stories, Stones and Bones grant. Our project will link the community of Wester Hailes with creative opportunities to discover individual heritage and provide a framework for interpreting South West Edinburgh’s contemporary cultural landscape. This project will be a celebration of the stories of local people and the history of WHALE Arts, which turns 25 this year.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the WHALE Arts Centre 21 April 2017 to launch the SNP Council Election Manifesto, discuss ongoing local projects, and meet with artists and crafters.

The First Minister, joined by local MP Joanna Cherry and local MSP Gordon Macdonald, was given a tour of the WHALE Arts Centre, inducing the WHALE Community garden. The First Minster also met staff from SCOREscotland, Dads Rock, and the Digital Sentinel.

WHALE Arts Director Allan Farmer commented:

The visit of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon focused some very welcome attention on the creativity, talent and spirit of the Wester Hailes community.

The real stars of the visit – and every day at WHALE – were the local people, staff and partners who help to make ‘the WHALE’ such a vital and vibrant community asset.

WHALE Arts – Westburn CAN Coordinator
14 hours per week

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Coordinator to take forward the delivery of Westburn Climate Action Network (Westburn CAN).

Westburn CAN is an innovative community-led partnership project that will reduce carbon through a range of distinct but integrated interventions including an Environmental Arts and Culture Programme, Horticulture Hub, and Community Food initiatives.

The CAN Coordinator will engage and work with local people in Westburn, Wester Hailes, to explore a community-led creative response to environmental issues and climate change. In doing so, the project will establish ‘the WHALE’ as a hub of creative, networked, community-led activity to address climate change.

Westburn CAN is funded by the Climate Challenge Fund.

Job Description

Main Activities and Key Responsibilities:
• Develop and support a local participation in all aspects of the Westburn CAN project.
• Facilitate a project steering group to assist with planning and delivery of Westburn CAN and support its long term sustainability
• Coordinate the delivery of an Environmental Arts & Culture Programme
• Work with partners to deliver horticulture hub and training programme
• Work with partners to develop thematic work around community builds
• Deliver and coordinate and community events, including monthly CAN meetings/activities
• Create partnership opportunities with local community organisations, public bodies, education and training providers
• Utilise and develop current volunteering policies, procedures and databases
• Conduct community consultations to support project development and evaluation
• Monitor and evaluate participation using central WHALE Arts’ systems and participative methods, in line with funding requirements
• Monitor and evaluate performance of the Westburn CAN towards carbon reduction and community outcomes
• Ensure all project funding requirements are met, reports completed and effective communication maintained with funders

Other Duties:
• To carry out occasional reception cover duties
• To support the development of the WHALE Arts Agency programme, systems, policies and procedures
• To comply with relevant WHALE Arts Agency policies
• To undertake any relevant training in relation to the post

Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may, from time-to-time, be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Person Specification

Essential skills:
Educated to degree level in arts, education, or community work – or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.

Minimum 3 years experience in:
• Community engagement and an understanding of the importance of community-led development.
• Conceiving and delivering creative and/or community projects.
• Working with partners and participants to deliver project outcomes.
• Project development including writing project outlines, budgets and funding applications.
• Project management including managing budgets, setting up and working with administration systems, recruiting and managing volunteers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work without supervision and as part of a team.
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable Skills:
• Experience in design and delivery of community, arts, or horticulture projects.
• Knowledge of Wester Hailes community, local organisations and services.

About WHALE Arts

Since being set up by local people in 1992 WHALE Arts has firmly established itself as the cultural anchor organisation for Wester Hailes. As a community-led arts charity and social enterprise, WHALE Arts’ mission is to be the creative heart of a vibrant, thriving community.

WHALE acts as a conduit between our community and creative opportunities through the direct delivery of projects, programmes and events and by connecting our community with city and national cultural partners.

We are based in the purpose built WHALE Arts Centre – ‘The WHALE’ – a unique community asset that provides a range of high quality creative spaces for our community.

‘The WHALE’ operates as a social enterprise allowing us to generate income that supports our charitable work. Our social enterprises include the WHALE Pod creative business incubator, craft markets, office, training and conference facilities.

Recruitment Process

Apply in writing or by email, enclosing/attaching:
• An up to date CV detailing relevant education and employment experience.
• A covering letter demonstrating how your skills meet the Essential and Desirable Skills criteria of the job description.
• Details of two referees, including at least one previous employer.

Applications should arrive at WHALE Arts Agency no later than 13:00 on Monday 3rd April 2017. Late applications will not be considered.

Please note that interviews will be held on the 11th April at WHALE Arts.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring:
WHALE Arts Agency is committed to recruiting high quality candidates whose skills and experience are most suited to the job regardless of sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion (or beliefs), marital status, sexual orientation (or perceived sexual orientation), disability, age or political affiliation.

Please complete the Equal Opportunities form below. This information is for monitoring purposes only, will be treated as confidential and will not be used in the selection process.

Contact Details:
Allan Farmer
WHALE Arts Agency
30 Westburn Grove
Edinburgh
EH14 2SA

T: 0131 458 3267
E: info@whalearts.co.uk

Download (DOCX, 35KB)

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We are delighted to announce our WHALEs Without a Cause drama group has been shortlisted for the 2017 Epic Awards. Well done to all involved!

The Epic Awards are an initiative of Voluntary Arts, and since 2010 have been shining a light on the diversity of voluntary-led creative cultural activity across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Voluntary Arts Scotland Director Jemma Neville commented:

It is fantastic to have such a diversity of entries from across Scotland this year. From Ballet Hebrides in Lewis to WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes and from community-led festivals to crafting stringed instruments, and everything in between, Scotland’s voluntary arts sector is thriving and worthy of recognition.

The Epic Award judges will pick a Scotland winner and runner-up at the beginning of March, but there is also an opportunity for the group to win the People’s Choice Award.

Please vote for the group here under ‘WHALE Arts’: http://www.voluntaryarts.org/epic-awards-shortlist

Voting will close at midnight on Sunday 5 March 2017.

#EpicAwards2017

At the WHALE Arts AGM & Christmas Showcase on 15 December 2016 we introduced ‘The Spirit of WHALE Award’ in memory of the contribution WHALE Arts Board Member Doris Brown made to WHALE Arts and the community over many years. We want to ensure that her energy, creativity and community spirit continue to be recognized.

The Spirit of WHALE Award was presented by WHALE Arts Director Allan Farmer to Jan Davies and Julia Davies for their significant contribution across a range of WHALE projects, creativity, enterprising approach and voluntary contributions.

Congratulations to Jan and Julia!