We’re pleased to announce our involvement with London-based production company SEArED whose new show “The Ducks” will run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The play showcases some of the finest young creative talent from the UK and the company hopes to raise awareness of youth unemployment – an issue we’re committed to tackling through our youth employability programmes. We look forward to working together. More info to come!

Are you aged 14-19 and interested in a fortnight of creative fun this summer? Why not sign up for Gallery 37 Express, a music, dance, fashion and art programme running in Sword Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow from Monday 1^st August – Friday 12^th August. The directions can be downloaded here.

Each participant will receive a bus pass and lunch will be provided. Simply download this registration form, print it out, fill it in and post it to us at Gallery 37 Express, The Factory
319 Craigpark Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow G31 2TB

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0141 575 3001.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Impact Arts’ Director Susan Aktemel was named as a winner in the social category of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Scotland 2011. She will go forward to compete for the highly coveted UK Entrepreneur Of The Year in the social enterprise category in London in October.

This prestigious competition, organised by Ernst & Young and sponsored by Credit Suisse recognises the work and achievements of the UK’s most inspiring and successful entrepreneurs –  and within the social enterprise category people who have deployed entrepreneurial skill and leadership in organisations that deliver positive social change. The overall UK winner will proceed to World Entrepreneur Of The Year Finals in Monte Carlo in May.

Having established the company in 1994, Susan has worked tirelessly to build a highly productive and dynamic business. It’s fitting that she should now be recognised as Scotland’s Social Entrepreneur Of The Year, as under her leadership Impact Arts has grown to be one of the most respected community arts companies in the UK and a hugely successful social enterprise, balancing innovation and creative approaches with excellent delivery, sound management and a strong ethos of collaboration and partnership. The company uses the arts as a tool for change – improving the environment, helping someone get back into work or simply raising quality of life.

Susan said at the awards ceremony at Gleneagles last night:  “I’m thrilled to be one of the Scotland winners – it is a superb endorsement of the work we have been doing for many years and will spur us on to be even more ambitious in what we can achieve in the future. I’m really looking forward to the UK finals”.

Now in its 12th year in the UK and 24th globally, the awards programme was created to recognise and celebrate successful, dynamic and growing businesses and social enterprises and the contribution that they make to their communities and the business environment. It is an opportunity to recognise the energy, vision and passion of men and women who build and develop exceptional organisations.

John Anderson, Chief Executive of The Entrepreneurial Exchange and one of the members of the Ernst & Young judging panel said: “When I first met Susan I was struck by someone different – she’s an absolute entrepreneur and successfully applies her skills and ambition to life in a non-profit environment. It would be good to see more individuals like her in this sector.  She’s a great role model and her success is inspiring for those involved in social enterprise. I look forward to following her progress and I wish her well in the London finals.”

THE LAUNCH OF UBRAN GREEN - Transforming Landscapes Together

Friday 24^th June. 3pm – 6pm. St Andrews Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow.

Impact Arts is delighted to announce the launch of Urban Green, its innovative and exciting regeneration venture. As a creative social enterprise nationally recognised for unique approaches to changing and empowering lives, Impact Arts has developed this initiative that aims to transform under or unused landscapes through community engagement and creative interventions – all for the good of the local area and its residents.

In partnership with Glasgow Housing Association, Southside Housing Association and Land Engineering, Urban Green has transformed three underused green spaces at St Andrews Drive in Pollokshields, Glasgow.

Impact Arts has a long and successful track record in delivering artworks within public settings. Its methodology for public art programmes is focused on community engagement and involvement, from design stage, commissioning of artists to celebratory events. Artworks, whether they be mural work in a nursery school, custom-made street furniture or landmark sculptural pieces, have the potential to transform local environments and change the way people feel about themselves and their communities. Regeneration with local participation touches and enriches community life.

In Pollokshields, there has been an ongoing consultation process involving local people, residents, groups and schools to design dynamic spaces that meet the community’s needs, allowing local residents to re-engage with the space. The result  is a new community garden, a community space for festivals and events, and an art space populated with works created by pupils at Bellahouston Academy from designs and ideas submitted by the whole community. St Andrews Drive has been transformed into a beautiful and inspiring place for the whole community to appreciate and celebrate together.  This regeneration encourages positive activities, improving the overall health, well-being and lives of the residents, as well as those simply passing through.

Impact Arts is committed to engaging with more local communities across Scotland and beyond through its Urban Green programme. This can be an independent activity or fit within the larger regeneration of an area, it can be a high impact explosion of semi permanent works or a long-term community commitment and change. It is a tailored service for each community with the community need always at its heart. Through engaging in quality communication consultation, having access to environmental expertise and an artistic vision, communities can permanently transform their environments for the better.

Quote from Glasgow Housing Association “We are delighted to have funded the first Urban Green in Glasgow, transforming 3 underused Greenspaces in Pollokshields into community assets”

Urban Green, St Andrews Drive

In November 2010 Impact Arts began the Urban Green project in Glasgow at St Andrew’s Drive, Pollokshields. The project is funded by Glasgow Housing Association. Between November 2010 and March 2011 Impact Arts delivered consultation sessions and developed designs. It has engaged the following groups in a series of open meetings, consultation and design sessions:

Glendale Primary School

Bellahouston Academy School

The Nan McKay Hall

Pollokshields LHO management committee

Local residents and businesses (through a site open day)

Young Scot recently took some time to interview participants on our Fab Pad and Creative Pathways programmes. In their discussions, both NJ and Adam gave a good insight into what they were working on and how the projects function.

You can read the interviews at the two case study links below:

Fab Pad case study

Creative Pathways (Eco Chic Fashion Freak) case study

Young Scot also created a page about Impact Arts ‘How to get started… with Impact Arts’. as well as providing some information about our Creative Pathways project

Thanks to Young Scot for its continued support.

Head of Delivery

£34-38k per annum, 37.5 hours per week, initial 12-month fixed term contract, based in Glasgow.

This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic and driven leader to join a national arts organisation at senior level and play a key role in our continued growth and development, with the personal and professional opportunities that this brings.

As Head of Delivery you will lead the delivery of Impact Arts’ programme of work within our strategic and business objectives. In doing so, you will ensure that every project and programme achieves what it set out to do – meeting customer, financial, time and quality targets.

You must be highly experienced in an arts management setting, ideally with a strong focus on regeneration.  You will demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit with a creative approach to programme design and delivery. You will be passionate about the arts, young people and community engagement, be open-minded, fair and non-judgemental and share Impact Arts’ vision and values and our key ethos that we use the arts to change lives.

Please download the following files:

1) Recruitment Information For Applicants
2) Recruitment Pack – Head of Delivery 
3) Application Form
4) Scottish Government Case Study
5) Strategic Plan 2008 – 2011

For more information regarding the application pack please contact Barry Crawford, Human Resources Manager on 0141 575 3001.

If you would like to chat informally about the post please contact Susan Aktemel on 0141 575 3001 or 07977281891.

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 21 June 2011.

Please keep the following dates free: 1st Interviews will take place on 29 June 2011 and will be for the whole day,  2nd interviews on 4 July from 1pm.  Please advise us when you submit your application if you are unable to make those dates due to other commitments, stating what these are.