| Date -19 Oct 2005 | Return to previous page |
The BayArts Project to build a dedicated Arts centre for Moray in Findhorn has been selected as a finalist in the “People’s Millions” Big Lottery competition planned to go on air on Grampian TV’s “North Tonight” on Monday 31 October at 6 pm.
This competition is the first of its kind offered by the National Lottery and the BayArts project is one of four finalists in the Grampian Region – comprising all of Scotland North of the Central belt.
Mr Randy Klinger, driving force behind the BayArts Project said, “The BayArts project is aimed to bring hope and beauty to Moray, it will incorporate a new visual arts studio and exhibition space designed for children and people with special needs. He continued, “Our aim is broad, and includes an outreach programme called ‘Art for the Terrified’ which introduces beginners - both children and adults to a world of creativity, inspiration, beauty and motivation. We also plan to be a hive of activity year round with a programme of films, recitals and lectures. The project involves local and international teachers and artists – a community dedicated to creativity open to all, irrespective of age, ability or gender”.
Mr Klinger came from New York fourteen years ago as a working and exhibiting artist and has continued to teach drawing and painting in Moray since that time. His classes have been conducted in a very old shed with sagging roof and pot-bellied stove. Teaching in this less than perfect environment was and has been a challenge but Mr Klinger has welcomed artists to classes there all day and every day.
Mr Klinger continued, “We welcomed people who said ‘I can’t draw’ and by encouragement showed them that their fears and doubts were groundless. My philosophy is that we all need beauty in our lives – without it life is just mere survival and by some means we need to pass this on to our children. Moray is a beautiful country with a spectacular coastline, moors, forests, rivers and fertile farmland but it is also an area of high rural unemployment – one of the highest in Scotland. Moray also lacks a dedicated arts centre, so there are few arts facilities for children and people with special needs to come together in an atmosphere of experimentation and learning; a place where they can learn, be creative and develop talents they never knew they had”. He continued, “The BayArts project aims to offer these good things to all. We wish to offer an improved quality of life and to help foster a firm belief in each person’s abilities”.
The Big Lottery, The People’s Millions is worth £50,000 plus VAT and the BayArts project aims to win!
Tune in to North Tonight on Grampian TV on 31st October at 6 pm and by voting for the project you will be helping to improve
the quality of life for everyone.
Notes to Editors
The BayArts Project run by a properly constituted Board including planning, marketing, teaching and financial experts is a
registered charity known as the ‘Moray Arts Centre’, it is supported by a combination of private donations, charitable funding,
the Moray Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other bodies.
If successful the £50,000 award would provide the principal funding for a dedicated unit for children and people with special needs.
The project is estimated to cost £400,000, with the request for £50,000 from the Big Lottery representing a vital contribution.
The building is scheduled for commencement early 2006 with a completion date of Autumn 2006.
For further information please contact Randy Klinger (Tel: 01309 690712) (e-mail: randyklinger@macunlimited.net) or David Lloyd (Tel: 01542 882513) (e-mail: david.lloyd@talk21.com)
Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046