mail@amculhane.co.uk

out of the blue

I founded, and until 2003 was a Director of Out of the Blue Trust.
In 1994 Trudi Gibson and myself set up OOTB in a shop unit on Blackfriars Street. OOTB was a response to the feeling that there was very little accessible art in Edinburgh and that we wanted to create an open and inspiring environment to bring different people and artforms together. Out of the Blue evolved into a venue for poetry reading; live art; dance; sculpture; video art; print; cabaret; classical music; world music; theatre; community art; site specific intervention; pop music and a number of new hybrids.

12 years on, OOTB is a key organisation in Edinburgh artscene. In 1996 it moved to New Street which was subsequently demolished and it now occupies two venues : the Bongo Club – a performance and music venue, café and gallery and OOTB Drill Hall , an artists’ studio complex and cultural hub. It provides opportunity for artist from around the world and the public and aims to cross boundaries and nurture collaborative practice as well as providing educational and community arts projects. Some of the highlights over the years include: a series of exchanges with performers from South African township Mammelodi; McFalls Chamber – None of the Above an ongoing performance residency for experimental music; The Tap Water Awards – a Edinburgh fringe challenge to the Perrier Awards; Ourbodies Ourselves –a touring exhibition of photography and women’s health in partnership with Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Napier University; Square Foot – hosting a national seminar on studio provision in Scottish cities. Out of the blue continues to go from strength to strength. OOTB aims to be as independent and self sufficient as possible generating much of its own income through club and performance events. The Drill Hall is a permanent home and is being extensively renovated with support from the Scottish Arts Council and the National Lottery.

www.outoftheblue.org.uk www.thebongoclub.co.uk www.tapwaterawards.org

Over the last four years I have been co-ordinating Renga Platform events and performing with the Renga Platform across the UK. The renga platform is an unique collaborative poetry writing experience based on the 1000 year old Japanese practice of Renga, a series of short linked verses. Events have taken place indoors and outdoors in venues and festivals across the UK. The poem is written over the course of a day and is suitable for professional poets and novices. I have also been involved with 2 twenty four hour renga. Venues include: Hidden Gardens, Tramway; Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Royal Geographical Society, London; Baltic, Gateshead. www.renga-platform.co.uk or contact me or Alec Finlay for more details.