THE Scottish Book Trust has launched a new fellowship programme, called Ignite.
There are three awards available and Scottish Book Trust will be working in partnership with the Gaelic Books Council, who will fund one of these specifically for a writer working in Gaelic.
Each fellow chosen will be given the opportunity to "discuss and identify the support they would find most useful."
Assistance to develop a project may include mentoring, a manuscript appraisal, editorial feedback or research and development.
The Trust is looking for applications from writers, comic makers, poets, illustrators, storytellers, playwrights and spoken word artists.
Projects can be in the very early stages of development, such as an idea, outline or pitch.
The project can be similar to a work completed before or one that sees the author changing genre or medium.
Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, said: "We’re delighted to launch the Ignite Fellowship, which will help writers develop their work and connect them with the help they need.
"Whether in English, Scots or Gaelic, we are looking forward to receiving submissions from writers across Scotland."
Gaelic entries will be assessed by the Gaelic Books Council.
Awardees will receive a £2000 bursary and week-long writing retreat at Moniack Mhor will also be available.
The fellowship will run for one year from December 2018 to December 2019.
The deadline for applications is 14 November.
www.scottishbooktrust.com
EDINBURGH Zoo is to once again stage a Chinese lantern show.
For 50 nights from November 16, the zoo will display 450 large lanterns.
Last year's event attracted 83,000 visitors.
The Giant Lanterns of China is "inspired by the Scottish tradition of storytelling, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) worldwide animal conservation work and the cultural heritage of Sichuan – where the Zoo’s resident giant pandas were born."
Barbara Smith, chief executive at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: "We’re bringing to life a new myths and legends theme in an awe-inspiring nocturnal trail around the Zoo, which features everything from Scotland’s very own Nessie to a colossal phoenix from China.
“Visitors will come face-to-face with famous fairy tales, folklore and fables from the Far East and Western cultures.
"Each night, we will illuminate the critical conservation work of RZSS by telling the stories of endangered animals that face extinction and the real risk of them becoming legends for future generations."
The event is produced by the VYA Creative Lantern Company and DDM Entertainment and Events Inc.
More than 50 Chinese craftspeople from Sichuan will spend over 25,000 hours creating the installations.
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns
THE Ayrshire Art Exhibition, is celebrating 25 years of fundraising for Save the Children, and is back again on October 15.
The exhibition will run until 11 November at the Maclaurin Galleries in the grounds of Rozelle House.
It will feature the work of more than 250 artists, and around 400 works of art.
Organised and run by the Ayr and district branch of Save the Children, the exhibition has raised over £30,000 each year in previous years.
Robin Anderson, convener of Save the Children Ayr Art Committee, said: “We are thrilled to be marking a quarter of a century this year and we hope this will be our most rewarding exhibition yet.
"We’re lucky to yet again be welcoming some incredible artists and will be showcasing a wide variety of works; something to suit all tastes and budgets.
"For the second year running, we will also be exhibiting cameo cards; unframed, postcard sized painting that proved extremely popular last year. We’re proud to say that all proceeds from sales of these will go to Save the Children."
Admission and parking at the event is free.
http://savethechildrenayr.org.uk
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