MORE than 30 Scottish arts and culture projects have benefited from more than £800,000 in National Lottery funds.

A total of 36 projects across the country have received backing from National Lottery in the latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund, including several which draw on Scottish history for inspiration.

For example, £58,921 of funding was given to Highland theatre company Vivid Roots Collective to support the production of Highlands-based playwright Annie MacDonald’s new play The Wound, The Rag & the In-Between.

It tells a story set in the far north of Scotland and brings together the area’s past and present to explore gender inequalities in medicine.

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Vivid Roots Collective’s CEO and producer Laura Walker welcomed the funding announcement and said: “This is a unique opportunity to create professional theatre in the Highlands by local and emerging artists, for a local audience.

“The play touches on big issues that matter to all of us, but it’s also a beautiful story, and we are so excited to be bringing this to the stage.”

Musician and artist Josie Vallely is also among those to receive funding for her two-week research residency for her new album Forefowk, mind me.

She will be exploring the surrounding landscape of Kilmartin in Argyll which will be documented by book designer Dominique Rivard and filmmaker Lizzie Mackenzie to go alongside the creation of the album.

“The most significant thing for me in terms of receiving Creative Scotland funding is that it enables me to work with a whole range of people to bring my project to life,” she said.

“Being able to collaborate with filmmakers, artists, Nawken activists, a piper, sound engineers, players of weird and wonderful instruments, mentors… it’s going to be an exciting and busy year.”

Other recipients in this round of funding include Scottish trad music agent Rosie Munro who will use the money to attend the Folk Alliance International Conference – the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community, in Missouri, USA.

Dundee-based ceramics designer Steph Liddle will use the £8617 of funding allocated to her to undertake a period of research studying the Dunmore Pottery Archive in Falkirk Council’s museum collection.

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Creative Scotland’s interim director of arts Paul Burns said: “The exciting projects which have been awarded in the latest round of the National Lottery Open Fund exemplify how vital these awards are for culture across the country.

“We are thrilled to be able to support these organisations and individuals, including so many who draw inspiration from historical subjects to create contemporary artistic responses.

“This work allows us all the opportunity to reflect on Scotland’s rich history – highlighting stories, artistic practices and traditions of the past in ways that connect to our modern lives.”