In a significant development for Scotland’s Screen sector, Screen Scotland today announced that First Stage Studios Ltd, led by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA winning film and television producer Bob Last and actor and director Jason Connery, has been appointed to run a large-scale film and TV studio space in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith.

A Govan-based community music organisation and a live art festival are among the Glasgow-based projects to be awarded National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Project Fund awards.

“Creative Scotland welcomes the publication today of A Culture Strategy for Scotland which marks a significant step forward for cultural policy and support in the country.

A community music project, an artistic celebration of Scotland’s wild landscapes and a project which aims to increase LGBTQ+ representation in children’s and young people’s literature are among the 39 creative projects sharing over £859,000 of National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Project Fund awards.

Four emerging writers will bring new perspectives to Scottish cultural criticism by participating in the Diverse Critics scheme, a new programme delivered in partnership between Creative Scotland, The Skinny and Disability Arts Online.