25 November 2021
MEET THE JUDGES
We Are All Here Scotland is delighted to announce our judges for our Creators’ Fund 2021 round.
We Are Here Scotland (WAHS) launched the Creators’ Fund to provide BIPOC artists and creatives with funding opportunities that will help them progress in their professional development. On 9 June, the Creators’ Fund reached its £6000 target, and we are now inviting applications from eligible individuals. The fund will not only provide financial support, but also practical career advice, support and guidance.
For the first round of the Creators’ Fund, we will be selecting 7 creators who will each receive £500.
We have enlisted three judges to select our Creators’ Fund recipients. Please meet them below:
Tomiwa Folorunso is a Nigerian-Scottish writer, cultural producer, and Cultural Studies MA student at KU Leuven. In 2021 Tomiwa co-programmed ‘Welcome To’ at Glasgow Film Festival. Tomiwa is currently producing a short film about Maud Sulter with Rhubaba Studio and Galleries (Scotland).
Tomiwa has written for gal-dem, the Herald and The National, and contributed to Monstrous Regiment’s anthology ‘So Hormonal’. She has been the sub-editor for Fringe of Colour Film’s Responses since 2020. Tomiwa was previously the Black Ballad regional editor for Scotland and in 2020, presented the BBC Radio 4 Documentary; The Art of Now: Black and Creative in Scotland.
Tomiwa says of being a judge for the Creators’ Fund:
“The We Are Here Scotland Creators Fund is such a beautiful example of BPoC communities across Scotland coming together to support each other and our artistic growth. It's incredibly inspiring to see how much Ica has achieved, to watch the team grow and remain unmovable in their mission to support, platform and celebrate BPoC creators in Scotland. Personally, it's incredibly special to be part of this process and it's only the beginning!”
Hailing from Ayrshire, Matt Hickman is better known as brownbear.
The release of their debut single ‘Dead or Alive’ in 2014 saw the band gain radio play on Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio Scotland and playlisted on Radio X. They were then invited to support The Libertines at the Barrowlands reunion show before joining them at Alexandra Palace in London, Hyde Park BST & several European dates of the reunion tour. They also enjoyed a great festival run that year including T in the Park (BBC Introducing) , Blue Balls (Switzerland) & Belladrum (Main Stage) before heading into the studio to start work on their debut album ‘What is Home?’.
More recently, Hickman has come into the spotlight for his composing for soundtrack and the start of producing his first short film Stop the World, having successfully been one of the awardees of GMAC Film’s Little Pictures development fund.
Matt says of being a judge for the Creators’ Fund:
“I am very honoured to have been ask to judge on the applications for We Are Here Scotland’s Creators Fund. Scotland has a vibrant creative community that has been hit hard by the events of recent years. Support for creatives and their projects is more essential than ever and to have it in place for individuals and communities who are often left out when it comes to mainstream funding is truly wonderful.”
Katie Goh is a writer, critic and editor based in Edinburgh. Katie covers culture for Huck, VICE, the Guardian and gal-dem and is Intersections Editor at The Skinny. She is also a member of the UK Film Critics' Circle and co-presents the EHFM Culture Show. Katie's first book The End: Surviving the World Through Imagined Disasters is out now with 404 Ink.
Matt says of being a judge for the Creators’ Fund:
“I'm so honoured to have been asked to be part of the judging panel for the Creators' Fund. We Are Here Scotland and this fund are vital, not just for BIPOC+ artists in Scotland, but also for Scotland's arts industry at-large. We need more practical and financial support for artists to build their careers and the awarding of this fund will be an exciting and encouraging launchpad for artists in Scotland.”
