History of SC&T

Where did it start?

During 1997, Susan Kirkwood, Malcolm Reavell (SC&T) and John Lancaster (CE i.e. Community Education) discussed establishing a programme of evening classes in traditional culture to be based at the Rosemount Annex. There was no equivalent programme which brought such classes together in Aberdeen.

With the help of a small Arts Lottery Grant for publicity and other costs, the classes started in October 1997. From a small start of 5 classes and 60 people, they grewto 20 classes and 250 people in the autumn of 2000. A SC&T community had been formed – reinforced by other workshops, sessions, events and ceilidhs which are organised by SCaT in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. External funding for publicity and for tutor training to support the evening classes, since the initial Lottery Grant, had been raised entirely by SC&T through its own external activities.

During that time, a workshop had been run in Banchory (Alisdair Fraser), a performance skills weekend was held in Stonehaven (May 2000) and end of term ceilidh/concerts had been held in various locations in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The transition 2000-2002

During 2000-2001, things became more difficult due to lack of space in Rosemount CE and cost pressures on the classes. Those involved in the original partnership in Community Education had left and the spirit of the partnership was not understood and these became even more difficult with time.

In November 2000, SC&T undertook a major consultation with members and participants with input from staff from Aberdeen and Aberdeen shire council and were also successful in attracting two MSPs to the discussion. The conclusion of those discussion was that there was a need to look at creating a core home for Scottish Culture and Traditions in central Aberdeen as a base from which work in other parts of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire could be co-ordinated and supported.

In spite of all these difficulties, there was a very successful Flute School in November 2001 and we supported the Elphinston Institute Fiddle convention in August 2001. Tutor training continued with the support of Stan Reeves (Adult Learning Project Scots Music Group, Edinburgh) and our own expereinced tutors.

The regular Tuesday sessions had switched to The Globe in North Silver Street and continued regularly.

The new SC&T – setting up a company 2002

With the encouragement of Community Education and financial support from the Scottish Arts Council, SC&T transformed itself into a company limited by guarantee with charitable status during 2002 and became the contractor and arranger of the evening classes.  Initially in Harlaw Academy from September 2002, but since September 2014 in the University of Aberdeen.

Phase 3 – becoming a SCIO 2015

The third phase in the development of SCaT was the conversion of the limited company into a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation in April 2015. This is was not long after we moved our classes from Harlaw Academy to the MacRobert Building when we formed a partnership with the University of Aberdeen.

The future..

Is what we create