Scottish Sculpture Trust ceases activity

[Chris Fremantle]

Hi   I just found the following text on the Scottish Sculpture Trust web site.  Sorry for any cross-posting.    The situation is clearly very serious.  I thought that you would be interested.   Chris Fremantle   Text from SST web site (http://www.scottishsculpturetrust.org/)   It is with great reluctance that the Trustees of the Scottish Sculpture Trust have agreed that with effect from 31 March 2004, the Trust will cease activity because of circumstances beyond their immediate control related to withdrawal of support by the Scottish Arts Council. Subscriptions to Matters Magazine No new subscriptions have been accepted since June 2003. This effectively closed off the main source of income (other than grants) to the Trust. However, there have been ongoing costs related to the running of the Trust, despite closing its office and having no full-time staff. There will also be some continuing costs until the end of March 2004, but every effort is being made to minimise these. The Trustees themselves have given, and continue to give, their time freely in support of the Trust. If subscribers would like to claim a refund on outstanding issues (the last published being number 17 in May/June 2003), please contact the Trust by email [ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] by 31 January 2004, stating your name (individual or organisation), address, telephone number and how many issues you are claiming for. Please remember that any refund will, of course, incur further administrative and postal costs which diminish the remaining funds. If, therefore, you are entitled to a refund but would like to forego your claim, the Trust will treat this money as a donation (see note below re Archive) and expresses its thanks in advance. Archive There is also an archive of material which has been built up over the years including a large slide collection, printed material and other resources. The National Library for Scotland has accepted our offer of this archive material and from early in 2004 it will be available through them. The Trustees are very grateful and delighted that this material will continue to serve the Scottish people. It is intended that any residual funds from the Trust will be donated to the National Library to help support the servicing of this archive. Contacting the Trust As of 31 January 2004, mail previously addressed to Darnaway Street and subsequently forwarded to the Trustees, will cease to be forwarded. All future communications should be via the above email address or by phone (0131 220 4788). It should be noted, however, that both these channels are only intermittently monitored. However, if you indicate that you would like to be contacted, someone will get in touch with you in due course. The Trustees would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported them over the years and helped to create a valuable and much admired resource not only for sculptors, but for the artistic community in general. This influence and resource has been mainly used in Scotland but by no means exclusively, and the Trustees would like to acknowledge the interest that has been shown across the UK and globally. The Trustees would also like to record their very great sadness that they have been forced to reach this decision which they have delayed for some months. They deeply regret that the Trust will no longer be part of the rich and vibrant artistic life of Scotland and beyond. December 2003 Chris Fremantle mob. 07714 203016 www.chris.fremantle.org  [EMAIL PROTECTED]