Scotland’s creativity will be front and centre during March and April in the United States.

Both South by South West, in Texas and Scotland Week across the United States will host the cream of creativity in a series of showcases, tours and collaborations.

In New York, choreographer Michael Clark will be in residence during the 76th Whitney Biennale, the month-long celebration of contemporary art. During his  four-week-long residency as part of the Biennial, Clark will once again engage both professional dancers and untrained volunteers to generate choreography, in an attempt to expand what our experience of movement can be.

Also exploring future collaborations with the Whitney are Arika – of Kill Your Timid Notion and Instal fame, who are hoping to link their DIY, experimental, underground perspective with the Whitney’s curatorial team.

Elsewhere in the city, Communicado Theatre’s  ‘Federer v Murray’ – with Made in Scotland investment – is at 59E59 from 4 April.  Federer v Murray is an award-winning tragicomedy about bereavement and war on several levels: the private war, due to bereavement, between a couple in a long-term marriage, the public war of rivalry within sport, and political war between nations.

Scots poet Rab Wilson is spending two weeks in New York for Tartan Week, performing a jazz poetry performance with musician Ben Bryden, as well as giving readings of his own and Burns’ work.

Matthew McVarish’s ‘To Kill a Kelpie’, first seen at Glasgay! and warmly received, starts a run at 59E59 Theatre during Scotland Week. A strong story about surviving childhood sexual abuse, for this production Matthew is working with Sandy Thomson, fresh from his artistic success with Blood and Roses.

Song of Return, Big Apple Award winners will play at Joes Pub on 11 April and Mercury Lounge on 14 April, supported by Phamie Gow at both events.  Communicado Theatre’s  ‘Federer v Murray’ at 59E59 (supported by us from Made in Scotland onward touring) – 4-22 April

The Tron’s ‘A Slow Air’, written by David Harrower, is also at 59E59 from 4 April. David Harrower’s acclaimed play tells the story of brother and sister Athol and Morna who haven’t spoken to each other for 14 years.  Through a series of intertwining monologues their individual stories are revealed. 

Meanwhile, over in Austin, the annual South By South West festival  will host a showcase for eleven Scottish bands, DJs, producers and Ciarán Foy’s and Sigma Films debut feature Citadel.

This latest crop of Scotland’s talent follows in the footsteps of the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Frightened Rabbit, Camera Obscura, and Admiral Fallow and films such as The First Movie and You Instead.

Attended by thousands of artists and industry moguls from across the globe, SXSW is the biggest event in the industry calendar and is an important platform for artists to take their careers to US and international success.

There will be two Scottish showcases at SXSW:

• Wednesday 14 March – Easy Tiger 8pm – 2am
  We Were Promised Jetpacks, Django Django, Three Blind Wolves, French Wives, Tango in the Attic and Woodenbox.
• Friday 16 March – British Music Embassy – Latitude 30 2.30-5.30pm
  The Twilight Sad, The Xcerts, Three Blind Wolves and Jackmaster.

The full list of Scottish artists showcasing at SXSW are: French Wives; Hudson Mohawke; Django Django; Jackmaster; Tango in the Attic; Three Blind Wolves; The Twilight Sad; Twin Atlantic; We Were Promised Jetpacks; Woodenbox; The Xcerts

Irish/Scottish co-production Citadel, the psychological horror debut from talented Irish writer - director Ciarán Foy, will also receive its World Premiere as part of the Midnighters Section of the festival.

Blurring the boundary between real-life experiences and a darker fictional world, Citadel is an unsettling, original and powerful story - an agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children.

Writer / Director Ciarán Foy said; "I'm thrilled to have my world premiere at the renowned SXSW. Traditionally some of the best genre films in the world have come out of SXSW, so to be selected is a real honour".

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