culture collective - What is it?
Culture Collective was a network of 26 participatory arts projects, shaped by local communities alongside artists and creative organisations. Funded by Scottish Government emergency COVID-19 funds through Creative Scotland, these projects took place across Scotland from March 2021 until October 2022.
From Shetland to Inverclyde, Aberdeen to Hawick, each unique project was designed and driven by the community in which it is rooted, and played an important part in shaping the future cultural life of Scotland. Some projects worked to creatively engage with older community members; some provided opportunities for young women and non-binary people to find their voices; and some addressed disconnection, loneliness and mental health in post-lockdown world.
For the projects themselves, the Culture Collective provided a network: opportunities to share resources, learning and experiences. For the sector as a whole, the Culture Collective shines a light on the crucial importance of participatory arts projects for artists, for communities and for the future.
From Shetland to Inverclyde, Aberdeen to Hawick, each unique project was designed and driven by the community in which it is rooted, and played an important part in shaping the future cultural life of Scotland. Some projects worked to creatively engage with older community members; some provided opportunities for young women and non-binary people to find their voices; and some addressed disconnection, loneliness and mental health in post-lockdown world.
For the projects themselves, the Culture Collective provided a network: opportunities to share resources, learning and experiences. For the sector as a whole, the Culture Collective shines a light on the crucial importance of participatory arts projects for artists, for communities and for the future.
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What We Do Now - Overview
Culture Collective's Dumfries & Galloway project ‘What We Do Now’ (WWDN) was a pioneering experiment working with creative freelancers, places and communities across the South West of Scotland.
Operating as an 'anchor organisation', The Stove Network worked with five towns across Dumfries & Galloway to develop creative projects that supported freelance practitioners/artists to platform and celebrate previously unheard sections in their communities through place-specific, relevant, community-led artistic projects.
The project ignited and inspired new imaginative possibilities, working with and for the communities and towns involved. Inclusion, empowerment and creative freedom were at the heart of WWDN. The Stove partnered with Dumfries & Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Third Sector D&G and regional arts organisations Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, Upland and Wigtown Book Festival to bring together a proposal for Dumfries & Galloway that saw creative freelancers employed to work with communities for over 12 months in five ‘Place Hubs’ - Langholm, Sanquhar, Castle Douglas, Northwest Dumfries & Stranraer.
Each Place Hub was supported to commission freelancers to collaborate and support creative ideas and projects with key sections of each respective community, working with communities experiencing disadvantage. All have identified sections of their own community where COVID has accentuated existing disadvantage and exclusion and have some experience of working culturally.
Culture Collective's Dumfries & Galloway project ‘What We Do Now’ (WWDN) was a pioneering experiment working with creative freelancers, places and communities across the South West of Scotland.
Operating as an 'anchor organisation', The Stove Network worked with five towns across Dumfries & Galloway to develop creative projects that supported freelance practitioners/artists to platform and celebrate previously unheard sections in their communities through place-specific, relevant, community-led artistic projects.
The project ignited and inspired new imaginative possibilities, working with and for the communities and towns involved. Inclusion, empowerment and creative freedom were at the heart of WWDN. The Stove partnered with Dumfries & Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Third Sector D&G and regional arts organisations Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, Upland and Wigtown Book Festival to bring together a proposal for Dumfries & Galloway that saw creative freelancers employed to work with communities for over 12 months in five ‘Place Hubs’ - Langholm, Sanquhar, Castle Douglas, Northwest Dumfries & Stranraer.
Each Place Hub was supported to commission freelancers to collaborate and support creative ideas and projects with key sections of each respective community, working with communities experiencing disadvantage. All have identified sections of their own community where COVID has accentuated existing disadvantage and exclusion and have some experience of working culturally.
WWDN LANGHOLM | 'Ownership & Voice'
OutPost Arts initially worked with two artists - Jim Buchanan and Sian Yeshe, re-activate existing play and meeting spaces, and creating opportunities for young people focusing on the themes of ‘Ownership & Voice’.
Emerging artist Sian Yeshe worked with young people in Langholm through the delivery of a Bronze Arts Award at Langholm High School, exploring the role of film and filmmaking in the creative expression of young people’s voices. Whilst in residence, Sian explored the use of digital technology to initiate collaborations with young people and activated a local space to become a hub for creativity
Established Artist Jim Buchanan explored outdoor play - activating forgotten spaces within the town. From play parks to trails, Buchanan focused on uniting community voices around the possibilities of play through a variety of creative activities from parkour to willow weaving to illuminate and inspire new imaginative possibilities for the future use of these areas.
A third commission was awarded to upcoming Illustrator Natalya Smith, to develop a weekly drop-in Comic Club with secondary school pupils, further activating a local space which became known as the 'Chrysalis' creative hub.
Emerging artist Sian Yeshe worked with young people in Langholm through the delivery of a Bronze Arts Award at Langholm High School, exploring the role of film and filmmaking in the creative expression of young people’s voices. Whilst in residence, Sian explored the use of digital technology to initiate collaborations with young people and activated a local space to become a hub for creativity
Established Artist Jim Buchanan explored outdoor play - activating forgotten spaces within the town. From play parks to trails, Buchanan focused on uniting community voices around the possibilities of play through a variety of creative activities from parkour to willow weaving to illuminate and inspire new imaginative possibilities for the future use of these areas.
A third commission was awarded to upcoming Illustrator Natalya Smith, to develop a weekly drop-in Comic Club with secondary school pupils, further activating a local space which became known as the 'Chrysalis' creative hub.
Meet the Artists...
Established Artist – Jim Buchanan
Although born in Bristol in 1965, Jim Buchanan spent most of his formative years on the Donegal coast of Ireland. His childhood play space was defined by how far he could walk or run, and then return home, in a day. This freedom of movement across wild landscape, dotted with pre-Christian archaeological spaces infuses his current work, and that of his major past-time, running.
Jim went on to train as a landscape architect at Leeds Polytechnic (1983 to 1990), but emerged out of private practise as a renowned labyrinth-maker and artist, working on exciting and ambitious installation and labyrinth projects. A Canadian children’s hospital is currently using two of Jim’s ‘labyrinths of light’ for clinical therapies, and quantitative research is being undertaken to measure the degree of positive calming achieved.
Jim has been based in Dumfriesshire for over twenty years, setting his studio practise within a rural landscape backdrop, with a maritime light quality. He lives with his wife and two sons.
Established Artist – Jim Buchanan
Although born in Bristol in 1965, Jim Buchanan spent most of his formative years on the Donegal coast of Ireland. His childhood play space was defined by how far he could walk or run, and then return home, in a day. This freedom of movement across wild landscape, dotted with pre-Christian archaeological spaces infuses his current work, and that of his major past-time, running.
Jim went on to train as a landscape architect at Leeds Polytechnic (1983 to 1990), but emerged out of private practise as a renowned labyrinth-maker and artist, working on exciting and ambitious installation and labyrinth projects. A Canadian children’s hospital is currently using two of Jim’s ‘labyrinths of light’ for clinical therapies, and quantitative research is being undertaken to measure the degree of positive calming achieved.
Jim has been based in Dumfriesshire for over twenty years, setting his studio practise within a rural landscape backdrop, with a maritime light quality. He lives with his wife and two sons.
Emerging Artist - Sian Yeshe
Sian Yeshe is an emerging artist from South West Scotland. Sian explores people based narratives through a practice founded in documentary film and installation. Using visual and audio narratives she facilitates the communication of issues faced in often underrepresented communities, particularly in a rural context. Wishing her work to be approachable she rarely shows in gallery’s, preferring to create physical installations in situ and release work digitally.
It is her hope that her work can not only uplift the communities she engages with but also shine light on the diversity of life within these communities.
Sian Yeshe is an emerging artist from South West Scotland. Sian explores people based narratives through a practice founded in documentary film and installation. Using visual and audio narratives she facilitates the communication of issues faced in often underrepresented communities, particularly in a rural context. Wishing her work to be approachable she rarely shows in gallery’s, preferring to create physical installations in situ and release work digitally.
It is her hope that her work can not only uplift the communities she engages with but also shine light on the diversity of life within these communities.
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Scottish Registered Charity: SC048764
Email:
hello@outpostarts.co.uk |
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