Even Here, Even Now: The Next Chapter
A national network for Scotland's island creative communities.
Even Here, Even Now is an artist-led programme connecting, supporting and advocating for creative practitioners living and working across Scotland’s islands.
It builds on the Even Here, Even Now manifesto created by island artists and is developing into a practical inter-island network focused on visibility, opportunity, collaboration and influence.
Current foundation
Even Here, Even Now grew from Culture Collective activity managed by Shetland Arts and delivered in partnership with Taigh Chearsabhagh, An Lanntair and The Pier Arts Centre. It is identified in the Scottish Government Islands Plan and supported through Creative Scotland and Scottish Government investment.
Why it matters
Island artists make a vital contribution to the cultural, social, and economic wellbeing of their communities. Their contributions enrich the distinctive creative landscape of Scotland’s islands, highlighting unique artistic practices, languages, and intangible cultural heritage. However, these practitioners often face significant challenges due to their geographic location. Barriers such as distance, limited transport options, reduced visibility, digital connectivity issues, and restricted access to broader networks can impact their ability to fully participate in and contribute to the wider creative sector.
Even Here, Even Now responds to that challenge by creating structured opportunities for artists across islands to connect, develop, collaborate and be heard. The programme recognises that island culture is not peripheral: it is central to Scotland’s cultural life, community resilience and sense of place.
Growing the network
The next phase will relaunch in Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides in Autumn 2026. During 2027, the programme will expand into island communities within Argyll and Bute, Highland and North Ayrshire, creating a wider inter-island network of artists.
What the programme will do
Even Here, Even Now aims to:
- Create regular opportunities for artists across Scotland’s islands to meet, exchange knowledge and build practical peer networks
- Provide paid freelance, leadership and advocacy opportunities for island-based creative practitioners
- Deliver training, mentoring and professional development shaped by artists and island communities
- Support showcasing opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, increasing the visibility of island artists and their work
- Strengthen the representation and voice of island creatives in local, regional and national decision making
- Encourage artist-led responses to shared island challenges, including wellbeing, sustainable development, climate transition, community wealth building and connectivity
Featured Articles
We’re delighted to see that Even Here, Even Now has been picked up by national media.
- The Scotsman: Even Here, Even Now: What draws artists to Scotland’s islands? And what makes them stay? (Published 13 December 2024)
- The Scotsman: Even Here, Even Now: Why it’s crucial to recognise the impact of Scotland’s island artists (Published 5 December 2024)
- The Scotsman: Campaign in seaweed, wool and stone splashed across Scottish islands to highlight plight of artists (Published 2 November 2024)
- The Scotsman: Even Here, Even Now: artists living in Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides launch ‘manifesto for change’ (Published 5 November 2024)
- The Scotsman: Is there an ‘island aesthetic’ linking artists in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides? (Published 12 November 2024)
Contact for more information
If you’d like to find out more about Even Here, Even Now, please contact Kathryn Gordon [email protected].
Current project
