The Centre for Rural Creativity at Shetland College UHI and Shetland Arts Development Agency invited creative practitioners, researchers, professionals and arts organisations to join us in exploring, debating and celebrating creative practice and collaboration in the creative economy.
Running from Wednesday 18th - Saturday 21st September, attendees at the conference explored, created and debated creative practice; the environment; innovation in the creative economy; islands and creative solutions; digital collaboration; heritage and culture.
The evening events featured specially commissioned and diverse new works from local and visiting artists.
The conference programme for 2019 is detailed below:
Wednesday 18th Sep: Shaping Futures
On day one, we looked to the future and asking how we get there. Presentations and workshops featured some technology talk and a long view of the creative economy, followed by an evening of contemporary entertainment featuring Fraser Fifield and Graeme Stephen, Roseanne Watt and Kathy Hubbard, and Suzanne Briggs, with a little bit of time travel along the way.
Thursday 19th Sep: The Space Between
On day 2, we explored the spaces between land and sea, human and non-human, dispersed communities and island places. Researchers and creative practitioners investigated the potential of in-between spaces and points of contact for intellectual and creative engagement, which was followed by an evening of multimedia performances by Martin Disley, Renzo Spiteri and Morag Currie that crossed boundaries.
Friday 20th Sep: Heritage and Resilience
The emphasis of panel sessions on day 3 was on heritage-making practices and how they shape resilience in cultural, community and ecological terms. After talks and workshops, attendees enjoyed an evening of entertainment featuring performance artist David Sherry, and a celebration of dialect with Shetland ForWirds.
Saturday 21st Sep: Goodbye!
On the final morning of Shoormal, we said goodbye with an informal, open-mic brunch in the café-bar.
Full delegate passes, individual day passes and tickets to the evening events were available to book separately, with delegate passes including entry to the evening events.
