Over the last 3 years, Shetland Arts, Taigh Chearsabhagh, Pier Arts Centre and An Lanntair have worked together to deliver wide-reaching Culture Collective projects across the 3 island groups: Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
In November 2023, we held a Culture Collective Artist Lab, titled 'Centre of Everywhere, Middle of Nowhere', with a purpose of reflecting and learning from the Culture Collective projects. The idea for our the lab was conceived with the intention to really place rural artists and the excellent work they do at the centre of discussions, using cross island working to reflect on our similarities and differences and how we can share resources to develop our work, all the while taking the Culture Collective project outcomes and manifesto into consideration.
The lab was led by our Creative Project Manager Kathryn Gordon. She was also joined by Carol Dunbar from Pier Arts Centre. Participating arists worked together to create a publication that would be shared and distributed online and by paper copy, designed by our in-house marketing team - this is what became our "Even Here, Even Now" manifesto.
Even Here, Even Now celebrates island-based arts, their impact and advocates for transformative change. Written by artists from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, it calls for Policy Makers and Stakeholders to make change. The manifesto's creators include Helen Robertson and Barry Nisbet from Shetland, Sandra Kennedy from the Western Isles, as well as Jamilla Garrett, Arwen Haselden and Niamh Haselden from Orkney.
Legacy
Working together on the next stage of the Culture Collective funding, which has a focus on legacy, we advertised for 5 roles to ensure the visibility and progression of Even Here, Even Now.
These 5 freelance roles (1x Communications and Advocacy Lead & 4x Artist Advocates) were advertised on Creative Scotland opportunities page as well as through each organisation. The selection panel consisted of a representative from each of the 4 island arts organisations.
We appointed these roles to successful applicants: Andrew Eaton-Lewis (Communications and Advocacy Lead), AJ Stockwell (Artist Advocate, reporting to Taigh Chearsabagh), Jane Matthews (Artist Advocate, reporting to Shetland Arts), Aine King (Artist Advocate, reporting to Pier Arts Centre) and Bronwyn MacKenzie (Artist Advocate, reporting to An Lanntair).
You can find out more about them on the "Artist Advocates" page below.
Featured Articles
We're delighted to see that Even Here, Even Now has been picked up by national media. Find links to articles below:
►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)
► Oban Times: Island artists launch #EvenHereEvenNow campaign (Published 1 November 2024)
► The National: Scottish island artists launch campaign to amplify creative voices (Published 1 November 2024)
► We Love Stornoway: Island artists link up to boost hopes for sector (Published 1 November 2024)
► The Shetland Times: Island artists collaborate on #EvenHereEvenNow campaign to highlight cultural contributions (Published 2 November 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)
► Shetland News: Campaign aims to build on work of island art manifesto (Published 8 November 2024)
► The Scotsman: Is there an ‘island aesthetic’ linking artists in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides? (Published 12 November 2024)
Even Here, Even Now: Online Forum
A Facebook group has now been created as part of #EvenHereEvenNow; a new forum for Scotland's island-based creatives - writers, visual artists, musicians, film-makers, theatre-makers, designers, craft-makers etc. Anyone who is island-based and has a creative practice - either professional or amateur - is welcome.
Island artists have many shared concerns and challenges but can feel quite isolated from each other as well as from the mainland. The hope is that this group will be an opportunity to make connections as well as find useful information. You can ask the group for information, advice or support, share info that's relevant such as work and funding opportunities, events or residencies, or seek collaborators and kindred spirits. It's also okay to promote your own work but please bear in mind that this is not the main purpose of the group and do it selectively.
You can find the group (and request to join) here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/evenhereevennow/
Contact for More Information
If you'd like to find out more about Even Here, Even Now, please contact Kathryn Gordon ([email protected]).
