Successful Applicants of Shetland Arts Commissioning Fund (Group Two) Announced

Artists and Projects

• Susan Pearson (Boost): “(Is)land Charms”

Susan will be developing a series of handmade ceramic charms as wearable artworks. The charms will be round bellied rustic figurines of various sizes that can be threaded and worn as unique beads or pendants. Expanding on her current practice and knowledge of local materials, their glazes will be mixed with locally gathered pigments. Using these foraged materials creates a physical link to the (is)land, so each charm is a peerie reminder of the wearer’s connection to Shetland.

• Barry Nisbet (Catalyst): Faroese Language Summer School

Barry was offered a place on the International Summer Institute hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands, running from July 30th – August 15th. Places are limited to around 24 students, with applicants required to demonstrate a working knowledge of Scandinavian/Germanic languages and grammatical concepts. The course provided an immersion in Faroese language and culture that directly benefitted his creative practice, which often centres around our languages, history and the North-Atlantic connections that place Shetland at a cultural crossroads both now and historically.

• Chris G Smith (Catalyst): “Salt Print Revival”

This project aims to develop Chris’ skills in historic photographic processes by attending a specialist salt printing workshop led by an experienced practitioner. He will learn the original method from start to finish, gaining a strong technical foundation in this early photographic technique. Building on this knowledge, he intends to experiment with adapting the process using natural seawater sourced from the Shetland coastline, exploring how local materials can influence and personalise the final prints.

• Liam Drosso (Catalyst): Residency at Glasgow Library of Synthesized Sound CIC (GLOSS)

Liam will attend an intensive five-day residency at Glasgow Library of Synthesized Sound CIC (GLOSS), which offers tailored one-to-one training focused on live electronic music performance. This practice involves creating and manipulating electronic sounds in real time, using synthesizers, samplers, drum machines or effects units, rather than mixing pre-recorded tracks like a DJ. The residency focuses on understanding synthesis and hardware, developing sound design skills, improving sequencing and workflow and creating live sets or performances. It provides space to explore genres ranging from ambient and experimental music to house and techno, while accessing the Library’s extensive collection of synthesizers and equipment. 

• Sally Huband (Catalyst): “Subaudible”

Sally will be continuing her participation on Moniack Mhor’s online course A Year of Writing – Seasons 3 (Autumn 2026) and 4 (Winter 2026-2027), as well as a two-week Open Residency at Cove Park. Subaudible is a book length work of literary non-fiction set in Shetland which explores Sally’s deafness and relationship with sound and connects to broader themes including assistive technology, the extraction economy and how the industrialisation of a landscape can shift a sense of place. 

• Alex Garrick-Wright (Playwright’s Bursary): “Accursed”

Alex’s Accursed is a work of live theatre, a dark comedic take on the writer’s recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia. When Mark  begins to experience strange, ever-changing symptoms with no clear physical cause, doctors are quick to dismiss his experience. The one person who does believe him, however, tells him that he is under a curse- one which cannot be broken.

• Charlotte Allam (Playwright’s Bursary)

Charlotte will use the bursary to research and write a first draft of a play. She will develop a short 2 person play, and is looking forward to support from Playwrights’ Studio Scotland to explore an idea she wishes to develop.