New arts projects to be launched in the Highlands in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic
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Six new full-time arts jobs have been created at various locations in the Highlands to help shape the cultural future of the region.
Five artists in residence and one project manager will begin their new roles in July as part of the Highland Culture Collective led by Dingwall-based traditional arts organisation, Fèis Rois.
They will run projects ranging from working with women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse to exploring the impact of the pandemic on the environment.
The Culture Collective is a Scottish Government funded national pilot programme which is establishing a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally in response to Covid-19.
In February, Creative Scotland distributed £5.9 million to 26 lead organisations including £300,000 to Fèis Rois which is working with five other Highland organisations – Highland Third Sector Interface, Eden Court in Inverness, Highland Print Studio, Lyth Arts Centre and North Lands Creative – in offering the new full-time arts jobs.
Highland Culture Collective's project manager is Lauren Hendry, an arts producer from the Black Isle, who will manage and oversee the project until September 2022.
She has spent the last 15 years creating and producing contemporary circus and theatre and trained at the National Centre for Circus Arts. She also holds an MA Arts in Festival and Cultural Management.
"I’m so excited to work together with the Highland Culture Collective’s artists in residence, to co-create projects with those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic," she said.
"By building on the existing collaborations between Highland arts organisations which span a variety of art forms, I hope that the project will make a positive difference to communities across the region, helping to move forward from the pandemic and bring some joy to us all."
The artists in residence include Evija Laivina, an award-winning photographer, originally from Lativia and now living in Inverness, who will work with the Highland Print Studio, and Hector MacInnes, a sound artist from the Isle of Skye, who will work with people impacted by the criminal justice system.
Catriona Meighan, a contemporary art practitioner and producer whose practice looks to the expanded field of painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation, will work with women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
Gaelic artist in residence is Artair Donald from Tiree while Sinéad Hargan, a Scottish artist and graduate of contemporary performance practice from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, will be the artist in residence with North Lands Creative and Lyth Arts Centre, exploring the impact of the pandemic on the environment.
Sinéad Hargan said she was excited about using collaborative-making methodologies to explore the environment and coastlines of Caithness.
"I want the arts to be visible and valued and routed in community history, in collaborative history, and I am thrilled to be supported by the Highland Culture Collective, which promotes and encourages the practices of co-design, co-authorship and communities as co-creators," she said.
Fèis Rois chief executive, Fiona Dalgetty said: "We had a tremendous response to our Highland Culture Collective call out with 61 people applying for the six jobs on offer.
"It was a privilege to sit on the interview panel and hear from so many experienced artists about how they would approach this new project in partnership with communities across the region.
"We have a wealth of talent in the Highlands, as well as artists from other parts of Scotland who want to come and live and work here. I am delighted that we have been able to offer six new full-time jobs at this time."
For more information about the Highland Culture Collective, visit feisrois.org.
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