Even Here, Even Now has been recognised within Scotland’s National Islands Plan and has been awarded £200,000 in funding through the Culture Collective initiative, administered by Creative Scotland, to specifically support artists and communities across the three island local authorities. It’s a significant endorsement that will support the continuation and expansion of the project across more Scotland’s island communities.
Twenty-three projects across Scotland have been awarded funding through the Culture Collective initiative, administered by Creative Scotland, to support a national network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities working collaboratively to shape the cultural life of their local areas.
Even Here, Even Now is a manifesto celebrating island-based arts and their impact, advocating for transformative change. Written collaboratively by artists from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, the manifesto calls on policy makers and stakeholders to recognise the distinct realities of island creative practice and to take meaningful action to strengthen support for the sector.
The manifesto emerged from three years of collaborative work delivered through the Culture Collective programme. Shetland Arts worked in partnership with Taigh Chearsabhagh, Pier Arts Centre and An Lanntair to deliver wide-reaching Culture Collective projects across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. Together, the partners explored how creative practice rooted in island communities can influence social, cultural and policy change.
“Even Here Even Now brought together creative voices from across our islands, building connections that continue to shape how we think about place, practice and opportunity. It stands as a reminder that ambitious, outward looking work can and does grow from island communities.” - Graeme Howell, Chief Executive of Shetland Arts
Recognition within Scotland’s National Islands Plan affirms the importance of sustained cultural investment in island communities and acknowledges the powerful contribution that island-based artists make locally, nationally and internationally. The next phase of Even Here, Even Now will expand engagement promoting island culture, heritage and languages while continuing to advocate for meaningful, long-term change.
Further details about the next stage of the project will be announced soon.
To explore the manifesto and learn more about the project, visit: https://www.shetlandarts.org/projects/even-here-even-now
