"Last week, I set off from Shetland on a mission to connect with and learn from arts centres, galleries, and charities across Scotland - even venturing across the border for a few inspiring visits.
After a night on the boat, I arrived in Aberdeen and made my way to Moray Arts Centre, a volunteer-run space with a gallery, classrooms, and artist studios. A quick chat with volunteer John set the tone for a warm and welcoming trip.
Next stop: Inverness. I visited Browns Gallery, where gallery owner Gordan and assistant Lucy kindly welcomed me for a coffee and a chat. Lucy was particularly delighted to talk about Bonhoga, having fond memories of visiting Shetland and exhibiting her work at the gallery on multiple occasions!
Shortly I headed off to Wasps Creative Academy, a newly renovated hub buzzing with studios, workshop space, a media lab, gallery, and café. While Bonhoga is on a much smaller scale in comparison, it was inspiring to imagine the potential for creative spaces.
After a weekend in Dundee, I headed down to the outskirts of Edinburgh to visit WHALE Arts, an arts charity with community involvement at its centre. The charity hosts a series of services from creative workshops to digital support sessions, even a community cafe on a Tuesday afternoon. As I was leaving, outside, folk were beginning to gather in wait of the daily community fridge, I could really see how valued and needed this venue is by its community.
On my way over to Dunbar, having a little time before my next meeting, I squeezed in a visit to the Green House Gallery, a small gallery/shop with a tearoom next door tucked away in a beautiful outdoor garden centre. It was a quaint and unexpected place for a gallery/art shop but complemented the busy wee cafe next door.
In Dunbar, I visited Dukes Fine Art Gallery. Previously an old pub, in 2019 it was transformed into a hub for artists and the local community. It hosts not only a gallery with a beautiful display of contemporary Scottish art but a workshop room, artist studios, ceramics workshop, and a cafe (run by owner Robyn’s sister-in-law) too.
Crossing into England, I visited the Old School Gallery situated in a picturesque English village of Alnmouth. I was quickly in awe of this small but bustling gallery. The bright and inviting space was filled with both people and art. Despite the gallery being in the midst of taking down their summer show, there was no shortage of fantastic paintings, prints, and ceramics. Being an artist myself, I felt inspired to paint after spending time here!
A short drive onwards located me in Felton, where I visited Gallery 45. Like Dukes, it consists of an exhibition space, shop and hosts local artists through multiple studio spaces which are open to the public to peruse too.
Returning North, I stopped at Dunfermline’s Fire Station Creative, formerly an old fire station, now home to a café, exhibition space, and 20 artist studios. Though short on time, I caught a wonderful show by Elisha Enfield, Sky Landscape Artist of the Year 2022.
At Tatha Gallery in Newport, I spoke with Clare about their curation process and viewed works by Donald Macdonald and Jacki Parry, winners of the RSA’s 198th Open Exhibition. Just minutes away was Forgan Arts, an art charity with a focus on community. Here I spoke to Kirsten, the programme producer, who told me about their abundant timetable of creative workshops, everything from basket weaving to oil painting, they even have a dedicated ceramics studio! Once more this centre offers a larger hub for creativity than what space we have at Bonhoga, but it was encouraging to hear from Kirsten the demand they have for their creative space, and how they are continuing to expanding the enterprise such as through their residency programme.
I wrapped up the trip at Hospitalfield House in Arbroath, an elegant, historic home long dedicated to supporting artists. Now open to the public, it offers residencies, house and garden tours, and a café, strengthening ties with the local community.
Over the week I managed to visit 12 art spaces, each one harbouring a unique environment to explore creativity. Taking these experiences forward I hope we can create our own lively hub which expands and nourishes our creative experience here in Shetland.
