Shetland Arts are delighted to announce the successful applicants from the Winter round of VACMA for 2024/24.
The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are a programme of small grant schemes delivered in partnership with a range of local authorities and art organisations across Scotland. The schemes are managed locally by these partners. VACMA offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £1,000. The purpose of these bursaries is to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.
During this round, we had 6 successful applicants:
Chloe Tallack
Chris Smith
Fionn Arnett
Roxane Permar
Sean Boyle
Sharon McGeady
You can find out more about these artists and their projects below.
Keep an eye out for VACMA 25/26 applications, opening later this year.
Chloe Tallack
Chloe's project will combine printmaking, recorded projections and a soundtrack, using cross-media techniques to create a dynamic, immersive visual and sound work.
"My creative practice explores the intersection of photography, print, and moving image. In recent months, I've expanded ideas developed during a bursary project at Gaada Workshop in October 2024, which culminated in my solo exhibition Should Have Stayed Home (Feb 2025). This proposal builds on that momentum, aiming to further develop immersive, dynamic visual work that merges these mediums while exploring the experience of social anxiety within shared spaces. Using printmaking, projections, and sound, I seek to give form to these emotions and experiences."
Chris Smith
Chris will be exploring the creation of a seaweed-based developer for processing various film negatives and darkroom paper, combining sustainable, natural elements with traditional analogue photographic techniques for innovative image development.
"My photographic practice centres on exploring historical photographic processes, traditional darkroom techniques, and alternative development methods. I aim to blend the art and science of analogue photography while prioritising sustainability and environmental consciousness. In an era where digital photographic practices often dominate in a “click and move on” society, I strive to revive historical methods while minimising my ecological footprint by experimenting with natural resources for film and paper development."
Fionn Arnett
Fionn will be using VACMA funding to expand his creative practice with sculptural pieces, continuing to experiment further and take risks with materials such as copper, lead, oxides and enamels.
"I create sculptures from recycled materials, such as copper, lead, aluminium and tin. These are often framed with reclaimed wood from boats, old buildings and drift wood. I integrate symbolic found objects within the artworks that hold personal importance. I take my inspiration from Shetlands rugged island environment, where the style of my work portrays abstract seascapes, portraits and the human experience. My late fathers artwork is also a source of inspiration and curiosity for me.
I wish to further develop my practice by investing in materials and tools which will allow me to experiment in new ways with my creative practice."
Roxane Permar
Roxane will be travelling to participate in an international exhibition and event in Norway, Kindred, and research a project between Shetland and Norway exploring the power of islands through cross-cultural and inter-generational dialogue.
The multi-faceted event Kindred will bring together artists from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Scotland. It marks the end of a two year project, Living in the Landscape, which involved extensive collaborative work online and in two weeks fieldwork around themes linked to cultural landscapes of rivers, forests and green energy productions that effect local cultures and ecosystems.
"My creative practice has changed over the years in response to world events, evolving practices in contemporary art and my personal situation. I work with people through participation and collaboration and projects are often inter-generational and cross-cultural. I use a variety of media, e.g., film, photography, textiles, and sound, to create participatory projects, installations and exhibitions. The importance of place underpins my creative practice which is grounded in Shetland. It is informed by Shetland’s social, cultural, historical and physical environment."
Sean Boyle
Sean will be exploring the use of pyrography with a laser engraver that can scan and print his sketches or digital drawings onto salvaged materials that would otherwise be disposed of.
"My practice is typically oil painting and MDF woodcut relief prints. My focus is on Shetland landscapes and wildlife, I also do fantasy themes on frequent occasion. I am creatively motivated by curiosity and experimentation, every time I make something I am always changing and adapting until I find a resolution."
Sharon McGeady
Sharon will research and develop a new body of work examining the natural environment and resources of North Mainland (Shetland) supporting fragile communities to thrive.
"I am a ceramist making mainly domestic vessels for everyday use. Since the beginning of time people have found it important to come together to share meals, to meet socially and support each other. My vessels are designed to be used for sharing, such as having a coffee with a friend, eating communally with family and friends or as part of celebration and festivity. My vessels bring people together.
I would like to develop a greater understand of the geology, climate and precious natural resources that have enabled people to live in these isles. Peat has been central to the crofting community. Peat has warmed homes, cooked food, heated water, dried clothing, preserved meat and fish and sustained life for centuries. It continues to do so. I would like to develop ceramic work that enables people to be drawn to its texture, to see the beautiful patterns within it, to reflect how it shapes our landscape and to show how it sustains life. I would like to examine the organic beginnings of this rich resource. Historically crofting communities were totally reliant on this resource and I would like to highlight it‘s value."
