Artists and Makers Gather to Help Launch Ambitious Arts Agency
Upland aims to showcase Dumfries and Galloway’s creative talents at a national and international level
Upland is looking forward to a future at the heart of the arts in Dumfries and Galloway after a successful launch symposium.
Friday’s event, at Dumfries and Galloway College, attracted well over 100 visual artists, craft makers and others from across the region and far beyond.
A range of speakers addressed issues including the rewards and challenges of a career in the creative sector.
Clare Hanna, Upland Director (maternity cover), said: “It was great to see so many artists and makers from all across the region and the rest of Scotland come together for Upland’s official launch. We couldn’t have asked for a better start.
“Visual art and craft are a real success story in Dumfries and Galloway. We want to make sure they grow and thrive by creating a bold, adventurous and world-class agency which promotes the region on a national and international stage.”
Among the speakers was Scottish visual artist Kirsty Whiten who discussed issues such as rural isolation and said: “An organisation like Upland is great because it can help promote people’s work and create networks between them, which can be especially valuable in isolated rural areas.”
Upland aims to deliver festivals, events, training, networking, support and opportunities as part of a year-round programme to benefit the region, its artists, communities and economy.
Rebecca Coggins, Dumfries and Galloway Council Principal Officer for Arts and Museums, said: “An organisation like this is essential when you think about how important the visual art and craft sector is to our region.
“We have so many artists and craft makers here and of a very high quality, so it’s very valuable that they have Upland here to represent them, support them and get them better known.”
Matt Baker, a co-founder of The Stove Network an artist-led organisation in Dumfries, added: “Upland is upping the ante for us in Dumfries and Galloway, attracting attention to what’s here and its quality – it’s supporting our artists and getting them noticed at a national and international level.”
The symposium included workshops – one was run by MAKLab to demonstrate some of the digital fabrication techniques available in Dumfries.
Upland CIC began work in October and is already running a series of significant projects. It has collaborated to bring the new MAKLab digital fabrication centre to Dumfries, is running the Emerge mentorship scheme for young artists and Rural Mural – a project that will involve the creation of large-scale artworks in the Dumfries and Galloway countryside.
Upland is also organising Spring Fling, Scotland’s premier visual art and craft open studios weekend, which takes place from 28 to 30 May.
Pictures by Andy Jardine
