Spring Fling has unveiled the full programme for the 2024 open studios weekend – which will feature a new Rural Mural along the seafront in Stranraer.
Taking place from 25-27 May, Spring Fling is Scotland’s premier event of its kind, with a record-breaking 104 studios to visit across Dumfries and Galloway.
One of the big attractions is expected to be SFRM24, a large-scale mural on The Boat House, in Stranraer’s Agnew Park, which will be created by Argyll-based street art specialists Recoat along with local visual artist Jennifer Buchanan.
This will be the third Spring Fling Rural Mural (SFRM) – and follows successful projects in 2014 and 2016 and saw nine large temporary artworks created around the region.
It will be a welcome return for Recoat’s Amy Whiten and Ali Wylie, who have over 15 years’ experience painting murals across Scotland and internationally, and who were central to both previous SFRMs.
Amy said: “We are very proud of the artwork and connections that came out of the original SFRM projects. They murals created in D&G were amazing.
“These projects, and the artists we worked with, remain some of our favourite experiences and connections.
“We are excited to be coming back to the area to work with an artist to create another vibrant mural.”
Upland, which organises Spring Fling, is working in partnership with Creative Stranraer to get the community involved in the design through a series of engagement sessions to get people’s ideas (see below).
Spring Fling has just launched Virtual Studios, allowing people to pay an online visit to participating studios through its website.
It’s a great way to find out about the artists and decide who you would like to go and see over the weekend itself.
There will also be:
- CREATE – the chance to see work by two artists working in less commercial and traditional ways. They are Bea Last (Dumfries), who creates “sculptural drawing installations” (often using salvaged or found materials) and Hope London (Wigtown) who is experimenting with video, animation and drawing to explore the issues she has faced with cancer and recovery.
- Emerge – an annual initiative that helps nurture emerging artists and makers in the region. This year it features Lorna Phillips, a ceramicist using local clays to explore the nature of the areas they come from, and multimedia artist Sarah McCusker whose work includes collage, sculpture, installation and printmaking.
Bus tours are also being organised in partnership with community transport initiatives in Galloway, Thornhill and Cairn Valley which will take visitors round studios in the Stranraer, the Rhins, Dalry, Eskdalemuir and Moffat areas.
They will let visitors reach artists working in more isolated locations and have a relaxed day out all while helping the environment by reducing vehicle emissions.
Likewise, people are being encouraged to enjoy the beauty of one of Scotland’s most rural regions by travelling to studios by bike – suggested routes will be in the brochure.
Joanna Jones, Upland Assistant Director, said: “This year’s Spring Fling is set to be one of the best – and will cover even more of the region. For the first time we will have studios taking part from Moffat in the east to Stranraer in the west.
“The event will embrace everything from public art and experimental art to landscape painting, photography, jewellery, woodwork, ceramics and much more.
“There will be the chance to see the work of some of the best established artists and makers in this part of the world as well as by exciting emerging artists.
“We are especially pleased to be working with Stranraer Water Sports Association to create the latest of our Rural Murals on their boathouse.
“It’s a great chance for us to engage the local community and create an artwork that will contribute to all the regeneration initiatives taking place in the town.”
Upland and Spring Fling have been working closely with Creative Stranraer on SFRM24 and the project is intended to complement other artwork in the area.
It’s also hoped that it will be a positive asset for SWSA, which does great work introducing people to water sports and which will be bringing the Skiffie Worlds coastal rowing boat championships to Stranraer in 2025.
SFRM24 public consultation sessions:
- Saturday, 9 March: All welcome – a community-wide session at the Creative Stranraer Hub. For details see spring-fling.co.uk
SFRM24 youth consultation sessions:
- There will be sessions involving 180 students at Stranraer Academy and 15-20 young people through the Urban Collective skate group.
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