New Artists in Communities projects invite Glasgow residents to take creative action on climate
Three new Artists in Communities (AiC) projects will invite people in Garnethill, the East End and Castlemilk to engage in creative and cultural programmes that explore the climate emergency.
Glasgow Life, the charity that leads culture and sport in Glasgow, has appointed the latest group of artists and collectives to deliver arts activity, which has been shown to support wellbeing, connection and social change. For the first time the programme is supported by Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Funding, allowing artists and communities to plan and work together over two years.
Join the Dots: Creative Climate Action in Garnethill, East End based artist Ciara Neufeldt and Laura Bradshaw and Murray Wason from Castlemilk will focus on participation, encouraging local communities to explore joyful climate action.
Artist Ciara Neufeldt said: “This residency is an incredible opportunity to work collaboratively with communities and artists, discovering joyful making through craft, with materials such as clay and textiles. The seasons will act as a backdrop, with themes of ‘Planting, Blooming, Grounding and Resting’ taking us through the year, to explore climate conscious approaches in our everyday life.
“The first months will be ones of slow and intentional growth, as we build connections and decide together, through facilitated mapping sessions, what we would like to explore. We can then collaborate with artists to plan workshops and activities, that encompass the wishes of everyone involved.”
Artist Murray Wason added: “We’re delighted to be appointed Artists in Communities by Glasgow Life and are really looking forward to developing creative work with communities in Castlemilk. In developing Castlemilk Arts Hub we are excited to bring people together through art, and work together for positive change."
Katie Duffy, Head of Arts and Music at Glasgow Life, said: “Artists in Communities is about working alongside people, listening to local voices, and using creativity to respond to the issues that matter most, including the climate emergency. Evaluation consistently shows the tangible difference this activity makes to people’s lives. We are delighted to appoint three new projects, giving communities the opportunity to participate in local arts and further demonstrating the power of artists working long-term in place to support connection and wellbeing.”
Since 2018, Artists in Communities has supported over 35 artists, collectives and organisations to deliver 92 projects across Glasgow, with more than 98,000 people benefiting from taking part. The programme focuses on long-term, place-based work, supporting communities to shape arts activity that responds to local priorities.
Artists Jude Williams, Kirstin Taylor, Rose Cunningham and Sadie Smith of Join the Dots will add to Garnethill’s long history of activism, creativity and social justice. Through performance, food events and growing projects the collective plan to use what is already available locally to nurture creativity courage and connection, joining the dots between people, place and possibility.
Ciara Neufeldt is a craftsperson and participatory artist whose practice centres on using craft to explore social change. She was recently the Adobe x V&A Creative Resident for Ceramics, and she will be based at Glasgow Ceramic Studio in Dennistoun. Ciara will use the four seasons as a framework to explore climate-conscious choices in everyday life, through clay and craft processes.
The third project will see artists Laura Bradshaw and Murray Wason transform a disused shop unit in Castlemilk Shopping Centre into a welcoming and accessible creative hub for the local community. Working across performance, film and visual arts, they will deliver workshops, support resident-led arts groups and stage creative events across Castlemilk’s streets, woodland and river spaces.
Recent evaluation of the Artists in Communities by the University of Central Lancashire shows that the programme helps more people take part in creative activity locally, particularly those who traditionally face barriers to access. Participants reported improved wellbeing, feeling more confident, connected and proud of what they had created together.
Alongside the new appointments, Glasgow Life has launched a dedicated web page bringing together all previous Artists in Communities projects. It highlights the breadth of original and imaginative approaches across the years and celebrates the artists and communities who have worked together across Glasgow to create meaningful, place-based creative activity.
For more information about Glasgow Life’s Artists in Communities programme, visit https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/artists-in-communities