Artists invited to play part in city’s recovery
Streets will be canvas for talent
Stirling artists are being offered the opportunity to use their skills to boost the city’s recovery from the pandemic.
The City Commissions Project aims to create artworks to improve the urban environment and encourage residents and visitors to spend more time in city streets.
Led by Stirling Council and Scene Stirling, its main focus is the main public routes and spaces in and around the city.
It will work alongside signage and wayfinding design with the aim of creating a dementia-friendly city, and there will be a series of targeted commissions.
The project is funded under the £100,000 Public Realm City Centre Investments approved at March’s budget meeting.
The announcement follows the news that Stirling is the only Scottish location to make the longlist for the 2025 City of Culture.
Stirling Council community planning and regeneration committee convener councillor Chris Kane said: “This is an exciting investment which seeks imaginative ways to deal with some of the city centre’s recurring challenges.
“We want our city centre to be an accessible, colourful, engaging and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike and the City Commissions will tap into the local talent we’re blessed with in Stirling to bring exciting art that will provide talking points and encourage meeting spaces.
“This is a project which will nurture and showcase local talent as well as offer continued support and employment opportunities within the creative sector in what has been a challenging 18 months.”
Partnership group Scene Stirling manager Kevin Harrison said: “We’re looking to appoint a team of artists, with experience of working in public spaces and a strong commitment to inclusion, to create a masterplan for Stirling and go on to work with our local artists and creative communities.
“Together they’ll make art that creates meeting and talking points, supports wayfinding, enhances Stirling’s magnificent cultural and heritage assets, and reflects the identity and diversity of the city and its residents in a way that engages all those who use and visit our city centre.”
The targeted commissions will give artists the opportunity to incorporate the 20-year anniversary of Stirling’s city status into their work.
For further information on how to apply see www.scenestirling.com/calls-for-artists
We want our city centre to be an accessible, colourful engaging and welcoming environment Cllr Chris Kane