Artists invited to bid for confined space

THE CELLS of Campbeltown’s old police station, which were once used to incarcerate the town’s offenders, criminals, defendants and convicts, are preparing to host a very different type of inmate, as a group of visual artists take them over for a summer exhibition.

Confined Spaces, involving up to 14 artists from around Scotland, will take place in the Castlehill building for five days over the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival weekend, from August 17 – 21.

Each artist will use one of the eight cells, or other rooms, to create and present work for the exhibition, which will be open to the public, free of charge, over the weekend.

Artists have been invited to submit proposals for work in a variety of media.

Michael Taylor, who bought the building in 2013 and has since been working on it as the Campbeltown Clink Project, is providing it as the exhibition venue.

The exhibition will be organised by Michael’s daughter Rhona Taylor, who works as a visual artist in Edinburgh.

She said: ‘It’s a great opportunity for artists to make work in a really unique space, which they would never normally have access to.

‘ We’ve put a call out for artists to make work in really interesting proposals submitted. We’re hoping to get a range of work and artists involved.

‘It’s exciting having the exhibition running at the same time as the music festival too, as there’s always so much going on and a great atmosphere.

‘Hopefully people will come along to see the artwork and the building – not just people living in Campbeltown but visitors to the music festival as well if they have a bit of free time during the day.’

Michael added: ‘This is a really exciting use of the cell area of the building, and exactly the sort of thing I had in mind when I started the clink project – the opportunity to provide artists and others with studio, workshop and venue space in an unusual location.’

For more information on the exhibition or to get involved, visit www.confined-spaces.org or email Rhona at contactconfinedspaces@gmail.com.