The world of art is for everyone...so let’s go out and enjoy it

In the summer of 2019 hundreds of colourful Oor Wullie sculptures appeared in towns and cities across Scotland as part of the country’s first ever public art trail. Over the next three months, thousands of children and young people, mums and dads, grans and grandads, joined DC Thomson’s Big Bucket Trail, ticking statues off their tick list like a climber bagging Munros (incidentally, one of the Wullies even made it to the top of Ben Nevis).

The sculptures, lovingly designed by artists and celebrities, were later auctioned off, raising over £2 million for children’s hospitals. But they did something else, too.They united the country.

In The Sunday Post newsroom, as we covered the trail, we heard heartfelt stories of how the event brought families together and others out of their shell, like the pensioner who ventured out for the first time in months to see a statue near her home.

It’s the perfect example of how art can – and should – be accessible to all, no matter their age, background or circumstances.

That’s the philosophy of our new weekly art columnist Jan Patience who will be sharing the latest from Scotland’s vibrant art scene every week (page 17). Jan, who has been writing about art for over 15 years, says:“Art is for everyone.You don’t need so-called experts to tell you what to think about it.”

Jan will be there, though, to lead us to the many wonderful artworks on display across Scotland, from free street art to independent galleries and national exhibitions.We hope you’ll feel inspired to get out there and experience it for yourself.