Creative network launches
A new creative network for Bannockburn and the Eastern villages kicked off its first ever series of events last week.
Set up by local artists and creatives, with the support of Scene Stirling, Macrobert Arts Centre, Bannockburn House and Stirling University, Vantage Points aims to foster collaboration between artists and communities, widen access to cultural activities and develop the local arts scene.
The spring programme, led by local artists who are funded by Macrobert, includes a community photography project in Plean, a window art trail in Cowie, dance performances at the Robert the Bruce statue, maquette making workshops in Fallin and free art-packs at Plean Country Park.
Julie Ellen, Artistic Director of Macrobert, said: “The new creative network is led by local artists, community groups and cultural organisations, who’ve worked together to create an exciting array of events for the local community this spring. The series will allow the group to test out ideas and shape their plans for a larger scale art trail and events series this summer.”
The programme will run alongside the Landscape Legacies of Coal project, a series of curated heritage walks that narrate the story of Scottish coal mining using a mix of industrial archaeology, historic maps, plans and images and oral testimonies. The walks, including a Polmaise route and an East Stirlingshire Villages route, are available to download for free on mobile phone app, ‘Landscape Legacies of Coal.’
One of the events is Living In Plean – a photography project featuring the stories and lived experiences of Plean locals, led by retired clinical scientist and amateur photographer Anne Sproul. She said: “I’ll be exploring the shared experiences of Plean through portraits of the people who live here, whether natives of Plean or people who have moved here, like me. I’ll be photographing them outside of their homes and or businesses, in the village and surroundings. Alongside this, you might spot me taking photographs around Plean Country Park. I love the natural world and seeing how the industrial past and mining heritage are becoming reclaimed by nature and how the park is being used by the community in the present day. Both projects will be presented in an online exhibition.”
Other events includes, a Window Art Trail in Cowie from Sunday, April 25, to Sunday, May 2; History In Movement, an exploration of the most famous battle in the history of Scotland through contemporary dance, by freelance professional Dance Artist Parsifal James Hurst, known as PJ. That takes place at the Robert The Bruce Statue on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2.
Social Spaces is a maquette making workshops in Fallin, allowing the local community to experiment with sculpture. These sessions, taking place on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, will be led by artists Lesley McDermott and Eloise Kerr.
Art Packs In The Park takes place at Plean Country Park on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2. This event will be run by Carolyn Fraser, a BA Art and Design student at Forth Valley College.
All the network’s spring activities are open to all and it’s free to take part. For more information or to sign up for any of the activities, email hello@scenestirling.com or join the Vantage Points Facebook Group.