Ullapool arts charity launches crowdfunder to secure its future

An Talla Solais in Ullapool is launching a crowdfunding campaign on October 26 in a bid to secure its future, writes Sandy Neil.

Up until now the arts charity has had use of a gallery space, rented from a local hotel, where it exhibited contemporary art and held community events. However, the gallery closed earlier this month after the charity was given notice to vacate the premises. After 18 months of lockdowns, the hotel required the space for its own recovery and so An Talla Solais is looking for a new home.

Community has been at the heart of An Talla Solais, but without a physical space to bring people together, the charity has found itself at a crucial point.

Alongside exhibitions, the charity works with people living with dementia through the Dolphin Arts project, and over lockdown ran community-led workshops online to encourage people who might not otherwise interact with art to engage in creative projects and connect with others. The benefits of creativity on mental health are well known and through community work the charity hopes to tackle isolation and loneliness, issues often felt more heavily in rural locations.

In order to see Ullapool remain as a creative hub in the rural Highlands, An Talla Solais needs a physical space to support its activities. The charity hopes to renovate its current office building in order to create a multi-purpose space where, alongside studio rooms and a ceramics facility, a dedicated community space will be created for workshops, events and exhibitions.

However, for this to happen the building needs significant work done.

An Talla Solais will launch its crowdfunding campaign through Crowdfunder UK and the Aviva Community Fund.

Jude Brooks, head of corporate social responsibility at Aviva, said: ‘We are extremely proud to support An Talla Solais and look forward to enabling it to bring its ideas to life.’

An Talla Solais has an initial target of £10,000, but hopes to stretch the target to £20,000 before December. There is a range of rewards in thanks for donations on its crowdfunding campaign, from exhibition cards and posters to photography workshops, prints and original paintings.

To show support head to: www.avivacommunityfund. co.uk/help-secure-the-future-of-an-talla-solais.