Inverness Old Town Arts Programme secures Scottish Arts Council support
The Inverness City Centre Streetscape public art project has received welcome new investment with the award of £100,000 from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Capital Programme. The grant, which is the maximum award available, will assist five additional arts projects and underlines the Scottish Arts Council’s belief that the Inverness Old Town Art programme will be of national significance.
Iain Munro, Co-Director and Head of Lottery, Scottish Arts Council said: “The Inverness Old Town project will build on the success of the earlier project and supports the Scottish Arts Council's priority of increasing opportunities to participate in the arts. This is a unique opportunity for artists and the local community to work together creatively to redevelop an important part of the city, transform the physical environment and generate civic pride.”
Five new projects will be launched to develop close links with local businesses and residents to transform key sites in the old town area of the city including: the Victorian Market; the Ramada Jarvis at the end of Union Street; and Baron Taylor’s Street.
The first project will focus on the Victorian Market. Three new entrance features are planned for Union Street, Church Street and Queensgate, to draw attention to the Market as a landmark in the Old Town boasting its unique collection of independent traders and specialist shops. Professional artists, designers & architects will be invited to register their interest in this design opportunity and will be selected, as part of an open process, which will involve representatives of the Market traders.
A dedicated project manager has been appointed to take the lead. Louise Mor has 10 years experience as a curator, fundraiser and project coordinator, and she is looking forward to the challenge. She said: “I am truly delighted to be given the opportunity to contribute to the public art programme in Inverness. I aim to work with the traders and encourage them to take an active part in the creative process. I’m also looking forward to joining such a talented multi-disciplinary team as Matt Baker, Susan Christie and the artists involved in other projects.”
The new Victorian Market entrances are an integral part of the overall Streetscape project which is bringing public investment of over £6m to regenerate the city centre.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, said: “The Scottish Arts Council award is very good news. Our city centre is having to adapt to change as all modern, thriving urban centres have to. The additional £100,000 will allow us to do a lot more in terms of the important design features that will set Inverness city centre apart and help us to create a desirable destination that reflects the culture and heritage of the city in the Highlands.”
-Ends-
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer at -marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk - 01463-724380 or 07751 051371
Louise Mor, Project Manager –
louise@louisemor.com - 07854-063887
Background notes: Louise Mor has over 10 years experience of working as a curator, fundraiser and project manager. Her portfolio encompasses a broad spectrum of work that spans creative industries development, design and more recently public art. She has a special interest in collaborations that engage artists as creative thinkers at the start of a project and is ideally suited for the Victorian Markets project.
From 2000 to 2002 Louise was Design Executive at Glasgow Design, an award winning public design consultancy set up as part of Glasgow UK city of Architecture and Design 1999. She managed a wide range of projects with artists, designers, architects and organisations including, Glasgow School of Art, Scottish Enterprise, the Design Council, the RIAS and Arts & Business.
Most recently Louise held the post of Senior Manager, Public Realm Projects at Beam in Wakefield. At Beam Louise was involved in developing a new programme of multi-disciplinary arts development programme that attracted funding from several national agencies. During 2007 she led on a National Public Conference involving artist, architects and other professionals working in the creative sector.
She has family connections in Fort William and Inverness and hopes to relocate to the Highlands.
Project development - The new Scottish Arts Council funded artistic programme grew out of a dialogue which began with the “Imagining the Centre” event on 9 September 2007 which Matt Baker and members of the Inverness City Partnership team developed. This successful one-off arts event took place over 12 hours on Church Street and local people were invited to join artists & performers in a conversation about what Inverness city centre was, and could be in the future. Memorably, this event involved 14 artists who used giant projections, audio art and performance to bring to the surface the cultural importance of the old town for the city.
The £100,000 Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Capital Programme grant will augment the £250,000 earmarked for public art commissions as part of the overall £6m investment in the Inverness City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme. Other funding sources are: Scottish Government Cities Growth Fund; The Highland Council; Inverness Common Good Fund; HIE Inverness & East Highland and HITRANS.