Alternative location for River Ness Art centrepiece

Members of the Inverness City Arts (ICArts) Working Group have agreed to commission a report into an alternative location of the River Ness Art Project’s centrepiece art work “The Gathering Place”.

The new location - proposed by a Focus Group that met today - is at Ness Walk in front of Eden Court. An alternative location was sought by the ICArts Working Group following public opinion expressed in the River Ness Art survey.

The Focus Group that met to consider alternative siting and design details for ‘The Gathering Place’ comprised representatives of Inverness BID, Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism BID, and Inverness City Heritage Trust along with ICArts Working Group Members, project Artists and the project team that stated “there are strongly persuasive arguments for this site.”

Members of the ICArts Working Group have considered the recommendations of the Focus Group to consider adding ‘The Gathering Place’ to the cultural area of Eden Court and have agreed to commission a report in the potential siting of the artwork at this location.

Chair of the ICArts Working Group Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The Gathering Place is central to the overall ethos of the River Ness Art programme, therefore it is reasonable that the Working Group has agreed to proceed with commissioning a report into the alternative location on Ness Walk.”

Professor Jim Mooney, who was a member of the evaluation panel said: “The Gathering Place will take Inverness public art into the 21st Century.”

Mike Smith, Inverness BID Manager said: “ Siting the Gathering at this location has the potential to create a major, iconic visitor attraction for Inverness.  Adjacent to the city centre coach drop off point in Ardross Street, it would complement the visitor’s experience of the River Ness, the Cathedral  and Inverness City Centre.”

Graeme Ambrose, Chief Executive, Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism BID reiterated the full support of Visit Loch Ness in finding a solution for ‘The Gathering Place’, he said: “We believe that this project is too important to just be ‘put aside’. ‘The Gathering Place’ art work is an innovative piece of work which we believe is integral to the success of the whole artworks programme and that an alternative satisfactory location must be found.”

Brian Longmore, Board Member for Inverness Civic Trust and Inverness City Heritage Trust added: “I will report back to both groups that there are strongly persuasive arguments for this site at Ness Walk, Eden Court.”

For further information visit www.highland.gov.uk/rivernessart