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The Highland Council

River Ness art project

This public art project will see major art works installed along the banks of the River Ness in Inverness.
The £758,350 project has been commissioned by The Highland Council’s Inverness City Arts Working Group and has funding approval from Creative Scotland £305,600 (40 per cent), The City of Inverness Common Good Fund £280,750 (37 per cent), The Highland Council £106,000 (14 per cent) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise £66,000 (9 per cent).

Chair of working group Councillor Isabelle Mackenzie (c) with artist Mary Bourne (R) and member of working group Councillor Bet McAllister (L)
From left to right: member of working group Cllr Bet McAllister, Chair of working group Cllr Isabelle Mackenzie and artist Mary Bourne

My River Ness

This significant public art project aims to create a major new visitor destination along the banks of the River Ness in Inverness.

Artists were chosen by a panel of art experts and are working with the communities if Inverness to design and install new artwork along the river.

The project is being governed by the Inverness City Arts (ICArts) working group of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee.

The projects include:

  • The Gathering Place – a major artwork designed to bring people together to enjoy the River Ness. The new concept for the project was launched in June 2017 with the collaborative artist team Sans Facon and OSA
  • Sculptural Destination (by Annie Cattrell) - an iconic landmark to visit and interact with on the riverside or to view from some distance
  • Rest Spaces - relaxation areas for individuals or small groups
  • The Trail – a paper or digital map and trail from Ness islands to the river mouth including things of local interest
  • River Connections - seating areas and poetry set into stones
  • Children’s Riverside Water Feature – for young people and families, with educational opportunities

River Ness arts news stories

Survey results

A survey to better understand people’s views on the proposed River Ness Arts Projects was conducted between January 23 and February 29 2016. The survey was available in two ways. Printed copies of the survey were made available at a public exhibition on the arts projects, and the survey was also available to fill in on-line. 445 people completed the survey, 282 completing a printed copy of the survey, and 163 on-line.

Project survey analysis

The analysis highlighted that the views of people who completed the survey having visited the exhibition on the potential art projects were generally more supportive in their responses than those who completed the survey online. All the information gathered from the survey has been carefully considered by the Inverness City Arts (ICArts) Working Group and will be used as part of further discussions with a focus group looking at the issues of siting and detailed design in respect of the Gathering Place.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed their opinions and suggestions on the projects to date.