Island artists collaborate on #EvenHereEvenNow campaign to highlight cultural contributions

Island artists have collaborated on a campaign highlighting their “vital contribution” to Scotland’s cultural landscape.

The #EvenHereEvenNow campaign aims to amplify island voices amid the national culture funding debate.

It follows major financial cuts, which have rocked the sector, leading to protests.

The campaign seeks to build on the work of Even Here, Even Now, a 2024 manifesto supported by Shetland Arts and created by artists in Shetland, Orkney, Uist, Lewis.

The manifesto highlights how island artists play a vital role in the social cohesion of rural communities as well preserving island-specific traditional skills.

Now, the campaign aims to further develop that work by providing a platform for island artists to share their stories.

It will feature a series of events designed by four artist advocates, including Jane Matthews from Shetland.

Kathryn Gordon, of Shetland Arts, who managed the manifesto project, said it summed up the “spirit, resilience and creativity that define our island arts communities”.

“This manifesto is about change and ensuring that island arts thrive and contribute fully to our cultural landscape.”

Other Shetland artists involved in the project include Helen Robertson and Barry Nisbet.

Communications lead for the campaign Andrew Eaton-Lewis said surviving as an artist was “increasingly precarious”.

“With this campaign we are highlighting the additional challenges facing artists living in rural island communities through the stories of artists living in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland,” he added.

“It is a call for recognition of the value of culture in parts of Scotland that are often left out of the national conversation, but where artists are often deeply embedded in the communities they live in, making a vital contribution to those communities – even here, even now – in a way that deserves wider recognition and support.”

NO COMMENTS

Add Your Comment

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.