Exhibition celebrating community involvement in Stirling 900 launches

Written By Kevin Harrison

Image: David Galletly’s Stirling 900 timeline, a project highlighted in the exhibition.

As part of the ongoing 900th anniversary programme for Stirling, a new exhibition brings together an opportunity to showcase a small range of the community driven projects and events that have been a part of Stirling’s big birthday. Stirling 900: A Celebration of History & Community by Artlink Central is being hosted at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum from 13th November till the 24th February, with a preview event scheduled for Thursday 21st November from 6 – 8pm combined with an Annual General Meeting for Artlink Central, a charity celebrating its 35th anniversary and the wider range of inclusive creative projects that have taken place this year across the city.

Stirling, a Royal Burgh founded by King David I in 1124, is celebrating its 900th anniversary in 2024, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Scotland.

This exhibition celebrates the Stirling 900 journey so far, from the inaugural community event held here at The Smith, up to today. The breadth and diversity of events highlighted community interest in Stirling’s rich heritage such as: Walking of the Marches, the Station Square Stirling Timeline by artist David Galletly, the Stirling Makar’s ode to Stirling Her Slow Beating Heart, and the launch of the new free online course by the University of Stirling Heart of Scotland: History & Heritage of Stirling at 900 Years.

Further highlights include Stirling’s first Pride, the 2024 edition of the Forth Valley Food and Drink Festival, and the Remembering Together Stirling programme. The story is observed through the lens of Artlink Central, in a year that also marks their 35th anniversary. As a key community engagement partner in the programme, they document the impact and contributions of individuals, local groups, and the wider Stirlingshire community.

Kevin Harrison, Director of Artlink Central, who manage Scene Stirling, Stirling’s cultural place partnership who have supported engagement around Stirling 900, said:

“At this halfway point through the 900th anniversary year, we already see so much to celebrate and share. The greatest legacy of Stirling 900 has been the number of partners and collaborations across arts, heritage and community with over 100 local businesses and organisations engaging in hundreds of big and small events. Some of these have included Artlink Central collaborations with projects that have brought the streets of Cornton to life with dance, art and food, and new artwork welcoming people to the city centre as well as young people leading creativity across our area. We work hard to ensure local artists get opportunities to work in their area, and that people living with dementia, disabled people and many other groups who face barriers to participation get to be a part of what makes Stirling and Forth Valley special and distinctive. Stirling 900 represents the power of people working together inclusively, and that is what Artlink Central is all about! This exhibition is as much about our present and future as it is about the past 900 years.

Caroline Mathers, Director of Smith Art Gallery and Museum added:

‘2024 has been a landmark year for The Smith, as we celebrated 150 years of serving our community and telling Stirling’s story through art and objects. This celebration was made all the more special due to it coinciding with Stirling’s 900th anniversary. It seems fitting to end the year with an exhibition by Artlink Central, celebrating Stirling’s history and achievements over the last 900 years.’

The public can RSVP to join the exhibition launch and AGM at info@artlinkcentral.org

Stirling 900

Stirling 900 is coordinated by a steering group that includes organisations, businesses and individuals from across Stirling has been formed to oversee and deliver the events programme for Stirling 900.

The group membership includes: Stirling Council, The University of Stirling, Stirling Voluntary Enterprise, Go Forth – Stirling BID, Scene Stirling (representing a range of cultural organisations), Stirling City Heritage Trust, Historic Environment Scotland, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, Stirling District Tourism, Festival and Events Forum, and The Marches.

Kevin Harrison
Kevin Harrison is the Director of Artlink Central, a charity and social enterprise designing creative experiences in conjunction with artists, public bodies and led by disadvantaged or marginalised people particularly in health, social care or criminal justice contexts. . Kevin joined the organisation five years ago and was previously Arts and Wellbeing Manager with Sense Scotland since 2006, supporting a Scotland-wide participation in the arts for disabled people with communication needs. Kevin managed the development of a range of arts projects including Threads and Found in Translation, projects exploring cultural diversity and disability, and Leaving New Craigs, a life history project in Inverness for people leaving the last long stay hospital in Scotland. He managed a national arts and wellbeing team and supported the establishment of a strong creative programme in the TouchBase, a new inclusive base for people and communities supported by Sense Scotland in the south side of Glasgow. Kevin who has a degree in theatre and film from Roehampton University and who undertook postgraduate studies in Arts Management and Policy at Birkbeck University of London is also a trustee for Scottish Prison Arts Network, chair of Dementia Friendly Forth Valley as part of a Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) programme. Previous posts include freelance editor and administration roles with key national disability arts organisation, Shape Arts and public sector roles in Arts Development and as Business Manager, Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council, supporting a multi-million pound EQUAL creative industries inclusion programme . He also has experience of managing Music 4 Slough, a Youth Music Action Zone.
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