Artlink Central at 35 Years
A whistle-stop presentation of our 35th year of inclusive arts. This video is a great way to get an overview of the depth and breadth of our work!
In our 35th Year, Artlink Central's creative and inclusive programme across Central Scotland has been marked by significant growth, partnerships, and impactful projects across health, education, community arts, and cultural heritage, alongside the completion and initiation of several new initiatives.
Artlink Central’s commitment to inclusion and innovation in arts programming has yielded rewarding collaborations and significant community engagement. Key Program
Highlights
· Artreach: The Artreach program, under Andy Auld's guidance, resumed with enthusiastic participation, an open day, and plans for an intensive summer project and an upcoming partnership with the University of Stirling.
· Children and Young People: A strong partnership with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) has evolved, offering a unique social prescription model in collaboration with Macrobert Arts Centre. Artlink’s ME AND WE project, celebrated at Cowane Centre screenings, is set to continue next academic year. Additionally, our collaboration with St Modan’s School, including Artlink Central’s role, received acclaim as a finalist for the "Making a Difference" award at the Scottish Education Awards.
· Scene Stirling: Our engagement with the Remembering Together Project secured £100k funding for a yearlong memorial series with a focus on event based memorials. The Celebration Artist Symposium highlighted Scene Stirling's impact with 50 attendees, presentations from 9 artists, and cultural insights on Stirling’s future.
· NHS Forth Valley Initiatives: Notable projects included CAMHS installations in Stirling and Camelon, an impactful series of wellbeing workshops, and a mental health memorial courtyard commission. Artlink Central advanced an Organ and Tissue Donation Memorial with support from the NHS. This year also saw a successful CAMHS and Macrobert Arts Centre social prescription pilot for young people, securing £24k funding from Creative Scotland.
Recognitions of Artlink’s role in the arts community came with the St Modan’s Education Inspection, where our contributions as partners were acknowledged. We co-hosted the national event for the Remembering Together Covid Memorial, and a joint photography exhibit with Falkirk Council showcased the vibrancy of aging athletes and engaged Larbert High School students in a unique cultural learning experience.
Strategic Goals and Achievements
1. Inclusive Programming:
With ongoing efforts to include underrepresented communities, Artlink Central’s work with CAMHS, Macrobert Arts, and NHS Forth Valley prioritised support for young people’s mental health. We worked to include diverse community voices, while new projects like Stirling’s Remembering Together engage with groups most impacted by the pandemic across multiple settings.
2. Visibility and Outreach: This year saw exhibitions that brought visibility to aging and disability representation, including Alex Rotas’s photography exhibition and a new nursing wellbeing toolkit, created in partnership with the University of Stirling. Increased social media presence, public forums, and wider engagement, such as a presentation to the Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise, expanded Artlink Central’s reach.
3. Growing Partnerships: Partnerships with Stirling 900, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of Stirling expanded Artlink’s cultural impact. Artlink's collaborations continue to reinforce community involvement and inclusion, as seen in co-hosting the Celebration Artist Symposium, launching new residency programs, and supporting engagement and planning for the Stirling 900 celebrations.
4. Investing in Workforce Development: With a Senior Management Group, a new pay structure, CPD opportunities for artists, and investment in staff development, and human resources, Artlink Central has strengthened workforce engagement and training.
5. Sustainable Impact: Artlink Central has worked with Engage Scotland to support the national arts sector and fostered wider accessibility in public art through projects like Our Connected Neighbourhoods. Moreover, continued consultation with funders and stakeholders, especially through the revised Stirling Cultural Strategy, demonstrates a lasting commitment to sustainable arts practices.
