The nationwide campaign aims to put art at the heart of a vibrant future for Scotland
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Studio Pavilion at House for an Art Lover this week as part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN).
SCAN, the member-led body for contemporary visual art in Scotland, launched the campaign, which is called Art in Action, to champion the valuable role visual art plays within communities across Scotland, and to call for stronger recognition of this value when it comes to decision-making.
During her visit, the First Minister met with arts and heritage officer Louise Briggs, who introduced her to artists based in the studio spaces, members of the Studio Pavilion staff team, and artist and constituent Tessa Lynch (who is exhibiting in the current show, Stoop Stoop Stooping in Stoopid).
The First Minister’s visit rounds off a successful summer of visits by other MSPs, with around 20 from across all parties having visited visual arts venues, galleries and studio spaces from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway.
These MSPs have been invited to see for themselves the positive impact of visual art in their constituencies, and are sharing their experience via social media using #ArtInAction. They have also been asked to make a public commitment to support artists and art in their communities.
SCAN director, Clare Harris, said: “Culture and creativity are not an add-on; they are part and parcel of how we live our lives. Through Art in Action we want to show how art facilitates new ways of seeing in a way that’s positive for all of us.
“As part of the fabric of our diverse and multi-faceted society, contemporary visual art can feed long-term change within our communities. As such artists should play an integral role in planning for a future vibrant Scotland.
We challenge decision-makers to think differently about art – and to recognise its potential by investing in it.”
Studio Pavilion at House for an Art Lover is located in Bellahouston Park, in Sturgeon’s Glasgow Southside constituency. It offers free contemporary art in a public park, presenting an ambitious, pioneering and challenging programme of events, exhibitions, residencies and workshops.
Find out more about Art in Action here.
