The Stove Network, with support from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), publish an important, new approach to Community Wealth Building and Community-Led Place Development.
The publication, entitled, ‘A Creative Placemaking Approach’ presents a methodology identifying how creativity and culture can work collaboratively with communities and support cross-sector working, addressing civic, economic, and development needs locally with communities.
This publication aims to support a vision of place and community where: creativity is used to develop a resilient and fair, future society, built on community wealth building principles, innovation, and long-term thinking.
The publication is the culmination of over 10 years of rural-based practice in the South of Scotland alongside wider research and consultation already carried out by The Stove Network, including Scotland’s first Creative Placemaking Forum, ‘kNOw One Place’ hosted in Dumfries in 2022.
“For a long time, we have seen first-hand the gap between national policies in areas such as community empowerment, wellbeing economies, sustainable tourism, place-based planning, and what it takes to really make these work for local communities. New approaches are needed that enable local communities to come together to work through ideas, think differently, address challenges and come up with their own solutions whilst at the same time building the capacity to take this forward for themselves. Significantly this is a place-based approach that is enabled, and not led by, the multiple agencies, organisations and service providers that have a stake in a place.”
Katharine Wheeler of The Stove Network and Director of WWDN (Creative Placemaking Network)
Placemaking traditionally refers to the concept of developing successful spaces for communities and encouraging connection and creativity for the common good. Creative placemaking is a cultural and arts led approach to placemaking that uses creativity as a support structure for communities to take a leading role in the development of their places.
“We believe this Creative Placemaking approach is hugely important in supporting change for communities in the South of Scotland and beyond. With unique villages and towns this approach can help unlock opportunities and potential to build stronger and sustainable communities. SOSE fully supports the approach outlined in this paper, it aligns with our values of bold and inclusive, while empowering our communities using creatives to translate ideas and thoughts for a meaningful community wealth building approach.”
Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise
Creative placemaking is particularly effective at developing community engagement, amplifying less heard voices, and supporting the development of community capacity and partnerships to effect real change.
“What we have seen through creative placemaking projects is a range of impacts for communities from major physical regeneration projects, such as Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries, to life and career progression for individuals in communities – new skills, confidence, increased social networks etc. The key connecting factor has been the effectiveness of creative placemaking initiatives as open and inclusive ’spaces’ which give less-heard sections of community new agency within local decision-making processes and new empowerment for themselves to be part of making the change they wish to see.”
WWDN is a Stove led project focusing on the development of a creative placemaking network for Dumfries & Galloway and is actively recruiting for the exciting NEW ROLE of Membership Manager.
Due to feedback and review, this position has been re-framed to align more closely with the projected needs of the WWND membership.
This position is open to both those with less experience who are looking to learn as part of the job or to those who bring a greater level of experience to the role.
Salary rates may be negotiated within the given salary bracket as part of the process and will be reviewed as part of The Stove’s support and supervision process within the team.
If you are interested, please do reach out.
About the Role
The Role: WWDN Membership Manager
Duration: 18 months fixed-term contract (with review after 3 months)
The Membership Manager will be responsible for all aspects of WWDN membership working closely with the WWDN Director to grow and support the network as it develops. This will include talking to and developing relationships with potential members, processing of new and renewal memberships, maintaining databases, and communicating with members.
We are looking for someone who is an excellent communicator and wants to be part of a new team.
Regular internal contact and collaboration will take place with other members of the team, as membership will be central to the functions of the WWDN network.
Training and support will be provided as part of the role.
Lead on membership recruitment, retention, and renewals, and liaison activity across all membership categories (practitioners, groups, organisations)
Develop and maintain effective membership processes, sign-up, review, and enquiry, working with colleagues across WWDN to champion high levels of service
Ensure membership admin systems are effectively maintained with support from the Web and Data Manager
Ensure membership data, trends and statistics are captured and reported in a way that informs WWDN strategic, operational, and financial planning
Communications / Relationship Building:
Work with the Communications and Marketing Director to devise and implement effective membership engagement campaigns
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of all membership marketing activity
Utilise a suite of communication assets including digital platforms: Newsletters, website, and social media channels – working closely with the Marketing Officer
Attend WWDN events and activities to promote membership recruitment and to build strong working relationships with existing members and key partners
Other duties:
Be first point of contact for WWDN service enquiries and direct to relevant members of the team
Support the WWDN team to develop, implement, and measure the impact of membership to meet strategic objectives
Feed into and support the development of systems and processes to support the continuous improvement of WWDN’s membership provision
This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be asked to take on additional responsibilities not included herein.
Who We’re Looking For:
Person Specification:
Highly motivated and ambitious
Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
Excellent organisational and administrative skills
An interest in the mission and aspirations of Creative Placemaking and the desire to work collaboratively in a small team
The ability to tailor and adapt communications to specific audiences
Experience:
A good level of IT literacy including the use of databases and websites (preferably Mailchimp / WordPress, but training will be provided)
Experience in working with customers in customer service / sales environment
Knowledge of UK-GDPR and other legislation concerning membership is desirable but not essential as appropriate training will be provided
An understanding of the third sector organisations is desirable but not essential
How to Apply:
We encourage you to apply in a way that you feel most comfortable.
You can send us your CV and a short covering letter, or video, to [email protected], explaining why you’re interested and what you could bring to the role.
Application Deadline is 9am in Monday 15th April
Interviews are likely to take place week commencing 22nd April 2024.
It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you.
We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role. Sound like the right job for you? Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role. Sound like the right job for you? Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
The Stove Network is seeking a creative practitioner(s) to design and develop a programme of their own creative work which will be delivered with and for the community of Stranraer.
About the Commission:
Fee:
A fee of £10,000 is offered for this commission. This fee is inclusive of all expenses, materials, and VAT (if applicable)
Timescale:
The work is to be completed within a six-month window – mutually agreed milestones at beginning of commission (e.g., research period, schedule of events planned by Creative Stranraer and how work of Waterfront artist fits with this).
Timeline: October – March 2024
The purpose of the commission is to creatively engage the local people in the town’s waterfront area.
The creative practitioner is invited to utilise their own creative practice (and/or collaborate with others), to inspire a new conversation in the town about the waterfront and how it could once again form a vital part of the town’s future.
The commission will form part of a wider process of re-imagining the Waterfront and the Waterfront Artist will join a small team comprising:
Arts and Engagement Officer (AEO) – who has been working within the Stranraer community gathering the creative sector and working with them on creative community engagement with local people as part of the revitalisation of Stranraer. The AEO will support the Waterfront Artist in building relationships with local people/groups/partners, communications/marketing, and event production.
Research, Recording and Reporting (R, R+R) commission holder – this is a special commission to support the work of the Waterfront Artist by helping to gathering information research leads that surface through the work and write up all the information/ideas and opinions that are generated through the creative work with the Waterfront.
Support from The Stove Network – The Stove Network has been working in Stranraer supporting community-led regeneration projects for two years. The Stove is a leading Creative Placemaking organisation in Scotland and will actively support the creative engagement work on Stranraer Waterfront with the full range of services offered by the full Stove team (from production and communications to partnership building and operational systems)
Support from DG Council and local community groups – the Local Authority is working in partnership with a diverse range of local community groups as a broad-based community leadership group to deliver capital projects(including Waterfront projects such as Stranraer Marina, Stranraer Watersports Centre and a marine research facility) that will underpin a future Stranraer. This group will support the creative engagement work on the Waterfront with information, contacts, partnership events and assets.
This commission builds upon the Dandelion community garden project, which occupied a section of greenspace located by the waterfront as a community garden. The ‘Unexpected Garden’ was utilised as a community events space, hosting workshops, gigs and other events.
Who we’re looking for:
We are in search of an experienced creative practitioner(s) with a strong background in community-embedded and social arts practices.
An ability to effectively engage and acknowledge the diverse voices of Stranraer’s populace is vital.
We seek an audacious individual(s) who can facilitate and envision exciting possibilities, instilling fresh connections with one of the town’s most valuable assets.
The commissioned practitioner(s) will have access to the Creative Stranraer ‘Hub’ located in the town’s High Street as well as significant support in community engagement as well as strategic interaction with the town’s established community events and festivals.
It is hoped the creative practitioner(s) will interact with Creative Stranraer’s programme of activities, weaving thematic considerations and activities, offering a diversity of experiences to ensure as wide a range of the community’s voices are heard.
What you’ll be doing:
The Creative Practitioner(s) will be expected to engage the community through creative activities, installations, interactive elements, and inspire conversation towards re-thinking the future use of the waterfront as a connected, culturally significant feature in the future of Stranraer.
The creative practitioner(s) are expected to:
Embrace the Waterfront’s inherent value and its potential for rejuvenation, using your creative lens to inspire new ideas, spark conversations, and incite actions that will lead to its revival. (Background: up until 10 years ago the waterfront was predominantly an ‘industrial’ environment as the embarkation point for the Stena Line vehicle and passenger ferry to Belfast)
Reflect the value of the Waterfront and the potential therein through a creative lens to inspire new ideas, conversations, and actions towards its regeneration.
Required outputs:
A series of interventions situated at the Waterfront to encourage a new relationship to the site.
Contribution to one large-scale public event situated at or near the Waterfront at the commission’s conclusion (NB additional budget is held to produce this event)
How to apply:
Deadline for applications: Thursday 24th August 2023 at 5pm
We would like to hear from creative practitioners/artists with an initial response to the project in the form of a short proposal.
We are looking for proposals from creative practitioners/artists working in any discipline.
We are interested in processes that are responsive and adaptive, demonstrate a commitment to collaborative working and give a clear idea of the creative skills and tools you bring to developing this. We are open to joint proposals or those from performance collectives but would want to hear how this might impact on the financial support for the individual freelancers involved.
We are open to video/recorded sound applications that address the brief and would encourage those who may have additional access requirements or support needs, both in application and anticipated through delivery of the project, to please let us know what we can do to make this opportunity as accessible as possible.
TO APPLY:
Please send by email to [email protected] with a maximum file size of 10MB, before Thursday 24th August 2023 at 5pm and include the following:
Subject line: Waterfront Artist Stranraer
A statement of no more than 600 words stating what interests you about the Waterfront Artist commission including a brief description of your practice and an initial idea of how you might approach the project.
Current CV (max 2 pages)
Up to 4 examples of past work that you feel best supports your application – this can be in any form (images, films, texts, testimonials, links to online video or other online resources).
If you are willing, please also complete our Equalities Monitoring form as part of your application:
It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you. We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role.
We will always send an email acknowledging receipt of any applications. If you do not receive an email, please contact us again. If you require specific support when making an application, please let us know.
If you have any questions you’d like answered before submitting your application, please contact us by email at: [email protected]
Background
Stranraer is at a pivotal point in its history. Ten years ago, the Stena Line ferry moved its operations from Stranraer to run their route to Northern Ireland from Cairnryan. A period of decline has followed for the town, but now Stranraer stands on the brink of a new chapter in its story with investment secured for a series of significant capital projects. These include projects for the Waterfront: a marina, a watersports centre, and a marine research facility. In the town centre the centrepiece project is the re-development of the former George Hotel into a culture and community centre including a bouldering centre and bunkhouse. These projects are all stitched into the community-led Place Plan for the town. The local community have worked in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise, and this commission is part of an ongoing commitment to keep the community right at the heart of the future vision for Stranraer.
The Stove Network’s Board is currently looking to appoint up to three new board members to replace trustees who have stepped down over the last year.
As both a network and a collective The Stove’s board has evolved to reflect the needs and aspirations of both our team and our 600+ membership.
In looking for new members to join our board, we expect that different candidates will bring a range of skills and experience to The Stove.
We are interested in hearing from people with skills or experience in creative or innovative ways of working who have experience in community development, people or organisational development, funding, or transnational working, particularly within the following fields:
Finance & Legal
HR & talent management
Heritage
Hospitality & Events
An understanding of meaningful collaboration, inclusive practice and partnership working also underpin our values. We are particularly keen to hear from people interested in inclusive ways of working in the community.
Planning Session at The Stove’s Away Day with The Board
About The Stove Network
We’re an award-winning arts and community focused collective based on the High Street in Dumfries. We use creativity in all its forms to bring together people and ideas, inspire and support new community-led projects, grow people, opportunities and celebrate our local people and places across the region.
We believe community and creativity are a gateway to help understand our world and empower us to make the changes necessary to support and grow the ideas and experiences we need to deliver a fairer future for all.
One look at the current programme and you will see truly innovative projects that tell you all you need to know about our culture, our mission, what we deliver and how we deliver it.
For more information or to apply:
The Stove Board meets four times a year plus an Annual General Meeting and a handful of subgroup meetings. It’s important our that Board members participate in the life of the organisation between board meetings, advising the team and acting in an ambassadorial role for The Stove Network.
If being part of a new way of working, engaging and making a difference is your thing, please get in touch for an exploratory chat by e-mailing [email protected] before Wednesday 1st March 2023
(Practitioners – please note that being a board member will not exclude you for applying for or undertaking paid work with The Stove)
Want to join our team as the Stove’s Marketing Assistant?
We’re on the lookout for a new teammate to help us support all the great community focused events, activities, and opportunities The Stove has to offer.
Job title: Marketing Assistant
Hours: 28hrs per week, can be worked flexibly over 6 days Monday – Saturday (Typical core hours 10-4, Monday – Friday – some weekend and/or late-night work may be required, advanced notice will be given)
Salary: £20,000 pro rata, (equates to £16,000)
Holiday entitlement: 27 days (Includes public holidays)
Pension: Auto-enrolment via NEST pension scheme with 3% employer contribution
Led by the Head of Communications & Engagement (HCE) the Marketing Assistant will form a core part of a small, but effective, communications team and will support the overall outreach strategy of The Stove Network and our portfolio of regional projects, by telling our story, supporting our activities, and celebrating our community.
Key Responsibilities:
General
Assist in creating and updating digital content on multiple platforms, including website, social media accounts, blogs, and emails
Assist with the coordination of on and offline marketing and promotional materials
Collaborate with the communications, creative and production teams to develop project specific marketing strategies
Help identify market trends and key opportunities for innovation
This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to join a small but effective and dedicated communications team based in the heart of Dumfries. We are looking for a creative and content savvy person who can bring ideas to life.
The ideal candidate should have a creative flair, understand the principles of digital marketing, be IT savvy, have a friendly and approachable manner with great writing skills and the desire to learn and develop.
Experience in an office or hospitality environment would be a bonus, but if you don’t have this, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re not the right person!
Here at The Stove, we believe creativity can make a positive difference to the lives of our local and regional communities. Through dedicated projects, commission opportunities and collaborative working alongside our local authority, community organisations, local businesses, and charities, we aim to create a place where culture, community, and enterprise work together to support a new vision of the town and the wider region.
Check out the full job pack, and if you have any questions let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling 01387 252 435
We encourage you to apply in a way that you feel most comfortable or you can fire over your CV and a short covering letter, or video, to [email protected], explaining why you’re interested and what you could bring to the role.
Just make sure that your application is in by 5pm, Friday 9th December 2022
It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you.
We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role.
Sound like the right job for you? Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
The Stove Network launch kNOw One Place, Creative Placemaking Forum – an ambitious, future-thinking discussion on creative placemaking. The Forum will take place from 22-23 September 2022 at Loreburn Hall in Dumfries and will draw over 100 people from public, private, independent and charitable sectors across the two days. Through a mixture of open space discussion and expert reflection, exhibition and original artworks, the forum is set to be a participatory space to think about and develop grass-roots and community-led approaches to placemaking for the future – both nationally and internationally.
We define Creative Placemaking as: a community led approach that uses creative activity to support collective decision-making and positive change for people and the places they live
More about Creative Placemaking
The idea for the forum stems from the work that The Stove Network has led on over the past 10 years. The Stove Network has been working with a Creative Placemaking approach at its core since its inception to stimulate conversations, change, art, and renewed ownership across communities in Dumfries. This was then formalised, scaled and piloted as a network approach to working from within communities in the recent project, What We Do Now. What We Do Now helped inform and was part of Scotland’s Culture Collective Programme, a major Scottish initiative for culture and creativity to play a role in the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.
We have also published our approach to Creative Placemaking in our most recent publication, Embers. Now it’s time to dig into the core principles of this work with others, to contribute to our evolving understanding of this way of working in Scotland.
Hear from Katharine Wheeler, Partnerships and Project Development at The Stove Network, as she talks about Creative Placemaking and ‘What We Do Now’:
Join the conversation
Throughout the month of September and in the lead-up to the kNOw One Place forum, The Stove Network will host a series of online activities and events that will take a closer look at creative placemaking.
These events will bring together the public, private, independent, and charitable sectors through open space discussion, expert reflection, an exhibition, and original artworks.
Across two weeks five digital events will explore the key creative placemaking themes of:
All events take place online from 6pm- 7pm and are open to anyone interested in disusing, contributing to or finding out more about the concept of Creative Placemaking.
What We Do Now (WWDN) is a pilot for a Creative Placemaking Network for Dumfries and Galloway which sees The Stove Network support a community anchor group (place hub) in each of five towns in Dumfries & Galloway to host creative practitioners for an extended period to work with sections of the community in that place to co-create new future visions and practical projects.
WWDN supports artists to explore bold new ideas with communities to give voices to those under-represented in local decision making.
For more information on The Stove Networks approach to creative placemaking and to find out more about the pilot project visit: whatwedonow.scot
The Committee for Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture is currently examining future directions for funding culture in Scotland. The Stove gave evidence to the committee on 16th September and this blog builds on the themes developed in our evidence and the evolving conversation about the role of culture and creativity in society as a whole – a conversation given extra focus and urgency in the context of Covid and Climate Change.
Culture & Wellbeing The Stove Network Evidence Session on Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 16 September 2021
In periods of lockdown during the pandemic, creative practitioners filled many of the gaps created by the withdrawal of local authority services for people with additional support needs. In my own area, I have many, many stories of the extraordinary efforts of creative people during this time and of the positive impacts on clients and patients, some of whom experienced creative practice for the first time and have made progress that has astonished their carers. Similar stories are perhaps more widely known in education, with creative and cultural organisations and individuals providing physical and digital resources to support home-schooling.
Could the pandemic result in the widening of attitudes to education among parents/students and of outcomes for people with additional support needs and chronic health conditions?
These examples are part of a wider phenomenon through which myriad examples of arts practice embedded in communities came to the fore in Scotland, developed through local support networks during the pandemic. These can be added to the many community-led initiatives and social enterprises that have been started by a cultural project or the involvement of artists in local activism. The key connecting aspect of all these examples is the direct participation of people – people using creativity as a tool to change their own circumstances and/or the places around them, people being involved in shaping and making their own culture, rather than passively consuming culture that has been made for them.
Investing in Cultures The Stove Network Evidence Session on Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 16 September 2021
Perhaps it is time to ask a fundamental question about the way we do culture in Scotland? Could we consciously support a culture of participation and popular ownership of culture as a key part of our national toolkit towards a just transition from both Covid and Climate Change?
It might be useful to look back at how we arrived at the current model we have inherited for the public support for culture. There are very interesting parallels with the pandemic in this regard. 80 years ago, another national crisis caused us to look anew at culture: during World War II people participating in and making their own culture was a vital factor in maintaining morale. This was recognised in the formation of the Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA) in 1940 which had two distinct strands of activity: one supported people to participate directly in the making of their own culture, whilst the other supported professional practitioners to create cultural work and events for the public. The participatory strand was very successful with projects such as the ‘Travelling Musicians’ programme which in 6 months started 244 amateur choirs and 37 new orchestral groups.
Despite this success, in 1946 CEMA was restructured as the Arts Council of Great Britain and support for participation in culture was discontinued with the first Chairman of the Arts Council declaring: ‘It is about the best not the most. The principle is we support professional artists. That’s our obligation. And our second obligation is to enable others to appreciate, understand and benefit from that’
Substantially, this is the way things have continued to the present day.* We, as a society, have come to understand culture as something that is professionally produced for others to enjoy.
It is a leap I know, but imagine how different life could have been in our communities and for our arts sector had we continued to support participation in the making of culture? Our way of thinking about learning, health, inclusion and empowerment in our communities might be very different. I’d like to propose that we use this moment of resetting with Covid to make a bold step as a country and to use culture as enabler and connector across multiple sectors in our society. Could we imagine something like a national Cultural Investment Programme supporting the mass participation in culture as a vital building block for a wellbeing society as part of an essential re-set after Covid?
It’s important to stress from the outset that this new approach to culture would be additional to the traditional support for the professional production of culture not instead of. In practice there would be expansive synergy between the two approaches to supporting culture in Scotland, with cross-fertilization in funding across organisations, projects and practices and opportunities for individuals to develop portfolio careers across different forms of practice.
Such a programme would be an integral part of our Covid/Climate transition and delivered through a partnership approach with Health, Education, Economic Regeneration and Community Development. It could be thought of as similar to the way in which Sport is supported – where one funding strand supports participation in sport (as part of wellbeing) and another funds elite sport…or like the distinct support paths for applied research and pure research in academia.
Developing this new strand of cultural support would start by bringing together existing experience and excellence in arts in education, health and community development (e.g. Arts in Education Recovery Group, Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland, Creative Scotland Place Dept, Culture Collective, Creative Communities) to work with the various other sectors and across budget strands such as the Place Based Investment Programme.
Future Vision for Culture The Stove Network Evidence Session on Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 16 September 2021
Core elements of Scotland’s Cultural Investment Programme (SCIP) could include:
(NB ‘artists’ is used as a collective term to include: musicians, performers, dancers, visual artists, writers, designers, filmmakers, producers)
Education – artists in residence in schools, the Room 13 model, the Sistema model
Health and Wellbeing – social prescribing, artists in healthcare settings (eg ArtLink), wellbeing groups
Community Development – artists embedded in communities – supporting the growth of new initiatives and groups e.g. bringing unheard voices into community planning for longer term investment
Community-based Organisations – to become hubs supporting a population of local freelance artists (and associated creative disciplines) to work in the SCIP. Organisations also promote partnership working and develop new initiatives/projects. Many of these organisations will be community-based arts organisations, working across both strands of support for culture
National Network – to link and support community-based organisations and freelancers to share capacity, experience, skills and resources.
Skills and Training Programme – for artists and associated creative disciplines to work within SCIP settings and deliver ongoing professional development.
Action Research – as part of the roll-out of SCIP, with a remit to monitor progress, share best practice and identify effective synergies with existing cultural infrastructure.
Joined up working/funding across diverse sectors at national Government/Agency and Regional levels
We already have brilliant experience nationally of this kind of work across the board in education, health and communities, the principle of this vision would be to pool experience and resources across different fields and agendas to make a commitment, as a country, to a long-term, innovative and joined-up approach to building a wellbeing economy – using culture.
Chapter One – Image, Kirsten McEwan PhotographyOpen Hoose – Image, Colin Tennant
Artists and the diversity/sustainability of the cultural and creative workforce is central to the idea of such an investment programme. Artists would be employed on Fair Work principles to work as artists within the settings described, this is not ‘artists as social workers’ rather a commitment to genuine co-production with communities and regular local contracts will give new opportunities for artists to develop their own individual practices and grow new collaborations with other artists through the national network.
Local hubs, community participation, arts in education settings and fair work principles will also create the conditions for people from diverse backgrounds to enter the cultural and creative workforce and support all creative people with multiple opportunities to develop careers and creative practices.
Brave New Words – Image, Kirstin McEwan PhotographyCharter 14 – Image, Colin Tennant
Important initiatives such as Culture Collective and Creative Communities have already grown from the National Culture Strategy. The Culture Strategy makes an incredible opportunity for Scotland to use these as foundations around which we can attract people and practices and build a world-leading initiative that puts culture and the cultural workforce right at the heart of the effort to build a country based on wellbeing and climate justice.
*the Community Arts movement of the 1970s and 80s is one amongst few notable exceptions along with individual projects within the fields of health, education and community-based practice in recent years.
Opportunity for an Emerging Creative Producer to work in Stranraer
10 month full-time creative opportunity working on a national project with The Stove Network and Stranraer Development Trust
Extended Deadline – Midday 9th December 2021
This is an incredible opportunity for someone of any age but at an early stage of their creative career to work as part of a UK-wide project.
Dandelion is Scotland’s contribution to ‘Unboxed – Creativity in the UK’ and is an ambitious creative programme demonstrating the power of collective action in a unique ‘grow your own’ initiative for modern times.
This is a full-time (35 hours per week) position on a fixed term contract for 10 months from 1st January 22 to 31st October 22. The salary is £24,000 PA equating to £20,000 for the 10 month term of the contract.
Deadline for applications – Midday on Thursday 9th December
This role is designed for someone who is new to producing. The successful candidate will be mentored and supported by The Stove Network, Stranraer Development Trust and the Dandelion Network Coordinator.
Relevant on-the-job training will be provided and the successful candidate will be provided with the equipment they need (e.g. a laptop) to carry out their role, and we may be able to help with relocation costs.
If you are thinking about applying for the Emerging Creative Producer job in Stranraer and want to find out more, you can contact Matt Baker at The Stove Network by emailing: [email protected] or join Fiona Dalgetty, Futures Director and Jen White, Project Manager – Unexpected Gardens on Zoom between 1-2pm or 8-9pm on Wednesday 1st December.
If you would like to join one of these Zoom sessions, please email: [email protected]
Further Information about Dandelion
Dandelion is working with partner organisations around Scotland to create a series of ‘Unexpected Gardens’ one of these will be in Stranraer, where Dandelion will work in partnership with The Stove Network and Stranraer Development Trust.
Each Unexpected Garden will be planted in March 2022 and become a space for creative community events culminating in a unique Harvest Festival in September. Each Emerging Creative Producer will take a lead on designing and delivering the programme of activity for their Unexpected Garden. For the Stranraer project the Creative Producer will also be part of the team that designs and builds the Unexpected Garden.
The Stove and Dandelion are committed to creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and, as such, we welcome applications from those who bring a difference to our team, we understand that each of us bring our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do.
We encourage applications from all backgrounds and particularly welcome applications from those who are currently under-represented within the sector, including those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled candidates, LGBTQI++ and/or those from a low socio-economic background or requiring flexible working arrangements.
If you have specific accessibility needs in taking part in the application and/or delivery stages of the project please be assured that we will be supportive in discussing reasonable adjustments with you at any stage of the recruitment and selection process.
An early start had us arriving in Dundee bright-eyed and ready for a day of exploration. We kicked things off with a visit to Creative Dundee, meeting their team at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA). Over coffee and conversation, we swapped stories—sharing what’s been happening in Dumfries and soaking up insights on Creative Dundee’s work. From their Hapworks initiative to the Amps network, it was clear we were kindred spirits, connected by a passion for creative community-building. We also got the lowdown on Pass the Mic and their legendary PechaKucha nights.
Feeling warmly welcomed, we set off on a guided tour of Dundee’s buzzing creative scene. First stop: Generator Projects, Dundee’s longest-running artist-led space. It was alive with energy, a constant hum of artistic activity, and the very definition of community-driven creativity.
Next up was Double Door Studios, where we were greeted by the brilliant Islay Spalding, jeweller and founder of the space. Our chat with Islay delved into the balancing act of being a creative—where passion meets practicality, and how to carve out sustainable careers in the arts.
Refuelled and ready, we made our way to The Keiller Centre, a fascinating shopping centre with certain community-led units in the heart of the city. We got a glimpse into its future plans and were delighted by Volk Gallery, an independent arts venue housed in a repurposed nappy vending machine.
Then, it was over to Hapworks_00, a pilot creative co-working and event space led by Eilish at creative Dundee. Hearing about the successes of the project was inspiring, but it also opened up conversations around the challenges of securing and sustaining creative spaces—something we all felt deeply connected to. Our day wrapped up with a breezy walk to the waterfront to check out the ‘Sharing Not Hoarding’ riso print exhibition, a fitting end to a day filled with ideas, inspiration, and the joy of shared creative energy.
We left Dundee feeling invigorated, having seen a whole new side to the city—one pulsing with collaboration, innovation, and a real sense of community.
Day 2: Glasgow – A Quick Stop with Big Impact
Before heading home, we made a detour to Glasgow, kicking things off with a visit to the Kelvingrove Gallery to explore their Empire Exhibition. This powerful exhibition critically examined the legacy of empire and colonialism—a moment for us to pause, reflect, and consider the impact of history on the institutions that surround us today. As an unexpected bonus, we caught the Kelvingrove organ recital, a mesmerising performance that had us all slowing down to take it in.
Lunch
Post-lunch, we made our way to Glasgow Women’s Library, a truly special space dedicated to celebrating and preserving women’s histories. As the only Accredited Museum of its kind in the UK, it offers a rich archive, a lending library, and a packed programme of events. The calm, welcoming atmosphere left a lasting impression, and we all departed feeling a deep sense of belonging and gratitude for spaces like this.
Wrapping Up: A GO SEE to Remember
Dundee GO SEE was an absolute cracker. Not only did we expand our knowledge of the creative sector, but we also grew closer as a team—something we reflected on (enthusiastically) during the car ride home.
A massive shoutout to Mia, our creative producer, for pulling together such a brilliant trip. This journey left us feeling inspired, connected, and fuelled by a renewed love for the creative community. Until the next GO SEE!
In 2024, the Wild Goose Festival (WGF) returned for its fifth year of activity celebrating nature, creativity and place across Dumfries & Galloway. Running from the 18th – 27th of October, our feathery festival had a programme of over 70 events from Stranraer across to Annan.
The Stove Network produces WGF, uniting key partners from across Dumfries & Galloway. WGF formed part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024 and was supported by TRACS – Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Annandale & Nithsdale Community Benefit Company, administered by Foundation Scotland and Dumfries & Galloway Museums & Heritage Network.
As we celebrate the geese ahead of their departure in April, let’s have a gander at what was occurring at our 2024 festival.
Our Biggest Festival Yet
Our Wild Goose programme arrived early autumn, packed full of events for all ages to enjoy. Building on the success of our previous four festivals, we were able to host our biggest selection of events so far across Dumfries & Galloway.
This year wasn’t just bigger; thanks to the support and involvement of our partner organisations, our 2024 festival featured a diverse array of events, from immersive workshops to captivating performances, all with the celebration of D&G’s unique ecology at their core. WGF continues to champion our region’s cultural and natural heritage.
A New and Improved Wild Goose Festival Hub
The Wild Goose Festival Hub has become an essential element of our festival, and in 2024 we were back in the Loreburne Centre in Dumfries for more fun, educational workshops for all ages.
This year, 902 people visited the Hub in our new, larger space filled with interactive exhibitions, fascinating goose facts, and hands-on creative workshops. The Hub programme of events included workshops with local artists, environmental educators, storytellers and musicians. Our hub space welcomed Clydebuilt Theatre Company for puppet shows, Allison Galbraith for storytelling sessions, Paragon for movement and music workshops and local artists Korey Patterson and Emily Tough. Our Hub was a place where stories came to life, where art bloomed, and where the natural world was explored with wonder.
Launching Hear | Here – Amplifying Voices Unheard
On the 18th of October at the Stove Cafe, The Stove launched our new project ‘Hear | Here’. This three-year initiative aims to combine public art, print media, and immersive experiences to celebrate the heritage, identity, and culture of underrepresented communities in Dumfries. In its first year, Hear | Here is focusing on the Travelling Showpeople, and we were fortunate to be joined by Co-Chairs of Fair Scotland Dr. Mitch Miller and Dr. t s Beall.
Hear | Here is delivered in collaboration with Fair Scotland, a charity founded by Scottish Showpeople, artists, and researchers. To learn more about the project click here.
Celebrating our Unique Environment
The 2024 WGF became a vibrant celebration of South-West Scotland’s natural environment by weaving together art, culture, and nature. The programme of events drew attention to the region’s unique connection with migratory geese and the broader ecosystem. It fostered a deeper appreciation for the area’s landscapes and wildlife, encouraging both locals and visitors to reconnect with and cherish the natural beauty of their surroundings.
A Brand New Visual Identity for 2024
You may have noticed that WFG underwent a makeover ahead of our fifth festival. As the festival grows and evolves, so does our visual identity with an updated logo and brand colours.
Our Wild Goose Festival brand identity has been created by Dumfries & Galloway based graphic designer Jamie Stryker.
Looking Forward to 2025
The sixth annual Wild Goose Festival will return in October 2025. In the meantime, we will celebrate the geese returning to their other faraway climates this spring alongside our partner organisations. Check out our ‘Goodbye to the Geese’ events now on the Wild Goose Festival website here.
Location The Stove, Dumfries Position Freelance, Part Time Application Deadline Wednesday 26th March 2025, 9am
The Role
This five month residency offers a creative freelancer the opportunity to develop and deliver visual and public art in and around The Stove buildings. As the Artist/Maker in Residence, you will lead the Conversing Building programme by designing engaging displays that activate public spaces. You will also play a key role in our soon-to-be-launched Print House/Workshop, supporting its creative operations, and providing hands-on artistic and practical support for The Stove team and café. This flexible, part time role is ideal for a working artist who thrives in collaboration, enjoys experimenting with different media, and is passionate about community-driven art.
The Artist/Maker in Residence will have three key roles:
Leading the Conversing Building Programme Designing and installing creative displays that activate The Stove’s public spaces and spark dialogue around key themes such as regeneration, nature, and underrepresented voices.
Residency in the Print House/Workshop Engaging with the community print space, supporting its operation, and collaborating with other creatives using the facility.
Maker in Residence at The Stove Providing hands-on creative support for The Stove’s team, café, and wider projects, contributing to both practical and artistic outputs.
Rate of Pay and Hours
This role pays £150 per day for an average of 7 days per month for a period of 5 months from 5th May to 3rd October. The Artist/Maker in Residence will be expected to attend a full team meeting on Monday mornings at 9.30 for one hour (blended meeting) all other hours will be by negotiation according to project needs and availabilities.
To apply for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter, detailing your interest in this role and working with The Stove, as well as your relevant skills, experience, and knowledge. In addition, three examples of your work as an Artist/Maker.
Deadline Wednesday 26th March 2025 at 9AM Interviews Thursday 10th April 2025
Applying in a Way That Works for You
We want our application process to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. We welcome you to communicate with us in whatever way feels most comfortable and natural to you. If you have any questions—about the application, the role, or anything else—please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
Since its launch in October last year, Hear|Here—a project in partnership with Fair Scotland that collaborates with Scotland’s travelling Showpeople—has been steadily gaining momentum. This initiative, alongside collaborations with Fair Scotland and Dr. Mitch Miller’s Atchin Tans & Tobers project, forms part of a broader artistic exploration of Scotland’s Showpeople culture, including Miller’s deep-mapping practice known as dialectograms.
We have ambitious plans for 2025, a dynamic programme of installations, performances, and newsprint, and an upcoming series of events coinciding with the March Spring Fair, the project continues to grow in scope and impact.
Left to right: Dr Mitch Miller (Fair Scotland), Dr t.s. Beall (Fair Scotland), Alex James Colquhoun (Chairman of the Scottish section of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and Vice President of the European Showmen’s Union), Martin Joseph O’Neill (Artistic Director, The Stove) Albert Reid (Reid’s Amusements, Local Showman) at the launch of the Hear | Here project.
I’m always eager – perhaps to the point of annoying (!) – to remind Doonhamers just how deeply embedded and longstanding the travelling fairs are in Dumfries. From medieval feasts in the 1300s to the Rood and Spring Fairs of today, this rich tradition remains a defining part of the town’s cultural landscape. Showpeople played a pioneering role in early cinema, contributed significantly to the town’s development—including the construction of the suspension bridge—and supported local efforts during the Second World War. Their history is not just alive but constantly evolving—adapting to the present while remaining fiercely proud of its unique identity.
There is a growing recognition of Showpeople’s cultural significance, the recent BBC Scotland docu-series Licensed to Thrill has brought their stories to a wider audience, while the European Showmen’s Union Conference in Edinburgh earlier this year—an event I was fortunate to attend—highlighted the continued importance of this community across Europe. This renewed interest signals a much-needed revival and acknowledgment of their contributions, woven intricately into Scotland’s industrial, cultural, and civic fabric.
This cultural resurgence comes with challenges. Inconsistencies in local policies and licensing rules continue to create uncertainty. In Dumfries, the debate around the flood defence scheme highlights these tensions. On the positive side, there’s growing support from local leadership, with calls to ensure that fairs remain on their current site by the Whitesands. But sustaining these historic fairs remains an uphill struggle, with rising costs and bureaucratic hurdles.
The recent European Showmen’s Union Conference brought these issues to the forefront in a parliamentary debate addressing key concerns for Scotland’s Showpeople:
Furthermore, efforts to safeguard Showpeople’s heritage are gaining traction. The UK signing up to UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is an encouraging step, as are initiatives led by Fair Scotland, which has recently launched a survey documenting fairs under threat and those lost over the past century. You can read more about this in a recent BBC article.
And members of the public are encouraged to take 5 minutes to fill in the short survey here: https://bit.ly/LostFairs
How can we support the future of the fair?
At the recent European Showmen’s Union conference, presentations from various international organisations shed light on successful models of support. The German Showmen’s Association (Deutscher Schaustellerbund), for instance, highlighted the scale and resilience of fairs in Germany—where, in 2024 alone, 7,500 fairs attracted 200 million visitors, generating a turnover of €4 billion. Despite rising operational costs, these fairs continue to flourish due to their deep integration within cultural and historic celebrations. Events such as Oktoberfest, Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest, and traditional Christmas markets demonstrate how fairs can be framed as essential cultural fixtures rather than standalone attractions.
Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest
Closer to home, Kirkcaldy’s Links Market—Scotland’s largest street fair—offers an inspiring example of longevity and adaptation. Running for over 700 years, it remains deeply embedded in the town’s identity. Unlike fairs relegated to isolated spaces, Kirkcaldy’s fair, as with Dumfries, runs along the waterfront. Its success, thanks to longstanding advocacy from leaders in the local council, underscores how traditional fairs can be seamlessly woven into the cultural life of a place, contributing to the long-term economy of a town.
Kirkcaldy’s Links Market in Fife is Europe’s longest street fair, thought to be the longest in Scotland.
Proposals for the Future
It wouldn’t feel very Stove-likeif I didn’t use this blog as a space to throw some ideas into the mix—so here are a few to get us started! If we want Dumfries’ fairs to thrive, we need to think about how they fit into the town’s future and make sure they remain at its heart. Some ways to do this could include:
Cultural integration: Weaving the fairs into wider community events, arts festivals, and seasonal celebrations to make them a more visible and celebrated part of town life.
Heritage interpretation: Bringing the fairs’ history to life through walking tours, museum exhibits, and talks that deepen people’s understanding of their significance.
Urban design integration: Making sure fairs aren’t just accommodated but actively designed into the town’s spaces—imagine seating areas shaped for fairground rides or performance zones that transform throughout the year.
Sustainability initiatives: Looking at greener energy solutions, like hydroelectric power from the River Nith, to make fairs more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective.
Diversity and inclusion: Ensuring fairs are welcoming spaces for everyone, where diverse voices—including travelling communities, LGBTQ+ groups, and multicultural communities—are celebrated and included.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Recognition: Pushing for Dumfries’ fairs to be recognised as part of Scotland’s protected cultural heritage, similar to how the Tilburg Fair (The Netherlands) has been designated.
Show woman Lucille Pullar speaks to ‘Fairground Walkabout’ attendees in March 2023. Lucille shared her experiences working as an Education Liaison Officer for the Showmen’s Guild, and her grandson’s ‘mini Lorry’ – painted with the family colours! Image t s Beall
Looking ahead
The Show Must Go On postcards (The Stove)
The work of Hear|Here is taking shape not just as an advocacy project but as a catalyst for deeper integration and innovation – by embedding the voices and ideas of Showpeople into urban planning and cultural strategy. Through collective action, we have the opportunity to secure a future where Scotland’s travelling fairs not only endure in Dumfries but flourish as living, dynamic elements of our town and community.
A New Chapter for The Stove as Matt Baker Steps Down as CEO in 2025
As we enter our 14th year, I’m writing to let you know about another major milestone for The Stove, as our co-founder Matt Baker stands down as CEO in summer 2025. This progression has been in planning for over a year between Matt and the Board. The Stove is constantly evolving, and the Trustees and the team are confident that this will be another positive process of change for us.
A small team from the Board have been working with Matt for about a year now in planning for this change. I’m delighted to tell you that we are not losing Matt; he will take on a new part-time role for The Stove as our ‘Prospector’*, continuing with the brilliant work he does for us in regional and national strategy and policy development, and working with prospective clients and funders to shape new work opportunities.
In co-founding The Stove, the challenge Matt set himself was to help establish a sustainable, innovative arts organisation embedded in his home region. As he says himself, ‘the final step in creating something is to step away to allow it to stand on its own and flourish’. With the incredible team we have built—you, our members, and all of our partners—we have the experience and skills, and we are ready and excited to embrace this new stage together in our evolution. We can assure all members that no significant change to the direction or operation of The Stove is anticipated; we will continue to serve the creative community and the wider communities of Dumfries and Galloway as we always have.
We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary contribution that Matt has made to The Stove, the region, and the country over the past 14 years, and delighted that his commitment to Dumfries and Galloway and the pioneering practice of creative placemaking will remain his focus. We are excited at the prospect of new adventures with Matt and all the new connections he will make for us.
The wonderful recent news of the award of multi-year funding from Creative Scotland means that The Stove is now in its third cycle as a national portfolio arts organisation, an incredible achievement for such a young and highly original organisation. This award was based on our business plan for 2025–28. The plan is built on the twin strands of (1) community-embedded creative practice, for and with the communities of Dumfries, and (2) regional creative placemaking and creative sector development. These two areas of work are based on the solid foundations of existing work and future innovation, and are underpinned by four areas of income generation, all of which are comprehensively supported through effective governance and working systems.
We will now enter a short process of internal reorganisation and planning to refine the shape of our team and working systems. This is something in which everyone at The Stove has a voice, but we have planned things in such a way that the process should create as little disruption as possible within everyone’s busy schedules. The process will be enabled and supported by the constitutional changes we made in the past year and the well-embedded operations of the Board and senior leadership team, which we have all developed together. We will do our utmost to keep everyone informed throughout, and I am here for any queries—please do not hesitate to reach out.
This feels like a big change in our Stove foundations. As you all know, Matt has been the leader of this special place. However, we’re confident about this next chapter, the new opportunities it will present internally and externally, and the fact that we won’t lose our wonderful Matt completely. As it is traditional to say at The Stove at times like these, ‘may it continuse on!’
Lynsey Smith Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Stove
* A prospector company is defined as one that is a leader in its market and is driven by innovation and thought-leadership. Prospector companies are known for being entrepreneurial and investing a lot of time and effort to find new products and solutions. A prospector strategy is a business strategy that involves actively seeking out new markets and opportunities. It’s a competitive strategy that emphasises innovation and flexibility to respond to changing market conditions. A prospector seeks precious elements.
The Spacers were off on our first go-see of the programme in January. Zooming up the A76 to Ayr, gently serenaded by James on the kazoo (see our Instagram Reel from the day), we were all buzzing to get into the nitty-gritty of another fantastic arts organisation.
Narture, founded in 2020 by father-daughter duo Robert and Saskia Singer, is a community arts organisation funded by their very own sourdough bakery, where they produce fresh breads and pastries each day. On this foundation of good food, they “re-invest all surplus profits into creative projects, as an instigator of town centre regeneration. The spaces host a community darkroom, Riso printer, exhibitions, events, workshops, holistic therapies, and talks.”
We arrived and were welcomed to their cosy and creatively decorated café by Saskia, and were able to grab some delicious lunch while we got chatting. We were then introduced to Saskia’s dad and co-founder Robert, and were given some of Narture’s backstory. They have both studied art, and Robert has a background in catering, all of which comes together in what they do at Narture. We could really feel the passion and dedication they both have for the organisation, and they clearly have put a lot of hard work into building what they have. You can read more about Narture and what they do on their website: https://www.narture.co.uk/.
We then went on a tour of the spaces Narture uses on Ayr High Street. Seeing what they’ve done with the spaces—the artist studios, Riso printer, etc.—was inspiring and definitely got us thinking about what could be transferable to our own town in Dumfries, as well as our own creative practices.
It was brilliant to get out and about as a team, and spending the day with a new organisation has definitely brought a fresh perspective. The car ride home was full of discussion and chat about new ideas—we left Narture with a sense of connection with the organisation and their community.
Creative Spaces is a Dumfries-based collective of young creatives, working with and advocating for our region’s young artists.
Situated in the heart of Dumfries, Creative Spaces collaborates with young creatives from across the region, providing young people with opportunities to engage in the arts. Whether it’s through events, workshops, mentorships, or our annual Associates Programme, we aim to enhance Dumfries and Galloway’s creative scene by offering free access to opportunities and paid commissions.
Keep up to date with the Creative Spaces team on Instagram: @creative.spaces_
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