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Opportunity: Artist/Maker in Residence

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. 

How to Apply

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.

Please email your application to [email protected]

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]

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A Fair Future

Written by Martin O’Neill

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, Albert Reid (Reid's Amusements, Local Showman)
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
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-like if 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.

Learn more about Here|Hear.

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A New Chapter for The Stove

Matt Baker, Photographed by Coulson & Tennant

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.

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Creative Spaces – Narture Go & See

Written by Anna Murray

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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The Stove Multi-Year Funding Award 2025-2028

We are delighted to share that The Stove has been awarded Multi-Year Funding by Creative Scotland for the period of April 2025–April 2028. We are honoured to be part of the national portfolio of cultural organisations in Scotland for the third time. This decision feels like a true affirmation of the work we do.

The significant growth of funded organisations in our region demonstrates how fundamental the arts are to life and work in Dumfries & Galloway. We are proud to stand alongside six other creative organisations in the region—DG Arts Festival, Upland CIC, CatStrand, Wigtown Festival Company, CAMPLE LINE, and Paragon Music—who are all making valuable contributions to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of Scotland’s communities.

The Stove, as it stands today, has evolved from a conversation in a bar in 2011 among a group of artists. Our hope then remains the same as it is now: to use creativity and the arts to shape the future of our town. Collaboration has always been at the heart of our vision, and we dedicate this recent success to everyone we’ve worked with—the community across the region, the incredibly talented network of freelancers, and, of course, our members.

We’ve taken time to publish our message of thanks and gratitude for Creative Scotland’s support out of respect for the many organisations across Scotland who have not received the outcome they had hoped for. We acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead for many of these organisations who undoubtedly invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into the application process. As we stated previously in our response to the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund, we stand in solidarity with creatives everywhere, as well as with public and third-sector workers, and offer our support in any way we can.

Looking ahead to the next three years, with the stability provided by this funding, we are pleased to continue with our ambitious plans. The Stove’s original mission for Dumfries—enabling creativity and creative people to make a positive contribution to the town and surrounding communities—has now expanded into a region-wide endeavour. Over the next three years, we will focus on delivering community-embedded arts practices with the communities of Dumfries, as well as advancing regional creative placemaking and creative sector development:

We’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the continued support from all our much-valued funders and partners, who enable our ongoing mission for Dumfries & Galloway.

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History as an Act of Imagination | Creative Caerlaverock 2024-2025

Since its inception over four years ago, Creative Caerlaverock, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland has embodied a fresh, grassroots approach to heritage engagement. Rather than following a ‘descended’ model—replicating the same methods across different sites—this project has embraced a deeply place-based philosophy, rooted in the unique stories, landscapes, and people of the Caerlaverock area.

One of the core challenges in engaging with heritage sites lies in the conventional narratives of history—stories often written by the victors, steeped in patriarchal perspectives, and leaving vast silences where marginalised voices should be. Creative Caerlaverock has sought to challenge this by asking provocative questions: Whose histories are we telling? What about the untold stories—the queer, the repressed, the forgotten?

This project strives to create equal opportunities for connection with one of Scotland’s most remarkable historic sites. Whether through personal stories tied to the land, collective memories from local communities, or imaginative escapism, it encourages participants to use history as both a mirror and a canvas. By blending tactile engagement, creative exploration, and open dialogue, the project has inspired participants to reimagine their relationship with heritage—not as a static past but as a living, evolving force.

Over the past year, Creative Caerlaverock, delivered in partnership with DJ McDowall of The Imaginarium, has worked with diverse groups—young people, local residents, and LGBTQ+ communities—to rediscover Caerlaverock Castle and its surrounding landscape as spaces of connection, creativity, and inclusivity. By exploring the intangible threads of identity and history, participants have uncovered new ways to see themselves in the fabric of Scotland’s past.

As we step into a new year, full of uncertainties, one question lingers: Could our reimagined engagement with history serve as a guiding light for the future?

Site & Sound 

Sonic Labs & Creative Toolbox (Creative Wellbeing Network) 

Site & Sound is a collaborative project that brings together the creative expertise of the Stove’s Sonic Labs collective—explorers of sound and music—and Creative Toolbox, part of the Dumfries & Galloway Creative Wellbeing Network. This youth-focused programme offers activities to young people dealing with low self-esteem, low confidence, or poor mental health by fostering creativity as a tool for growth and connection.

Over Autumn and Winter, Site & Sound guided participants through an immersive creative process, including sound foraging, free improvisation, circuitry, creative writing, and spoken word. The result? Six powerful audio tales and poems, written and performed by the young people themselves, inspired by the rich landscape and history of Caerlaverock.

These imaginative stories will soon be available via the Echoes App, geo-located across the Caerlaverock site. Visitors will be able to embark on a unique auditory journey, immersing themselves in the vivid worlds crafted by young voices and their fresh perspectives.

For more insights into this incredible project, visit the Creative Wellbeing site to read an article by Georgia Ireland, Youth Creative Wellbeing Lead at Outpost Arts.

Our Land, Our Story

The Imaginarium & Caerlaverock Estate 

Led by The Imaginarium and in partnership with the D&G Heritage Service, Our Land, Our Stories brings the rich tapestry of Caerlaverock Estate’s history to life. By working with the older farming community of the Caerlaverock Estate, the project captures stories, memories, and reflections deeply tied to the estate’s 800-year legacy. These are more than just anecdotes—they delve into profound themes like climate change, community celebrations, agricultural transformations, and the enduring bond between people and the land they cultivate. From zeppelins soaring over the estuary to Viking longships and local legends, these stories bring history to life.

In 2025, these recordings will take on new life. Through community gatherings and folk nights, The Bookshop Band, Wigtown’s renowned musical duo, will collaborate with the local community to research and reinterpret these stories, resulting in the creation of up to three original songs.

Our Land, Our Stories serves as a poignant reminder of how personal histories connect to broader narratives, ensuring that the voices of the past resonate with and inspire the future.

The Imaginarium’s Missing Museum 

The traces of queer history in Scotland have long been overshadowed or confined to the struggles of the 20th century—protests, legal battles, and the fight for recognition and justice. This narrative of resistance has shaped much of LGBTQ+ history, but as we trace this thread further back into the depths of medieval history, the trail fades, becoming overgrown and obscured.

This is where The Missing Museum steps in, offering an innovative approach to heritage engagement. A Museum Without Walls, it invites you, as Community Curators, to notice what is absent in our cultural heritage stories and to redress the gaps. It’s time to bridge the omissions in our shared histories, ensuring more honest and inclusive representations of the past.

Once you don your top hat, smooth your mustache, and pull on your handling gloves, the question arises: what changes will you make to ensure the museum collections reflect a richer, more inclusive tapestry of the past?

Working with an open collective of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies, Queer Caerlaverock provocatively explores what is missing in our histories. LGBTQ+ people have always been here—so how can we reimagine and interpret our past through their lens? This project blends the tactile, lived experiences of marginalized communities with the dominant monarchist and heteronormative narratives of history.

Coming in February and March 2025, The Missing Museum will host a series of sessions culminating in an evocative installation on the grounds of Caerlaverock. Together, we’ll reassemble the fragments of the past to create a more inclusive and imaginative story of our shared heritage.

Interested in Creative Caerlaverock?

Feel free to reach out to us or discover more by visiting our project page on our website here.

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