Hear Here

Amplifying Voices Unheard

What Is Hear Here?

Hear | Here is a three-year initiative that combines public art, print media, and immersive experiences to celebrate the heritage, identity, and culture of underrepresented communities in Dumfries. This collaborative project aims to amplify these voices, safeguard their rich cultural legacy, and support creative campaigns that celebrate, communicate, and engage the town in understanding and appreciating the vibrancy of these cultures. In the first year, we will focus on the Travelling Showpeople, a unique community whose contributions are intricately woven into the industrial, cultural, and civic identity of Dumfries from the mid-1500s to the present day.

In partnership with organisations, charities, and community groups, Hear | Here combines creativity with advocacy, citizenship, and human rights. This project comes at a crucial time for Dumfries, focusing on regeneration, climate change, cultural heritage, and integration to help shape the town’s future.

The Travelling Showpeople have a deep and enduring connection with Dumfries, one that has significantly shaped the town’s cultural and civic identity over the centuries. This unique relationship is rooted in history, with a large group of Showpeople residing in Dumfries throughout World War II. Their presence and contributions have left an indelible mark on the town, from owning many local businesses to collaborating on important civic projects, such as the construction of the town’s iconic suspension bridge, known as ‘Biddall’s Bridge’, after the Biddall family, legendary Showpeople credited with introducing the first projected film to Dumfries through ‘Biddall’s Bioscope’ and founding many of Scotland’s first cinemas.

They were also known for their mesmerising Ghost Illusion shows, utilising the Pepper’s Ghost illusion.

One of the most profound manifestations of this relationship is the continuation of two of the last four remaining traditional street fairs in Scotland, both held in Dumfries. The Rood Fair, held every September, and the Spring Fair in March, have been central to the town’s cultural life for centuries. These fairs are held at their traditional site alongside the River Nith and have been vital in maintaining the unique cultural heritage of the Travelling Showpeople.

The significant cultural value of these traditional street fairs is recognised in the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).

This convention aims to protect and support cultural traditions worldwide. With the UK set to ratify this convention this year, there is a renewed focus on identifying and preserving cherished cultural practices. As part of this process, communities across the country will be able to nominate their most valued cultural traditions for protection and support through a nationwide online survey.

A charity founded and run by Scottish Showpeople, artists, and researchers who meet regularly to plan and discuss projects, and support greater public awareness of the Scottish Show community. Approximately 6,000 Scottish Showpeople live within the city limits of Scotland’s largest city and have made a major contribution to its popular culture over the past 200 years.

The group originated from a major collaborative Heritage Lottery Funded project of the same name in 2013, between The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel, The Showman’s Guild (Scottish Section), The Scottish Traveller Education Programme, Fablevision, and Edo Architecture. It was initiated in 2012/13 as part of practice-based doctoral research by the socially engaged artist t s Beall, based at the University of Glasgow (Theatre Studies) in collaboration with the Riverside Museum (part of Glasgow Museums), and funded by the AHRC as a Collaborative Doctoral Award.

As the Fair Glasgow Museums Working Group, we were able to plan major events, displays, and reinterpretations of collections at the Riverside Museum, working with Glasgow Museum Curators (most notably Heather Robertson). Led by artist Dr t s Beall and artist and Showman’s son Dr Mitch Miller, public policy expert Dr Andrea Salvona (who joined the group in 2016), the group continues (2013-present) its work through new partnerships and opportunities, including:

• Sharing and gathering the history of Scottish Showpeople;
• Promoting and protecting the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Scottish Fairs;
• Finding creative approaches to sharing fairground heritage through events, performances, films, and other artworks;
• Coordinating research and development on issues important to Scottish Showpeople;
• Influencing policy on a local and national level, and acting as advocates for Scottish Showpeople regarding legislation and licensing (for issues as diverse as housing to event licensing);
• Improving the range and quality of resources available on the subject of Scottish fairgrounds.

Their goal is to encourage and enable individuals from Show communities in Scotland to work collaboratively with various partners to gather research and develop activities that highlight the impact of Fairground Culture on Scotland. This blog highlights our work and signposts useful information, research, and references for those with an interest in Scotland’s Showpeople.