Words by James Gough
Just a few years ago I was working as a personal trainer trying to convince everyone, including myself, that I liked what I was doing. Working in this industry was all I knew and as a result, it was the only real community I was a part of – one which I began to feel more and more alienated and disconnected from. In November 2022 I decided to give all of this up and move to Australia, this was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I had the time, space, and energy to reconnect with the things that I was truly passionate about, I moved away from my hometown for the first time in my life, I mixed with new people and I began creating art. When I returned home, I continued to create but I began to lose faith in the idea that this was something I could continue to do, certainly not in Dumfries. This is when I found the Stove Network. I was sent the job advert for the Creative Spaces associate artist position by a friend, and I couldn’t quite believe how perfect it sounded.
A huge insecurity of mine in applying and interviewing for this position was the fact that I had zero experience in or connections with the creative and cultural sectors. I was from a completely different world. Thankfully the interview panel could see not just my enthusiasm for the role, but also how important it could be for my personal development, and at a crucial point. I secured the job and as a result was given the opportunity to immerse myself in community arts and solidify my (very small) part in it.
By doing so, I gained a new appreciation for Dumfries. I’ve lived here my whole life and I blamed it for the fact that I didn’t understand who I was. This resentment reached its peak when I came back from Australia. I felt I was returning to a place, and to people who knew me as one thing, when I knew I was something completely different. By exposing me to the arts community and the people within it, the Creative Spaces programme showed me that I can be exactly who I want to be wherever I am, even in my hometown.
In regards to my creative practice, I began my journey here with Creative Spaces as someone who doodled and messed around with art. This became more sporadic and directionless as time went on (which, for the record, is an absolutely okay way to make art). But for me, I felt this was due to a lack of belief in myself and my work. I never took seriously the idea that I could make anything I’d be proud enough to show, other than on Instagram. To my amazement, I managed to use my personal project’s funding and support to produce my debut exhibition “Everything is rubbish and all rubbish is wonderful”.
I can’t see a way in which I would have got to this point without the Creative Spaces programme. The network of creatives I was now surrounded with ultimately gave me the confidence to decide to showcase my work in the first place. Further, it was the continued support, guidance and funding of the programme which gave me the time, space and support to engage with my art in such an intense way. This led me to gaining a far deeper understanding of my relationship with my practice and what I hope to get out of it in the future.
I think what’s clear from my experience both travelling and working with Creative Spaces, is that in order to grow, you need space. It sounds very simple but it is completely invaluable. I feel so grateful to have had this opportunity because finding space is not an easy thing to come by.
Something I took away from the WWDN Creative Placemaking event at parliament in 2024 was this idea that creativity is something as important to our health as physical exercise. It’s a basic human need, just like food and water.
So, If you can find this space to be creative, you must take it, and you should encourage everyone you know to do the same.
