Artist Residency

Artist Residency

Artist Residencies are coordinated excursions in which artists of various disciplines from music, craft or visual practices are hosted at different venues to take time to reflect, discuss, inspire and be inspired to create new work. They are a method of networkng and social enrichment for both the artists that travel into and through communities and for the people within those communities that host the artists and share their way of life. Jon Macleod facilitates residency programmes for the local arts centre in Stornoway – An Lanntair (The Lighthouse). This involves securing funding for the programmes and then the selection of particpants and mangement of the residency experiences. This cultural practice has evolved over the decades and Muir is Tir – The Land and the Sea , is one such residency.

highlandandislands

iain

Scottish Gaelic

Intangible

576

19/08/2025

AAS CF . (2025, July 29). Retrieved from Applied Arts Scotland : https://www.appliedartsscotland.org.uk/projects/crafting-futures/ Churchill. (2025 , 07 29). Retrieved from The Churchill Fellowship : https://www.churchillfellowship.org CS. (2025, JUly 29). Creative Scotland . Retrieved from Creative Scotland : https://www.creativescotland.com/about OHT. (2025, July 2025). The Herring Girls of the Hebrides: The Backbone of a Bygone Industry. Retrieved from Vist Outer Hebrides : https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/hebrideanway/blogs/read/2025/03/the-herring-girls-of-the-hebrides-the-backbone-of-a-bygone-industry-b35 SB. (2025, JUly 29). Muir is Tuir . Retrieved from Sail Britain : https://www.sailbritain.org/muir-is-tir/ Stornoway Port Authority . (2025, July 29). Retrieved from Stornoway Port : https://www.stornowayportauthority.com V&A. (2025, July 29). Residencies . Retrieved from The Victoria and Albert Mueseum : https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/residencies?srsltid=AfmBOortTV19ecef7XKmCyWhvQOprWYqAyz2bO9SbJzD7YT1ZjN86Re4

x x

current,58.2073440491478,-6.387942772938831;

TEXT

https://culturality.museum/wiki/index.php/Artist_Residency

1191

Oral tradition within the Hebrides is one of the key areas explored within the residencies Jon is involved in. The differences between people having to speak in person to people to understand aspects of their culture differs greatly to online , digital, desk-based research. Other areas, specifically maritime heritage is explored within the Muir is Tuir residency - this again connects to oral story telling, but also craftmanship, music and ther social practices. The crofting community is also key to the residnecy experience - specifically in experiencing and understanding the surrounding landscape and how and why it has evolved as it has.

Netty Sopata

The coordination of Artist Residencies requires a deep and connected understanding of the landscape and cultural heritage within which the residency is to be held. For example, Jon has lived in the Isle of Lewis fro over twenty years. Throughout this time he has developed an indepth understanding of the local customs, language, landscape and seasons. He is also part of a community of artists and creative practitioners and understands the enrichment that an artist from outside that communtiy can bring to the Island(s) and vice-versa. Although planning and connectvity is key to facilitation, so to is the acceptence of serendipidity. For example, 'on paper' it may look as if a group of particular artists may work well together with a certain element of a residency, but in reality there may be unforseen conflicts. Likewise, a fine artist and a hebridean fisherman may, 'on paper' have very little to connect them, but in - person may bond, become life long friends and inspire each other to create different work.

Developing experience in coordinating residencies is an acculmulative processs. Very often artsits experience them as part of their own practice and then become involved in coordinating as part of larger projects. It is common pratcice in Soctland for many Art Centres to be involved in artist residencies. From a Craft practitoner perspective, Applied Arts Scotland has run a number or residencies in partnership with The British Council. Applied Arts Scotland also faciliates the skill transmission of the project management skills required to coordinate these, with new board members often shadowing more expereinced board members to understand the work involved (ASS CF 2025).

Developing experience in coordinating residencies is an acculmulative processs. Very often artsits experience them as part of their own practice and then become involved in coordinating as part of larger projects. It is common pratcice in Scotland for many Art Centres to be involved in artist residencies and to have desginated people employed to operate within that role (for example Jon's role in An Lanntair).

Artist Residencies are coordinated excursions in which artists of various disciplines from music, craft or visual practices are hosted at different venues to take time to reflect, discuss, inspire and be inspired to create new work. They are a method of networking and social enrichment for both the artists that travel into and through communities and for the people within those communities that host the artists and share their way of life, heritage, language and customs.

Communication about opportunities is one of the key areas that has altered over time with residencies. Jon reflected in the interview on how, when he was at art school in the 1990s there was 'The Artist's News Letter' a very English led coordination / prommotion of opportnities. Now, different organisations promote different things and the style of the residencise have altered, they also differ within different countries, with some, for example in the Nordic countires being supportive of the Artist's families forming part of the residencies. The industry/cultural practice of residenices is a growth industry.

Creative Scotland; Craft Scotland; Applied Arts Scotland; The Victoria and Albert Museum; Sail Britain and The Churchill Fellowship programme – UK charity which supports individual UK citizens to follow their passion for change, through learning from the world and bringing that knowledge back to the UK (Churchill 2025).

An Lanntair - the local Arts Centre in Stornoway and Grianneabhat, a community centre in the ruaral area of Bragar, on the west coast of Lewis.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

All of these threats may/or may not be explored through artsists residencies.

Stornoway or in Gaelic – Steòrnabhagh is the main town in the Isle of Lewis. With a popoultaion of just under 7,000 it is the main haulage and adminstartive hub for the Western Isles. A harbour town, the fishing industry has played a significant part in the history of Stornoway, particulary the herring boom of the late 19th and earlt 20th Century. Stornoway’s 'Herring Girls' earned a strong reputation for their skill, and the industry’s wealth helped shape the town into what it is today. At its height, Stornoway was one of the most important herring ports in Britain—if not Europe—with up to 1,000 boats crowding the harbour in summer (OHT 2025). Today, there are more leisure sailing boats in the harbour than there are fishing trawlers and last year, Stornoway Port Authority completed a new 'deep water port.' This has faciliated the growth of the cruise liner tourism industry leading to a visible change in the trading opportuiies within the town centre for local restaurants, cafes and gift shops.

The final work generated by artists (if any) would be seen as artefacts, however, for this data input Jon provided: 'A Box of Tangible Prompts.' These are passed round on the boat to promt discussion. Marram Grass Root,Wool etc. See AAS_AR_14.

Artist residencies introduce a different dialogue to the communities in which they are held, both geographically and within commuties of practice. Within the ecology of residencies, you cannot underestmate the social connection and significanace of them, nor the long term, positive impacts for social and mental well-being.

Inspiring positive change for the ocean through sailing, ecology and the creative arts – Sail Britains strap line. Grainnabhat - Polycrubs. Local materials sourced from these for art workshops. Woad in the garden etc. Not importing art materials but being resourceful and susatinable.

The two organisations Jon works with are complimentary. One is rural, one is in the town. Accomodation is availbale at the rural venue (Grianneabhat). The interdependency of these organisations supports the economic sustainablity of both.

Good Health and Wellbeing,Quality Education,Gender Equality,Decent Work and Economic Growth,Industry Innovation and Infrastructure,Sustainable Cities and Communities,Responsible Consumption and Production,Climate Action,Life Below Water,Life On Land

Stornoway Harbour, Isle of Lewis, Scotland

thriving

AAS_CP_005