Scotland’s Workshops

The launch of Scotland’s Workshops is the culmination of a process that began in 2017, when a handful of the Directors in the network expressed a desire to explore how they could collaborate to secure these production centres for future generations. The work they are doing as Scotland’s Workshops includes collective fundraising, profile-raising, lobbying and the of sharing skills, knowledge and administrative tools. Underpinning their efforts to work together is a shared ambition to see future investment in art production within Scotland – more effectively achieved with their belief that there is strength in numbers.

From sculpture to printmaking, photography and glassmaking, the 11 organisations that make up Scotland’s Workshops have a huge wealth of experience built up over decades since their creation began in the 1960s.

They represent very practical reality of artistic production in Scotland. The workshops each specialise in particular art processes and provide in-house expertise and equipment to help enable art makers at all stages of ability and allow artists to realise their craft.

The organisations in the network all individually bring artists together and bring art to the public in the form of classes, exhibitions, workshops and a programme of events. As organisations, they are admired both at home and from abroad for their dedicated expertise and quality facilities. Their contribution to Scotland’s international art success is born out of their work for 50+ years with artists here and from around the world.

Scotland’s Workshops are open to the public and their teams of committed staff and volunteers work to realise the creative potential of anyone interested in making, from complete beginners to prize-winning artists of international acclaim. This new network of facilities mirrors the collaborations that goes on in the workshops themselves, where uniquely, those at the early stages of their career can work alongside established artists and with the same experienced technicians helping to grow their skills.

The geographic reach of the network spans 6 local authorities in Scotland, from the Central Belt to Inverness and Lybster in the North, reflecting the making of art that happens right across the land. The 11 organisations are:

Printmaking – Highland Print Studio Inverness, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Edinburgh Printmakers, Glasgow Print Studio, Peacock Visual Arts in Aberdeen

Sculpture – Scottish Sculpture Workshops in Lumsden, Glasgow Sculpture Studios, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop

Glassmaking – North Lands Creative in Lybster

Photography – Stills Gallery in Edinburgh and Street Level Photoworks in Glasgow

Visit www.scotlandsworkshops.com to see all that’s happening across the network and sign up for future new and updates. We are launching the site with Workshops Week, 16 – 23 November 2019.