Creative Connections, The Argyll Collection
Creative Connections
Creative Connections was an innovative heritage project delivered through CHARTS partnership with liveArgyll. Beginning in August 2025, the project worked with Kintyre Link Club, a mental health and recovery charity established in 1999 for people living with conditions across the spectrum of mental illness.
Creative Connections created new opportunities for participants, building skills and confidence while strengthening the museum’s profile as a welcoming and inclusive space in Kintyre. Through co-produced learning and innovative interpretation, the project increased access to The Argyll Collection and Campbeltown Museum’s social history and art collections
Creative Connections' success was building trusting relationships and providing a safe space for Link Club members. Project Manager Rosalyn McKenna and Project Artist Rhona Taylor facilitated outreach sessions, brought works from The Argyll Collection to the group, and organised visits to view the collection on Bute and opportunities to explore Campbeltown Museum's collections.
Participants worked collaboratively with the CHARTS team to co-curate an exhibition, identifying key themes and interests that shaped the exhibition's theme and content. Participants gained skills and confidence in collections research, interpretation, installation and event planning. This co-curation model drew on previous CHARTS exhibitions featuring The Argyll Collection, including the exhibition "From Dawn 'Til Dusk" in 2024 at Mount Stuart, Bute.
Reflections Exhibition
Expanding on their work with CHARTS Project Manager Rosalyn McKenna and Project Artist Rhona Taylor, members of Kintyre Link Club co-curated Reflections, an exhibition celebrating the works developed through the Creative Connections Project.
Together, Link Club members created a powerful range of displays at 3 Longrow, alongside outdoor artworks along the railings on Campbeltown seafront. The exhibition also featured work from the Campbeltown Museum collections and The Argyll Collection, with interpretation created by participants.
Reflections launched with a special event at Campbeltown Museum, bringing together members of Kintyre Link Club, project partners and the local community. The celebration included speeches and Heritage Hero awards from Archaeology Scotland recognising the participants' contribution to the project.
For Rhona Taylor, the project has been an opportunity to work closely with the Link Club and explore creative ways to connect people and collections. Read more about Rhona’s experience in her article for Art UK: Creative Connections: the art project empowering a mental health community in Scotland
Participant Quotes
“I have felt I have really benefited from the CHARTS project, particularly valuing the opportunity to explore the collection in a relaxed and engaging way. I have developed a greater appreciation for art, recognising that it does not need to be perfect to be meaningful or enjoyable. This shift in perspective has helped build my confidence and encouraged me to engage more openly with creative activities.” - Participant
“The arrival of CHARTS at Kintyre Link Club in Campbeltown was met, at first, with muted enthusiasm. Many of us assumed it would be yet another group passing through, trying to entertain us for an afternoon. How mistaken we were. From their very first visit, CHARTS brought something different - something that has genuinely changed lives. A spark was lit in each of us. Through exploring pieces from the Argyll Collection and learning about their construction, history, and meaning, we found ourselves gaining a true education in art appreciation. What began as curiosity quickly grew into enthusiasm, pride, and a sense of connection to the collection. For some members, this new passion has travelled far beyond Kintyre, inspiring visits to galleries and exhibitions across Scotland. Others have discovered the confidence to begin their own creative journeys, producing artwork they never imagined they could make. Many of us have also taken great pleasure in stepping into the world of Naomi Mitchison, one of the remarkable minds behind the Argyll Collection, whose legacy CHARTS continues to care for. What CHARTS brought to our group was far more than a programme - it was an invitation to see ourselves differently. It has been an education, an inspiration, and an utter pleasure.” - Participant
Creative Connections is a CHARTS project delivered in partnership with liveArgyll and the Kintyre Link Club, with support from Argyll and Bute Council, Museums Galleries Scotland and the Baring Foundation's Creative Minds Fund.