The Islands Satellite Group is an extension of CHARTS Steering Group and a pilot project designed to improve creative networks in Argyll’s islands, connect islanders with CHARTS and our resources and tackle social isolation on islands. Since November 2023, Island Advocates in Bute, Tiree, North Mull, the Ross of Mull and Iona have hosted 10 meetings in their respective communities, engaging 98 individuals. The aim is to enable those working in and interested in arts and heritage to gather, listen to, and share ideas that are important to them, including challenges, opportunities, and current and potential work. As a link back to the CHARTS Steering Group, it is also a mechanism for communicating ideas and fostering dialogue with the leadership team of CHARTS to shape the design and delivery of support to our members.
CHARTS’ Islands Team is acutely aware of the isolation experienced by many islanders, particularly in the winter months, and how this impacts wellbeing, a sense of community, and the capacity and desire to create. It is hoped that these regular meetings will form the basis for a community of those in arts, culture, and heritage to provide mutual support, inspiration, and resource gathering.
Current Island Advocates are:
- Ross of Mull and Iona - Rutger Emmelkamp and Miek Zwamborn (KNOCKvologan)
- North Mull - Calum Hall
- Bute - Sam Kilday
- Tiree – Brodie Sim, Hannah Wright, Andy Wright, Jen Skinner, Jack Lockhart (Tiree Makery)
CHARTS Island Advocates will continue to organise and host meetings until March 2025, when the pilot will be reviewed and, if successful, expanded to other island communities.
Find out when and where the next Island Satellite Group Meet-ups areBUTE
Sam Kilday has hosted 3 meetings to date, in November 2023, February and March 2024, attended by 37 people.
The first Satellite Group meeting was held in November 2023 in the Isle of Bute Discovery Centre, Rothesay. 15 local people, ages 20 to 70, attended. Topics covered spaces to work, exhibit, and perform, community engagement, nature, and suggestions about how to shape future meetings.
“[There was a great variety of discussion] it feels as though we have a supportive and forward-thinking group of community-minded creatives here” - Sam Kilday
In February 2024, at The Bank of Ideas, Rothesay, CHARTS Project Manager Ros McKenna brought some pieces from The Argyll Collection and discussed the work being done to share this unique resource and Alison Clarke from Isle of Bute Artists Collective spoke about their work. This was followed in March 2024 by an outdoor meeting at Skeoch Woods, Rothesay, with discussions ranging from local land use and food growing initiatives, artist residencies – locally and internationally, and aspirations around establishing a contemporary art practice group.
NORTH MULL
Calum Hall has hosted meetings since November 2023, engaging with 15 people.
Calum Hall has hosted meetings in North Mull, including at An Tobar, Tobermory, in November 2023. With 15 in attendance, there was a great conversation about life as islanders involved in arts, culture, and heritage. The discussion covered many creative disciplines and considered engagement within communities, potential partnerships with local businesses, and support for young and emerging artists, musicians, and actors.
“[The meeting was] very rewarding to hold” - Calum Hall.
The group has already started brainstorming ideas for using the Satellite Group as a springboard for further development of arts and culture in Mull.
ROSS OF MULL AND IONA
Rutger Emmelkamp and Miek Zwamborn have hosted 4 meetings in the Ross of Mull (November 2023, January 2024, and through summer 2024) and 2 in Iona (January and February 2024).
Meetings have been held in the KNOCKvologan Barn and Iona Village Hall, welcoming a broad range of individuals and organisations from the Ross and Iona with conversations around the opportunities for development and collaboration in the local area.
‘Mull is not a remote place with lots of empty space, but a dense island, full of stories to enter, we just have to find out how. We have to keep awake what is there at present.’ – Rutger and Miek, meeting notes
TIREE
Brodie Sim, Hannah Wright, Andy Wright, Jen Skinner, Jack Lockhart (Tiree Makery) have hosted 3 meetings in Tiree.
Tiree Makery are the hosts for meetings on Tiree and have covered a range of topics relating to everything from an artist’s residency as part of Coastal Cultures – Islands, and Tiree Art Enterprises Summer Exhibition. The most recent session at the Hynish Centre in July 2024 focussed on artists INSTAR, who were visiting the island to research their new project, Ecotone. Ecotone is a journey around the UK coastline, exploring colour and how it affects and inspires the people who live and work in the lands between. The discussion enabled participants to hear more about Instar’s work, inspirations, and working practices, including how they balance their projects and go about commissions. Participants also shared their experience of working within Tiree and their response to the colours of Tiree.
“These discussions have been so valuable, enabling me to feel connected to a wider community and inspiring me to develop my work in new ways” - Attendee, Tiree Satellite Gathering with INSTAR
CHARTS seeks to expand the Island Advocates network through 2024-25 to create positive exchange and foster supportive communities within the cultural sector on islands. For more information, contact info@chartsargyllandisles.org
The Island Development Project Ràmh is funded by The Scottish Government and supported by Argyll and Bute Council, and the Scottish Islands Team. Islands projects are also supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland.
Image: KNOCKvologan