ARTIST IN RESIDENCE ON ARTHURS SEAT

EXPLORING PLACE

Over Autumn and Winter, Edinburgh based artist, Anne-Marie Culhane, will be braving the elements to create artworks in response to the geology, history and ever changing present of this space which is both national landmark and intimate place.

This will lead to a small publication and an exhibition in the New Year funded by Scottish Natural Heritage.

The project includes an open invitation for people in Edinburgh to submit creative responses for publication and exhibition. This could include poems, sketches, photographs, stories (fact or fiction). You do not need to have experience, everyone is invited to give it a go!

"I am very excited about this project as Arthur's Seat is a very special place for me and from what I have gathered from conversations so far, has a special place in the hearts and minds of most people who live in or visit Edinburgh. The aim is to celebrate and document this unique landmark and how people see it, feel about it and make use of it. In return for people's shared thoughts and stories I hope to be able to make some interesting artworks and encourage people to develop their own creativity through a number of workshops and open studio sessions" - the artist

Anne-Marie is working closely with the Ranger Service from a small caravan situated the park side of the Holyrood Park Visitors Centre which is by Holyrood Palace side gates.

OPEN STUDIO every Wednesday 12 and 5pm, all welcome

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HOW TO TAKE PART
If you have produced art work in the past about/drawing from this site
If you are interested in developing ideas for exhibition/publication inspired by Arthurs Seat as (proposals - dreams, future projects, sketches) work-in-progress or finished works
If you want to link this volcano/mountain creatively with any other site around the world this project gives the chance for a group of artists and local people to exhibit together on this theme and/or feature in a small publication. Supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, the project is intended to introduce a more creative perspective to 'interpretation' across Scotland leading to future opportunities for artists who explore environment/heritage and our relationship with it. The project examines why people come here, what they get from it, why it is such a special place and how to express this creatively using a broad range of media.

Italo Calvino: "The great challenge for arts is to be capable of weaving together the various branches of knowledge, the different 'codes' into a manifold, multi-faceted vision of the world."

SUMMARY OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The special nature of the site is being investigated by the lead artist in order to establish an informed context for events and workshops taking place over five months (august to january 2002). This includes consultation and discussions with field specialists: wildlife experts, historians, geologists, archeologists, artists, local people and communities, and park rangers leading to: · A Publication (in the form of a booklet available throughout Edinburgh) Deadline: 18 Nov 01 · An Exhibition (artworks and proposals for artworks generated from and inspired by the site) Deadline: 4 January 2002 · A Short Film (exploring landscape, movement and human interaction with the site) Produced in collaboration with other artists where appropriate and including contributions from public workshops, work submitted by artists and work with local communities (fragments of personal histories, myths, stories and artwork).

Education and outreach take the form of: · Workshops - open to the public and groups drawing creative stimulation from the site to generate artworks · Open studio sessions (adjacent to the site) - chance to see work-in-progress and communicate with the artist in situ (Wednesday 12-5pm) · Site visits and walks with the artist to give a 'living' creative picture of this environment - one to ones with people wanting feedback or ideas for creative projects

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
My background is in the environment and the arts. In 1994 I co-founded out of the blue Trust (Edinburgh) - an arts centre and in 1996 I graduated from Leeds University with an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts. I have created work responding to different environments in India, Germany and the UK. Examples of past funders and commissions include the Scottish Arts Council, The British Council, The Wellcome Trust and Groundwork UK. My work spans visual arts site specific performance and text (poetry, journals, bookworks). For as long as I have been in Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat has been a vital well-spring of inspiration and creative reflection.

SOME BENEFITS & OUTCOMES
There will be a lasting record of the project through a range of media including an exhibition, publication, and video work. It is hoped that the exhibition will tour to other parts of Scotland - arts centres or visitors centres. The preliminary, small scale publication (which will include creative writing, photography, text, factual information, maps and drawings) is available free. This part of the project is funded by the Millennium Commission in partnership with Edinburgh District Council.

WHAT WILL YOU GET FROM IT?
A chance to feature in a small publication and as part of a group show of respected artists (past and present). This project will feed into and inform future events and activities of this kind across Scotland (through SNH and other contacts) and will be an example of an integrated creative approach to the arts and to learning. The project aims to increase tolerance and respect between people who use the space in different ways and between park users and site guardians. By bringing together divergent views and perspectives this project demonstrating the range of viewpoints on this one place (an old volcano at the heart of a city) and the contribution they make to what it is today and what it will be tomorrow. Please get in touch to discuss how you may want to take part.

Contact: 0131 558 9889