An arts project credited with adding vibrancy and visitor appeal to Galashiels has seen the community crowned for its creativity.

Vibrant Gala, which has enhanced the town’s unique identity enhanced by a series of striking murals and sculptures, is spearheaded by The Energise Galashiels Trust.

Judges heard how Vibrant Gala had seen the installation of six murals at key gateways, each celebrating the town’s people, textile heritage, links with Sir Walter Scott or the return of the Borders Railway.

Six sculptures have also been placed in various businesses – with both artistic elements backed by a series of public events.

Judges heard: “EGT has made great progress in terms of its positive journey of community-led regeneration. 

“A recent assessment showed that people are spending longer in town, evidence that the town centre offers a positive experience for people, and is now transforming to a more positive, vibrant,and welcoming space for locals and visitors.”

The Creative Community category was sponsored by Creative Scotland.

Esme Leitch, Place, Partnerships and Communities Officer at Creative Scotland, said: “Culture and creativity helps to shape places and communities, defining the identity of a village, town or city, and encouraging residents to celebrate their places.

“Embracing creativity has huge benefits – sustaining communities and local economies, and enriching the lives of people who live there. The awards finalists are shining examples of this.

“Congratulations to Vibrant Gala and all of the finalists.”

Finalists

Art Night, Dundee

Art Night is a biennial contemporary art festival presenting ambitious new work by artists at pivotal moments in their career. Art Night takes place in public spaces and civic buildings. The festival is free and everyone is welcome.

On 24 June 2023, Art Night presented 10 commissions by both local and internationally celebrated artists across civic and public spaces in Dundee. This was complemented by Inwith, a programme highlighting a cross section of Dundee’s expansive art and communities programming.

Upwards of 15,000 people attended and took part in ambitious live events and installations, across sound, performance and film. There were 10 commissions, 12 projects as part of Inwith, 10 workshops and events, and a total of 35 sites used. 168 people were employed as part of the festival, including 71% who were local to Dundee, and the majority of whom were based in Scotland. The festival supported local businesses, with some doubling, tripling or even quadrupling their turnover compared to a normal Saturday.

Scene Stirling

Scene Stirling is Stirling’s Place Partnership project, a collaborative initiative by the city’s arts and cultural partners. 

The project is shining a spotlight on Stirling’s thriving arts and culture scene to help raise the region’s cultural profile and it has invested in over 100 local artists to develop their creative aspirations and work in and around Stirling, over the past three years.

Over the past decade, Stirling has been steadfastly strengthening its commitment to culture. Rethinking how the cultural sector can work together more effectively and reimagining the place of culture and its intersection with the city and wider region’s ambitions.

The focus of Scene Stirling’s work has been on addressing systemic barriers through place-based work, encouraging sustainable models of neighbourhood creative programmes and practice, and providing opportunities for growth and development for artists and communities involved with the programme, and beyond. The project has supported local artists and creatives who are working, living and studying in Stirling, to become more engaged in Stirling’s creative future; shifting perceptions of Stirling visibly over the last few years.

With thanks to our supporter for this category: