Forres High Street resident artist adapts to work during coronavirus lockdown

A LOCAL artist focused on boosting Forres High Street has had to adapt to work during the coronavirus lockdown.

Last November, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund, Findhorn Bay Arts launched 'Creative Work Shop', a programme of interconnected arts projects and multi-art-form residencies, where artists work within the community, finding ways to make a contribution to regeneration in the area.

Caroline Inckle was the first artist-in-residency and, starting in February, has been exploring creativity here.

She said: "Working on the Creative Workshop residency was a great experience. Although I had to work from home in the final stages of the project, there was plenty of time to enjoy working on the high street in the early stages. I loved having the chance to hear about people’s stories and experiences of living and working in Forres and to explore together creatively what the high street means to them."

Before Covid-19 restrictions were imposed, Caroline hosted three participatory creative activities in the town centre in printmaking, creating fanzine stories, and photography. Thirty seven public participants, ranging from six-years-old to over 60 attended, sharing their stories and experiences of High Street whilst creating their own piece of art.

Inspired by the public engagement and restricted by the Covid-19 lockdown, Caroline moved to a home working studio to complete her residency, sketching, analysing old maps, and taking the opportunity on her daily walk in Forres to appreciate the architecture and natural environment in different ways.

A participant from a print-making workshop said: "Never before have I have noticed so much detail in some of the architecture on High Street as it was highlighted so strongly in ink. It was a nice opportunity to share stories and memories from when I was younger here."

Due to the lockdown, Caroline's residency had to adapt. A public drop-in space and exhibition could not be realised, nor could a Culture Café with other local artists. The outputs were still able to take place digitally with an e-book and visual report, and Caroline hosting a virtual Culture Café via a group video call attended by 15 local creative practitioners.

A colourful display of Caroline’s work is decorating Findhorn Bay Art's shop front window outside the Tolbooth.

Caroline said: "Many people working in the creative sector are self-employed and have had to work together on creative solutions to keep generating income and providing creative activities to support the community at a difficult time. It was great to have some space during the residency to acknowledge these challenges and share experiences with other artists."

Findhorn Bay Arts creative director/CEO Kresanna Aigner, said: "We are delighted that creativity can still flourish remotely and digitally and it has been very rewarding engaging with Caroline and seeing her residency work respond to place and the need for stories and connection."

"In the coming weeks, Findhorn Bay Arts will have a direct role in our town centre regeneration through a new collaborative venture with The Bakehouse. We will trial opening a pop-up shop promoting and selling local organic fresh produce and bread.

"Our next artist-in-resident, David Sherry, will engage with our pop-up shop and local people bringing a sprinkle of colour, creativity and a sense of place to our High Street."