Air travellers in the Highlands and Islands have a unique and exciting opportunity to take part in a major community arts project centred on Inverness Airport over the coming months.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited has secured partnership funding to develop the arts initiative as part of the Inverness Airport gateway project that is creating a distinct cultural identity for the region’s principal air transport hub.

The 10-month pilot arts project will create lasting works of art within the modern terminal building at Inverness through active involvement with communities in the area.

The project is principally funded by the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund with additional funding from Arts & Business New Partners, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, The Highland Council and Writers In Scotland, and supported by Highlands and Islands Airports.

The appointment of project co-ordinator Caroline Storey heralds the beginning of a programme of events that will involve airport staff, air travellers and local communities.

The project will involve artists and writers in a series of workshops and events within local communities, schools and airports in the region.

This will include: the creation of an anthology of new writing by local school children, staff and passengers, inspired by the airport and air travel; the publication of a series of postcards and posters; and provide the opportunity for all who work in and use the airports to create their own art.

A temporary exhibition will include works created by artists and craftspeople from throughout the Highlands. The works will be chosen by the staff and displayed at Inverness Airport.

A professional writer will also create a piece of work inspired by a journey around Highlands and Islands Airports’ 10 airports while an artist will be commissioned to produce a permanent piece of work which will be displayed at Inverness Airport.

Caroline will develop the project in consultation with a steering group consisting of airport management and representatives from the main funding bodies.

Caroline said: "Everyone will be encouraged to participate in the project and become involved in the work of the artist and writers. Staff in particular will be consulted at every stage and encouraged to take part in the decision making process.

"Air travel plays an important economic and social role in the region and what better way to represent this than in a community arts project which involves staff, passengers, visitors and the local communities served by Highlands and Islands Airports.

"In the longer term the illustrated anthology and permanent piece of art will provide a lasting legacy of the activities over the next 10 months for future passengers and visitors."

Amanda Catto, head of visual arts for the Scottish Arts Council commented: "This is a fantastic project and one the Scottish Arts Council is delighted to be involved in. The project is distinctive in that it brings together staff, passengers, local school children and artists in a totally unconventional setting. It will also allow a large number of people to get involved in the arts who may normally have limited opportunity to do so. I am looking forward to seeing the impact this project has on the aesthetics of Inverness Airport and the communities that interact with it."

Barclay Price, director of Arts & Business Scotland added: "Our New Partners funding encourages business to become more involved and creative in supporting the arts. During the Highland Festival, for example, Highlands and Islands Airports hosted the touring production of ‘The Wedding’ at its Inverness terminal and broadcast poetry over the intercom system. It is hugely encouraging that the airports have now taken sponsorship to the next level with the initiation of their own project, drawing in the whole community from staff to schools."

Sheena Mitchell, Highlands and Islands Airports’ Inverness terminal manager said: "The 10-month arts pilot is the next phase in the gateway project at Inverness. It is aimed at creating an environment that offers visitors to the area a flavour of the rich culture of the Highlands and Islands.

"This is an extremely exciting development for the airport and we are delighted that the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund and other funding bodies have backed what promises to be a major community arts initiative working with business for the benefit of the region."

Details of events and workshops will be publicised over the coming months.

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