August 2022
Following a very busy July, Cove Park's annual programme of funded residencies continues throughout August with filmmaker and artist Ufuoma Essi, the artistic and curatorial collaboration Languid Hands (Rabz Lansiquot and Imani Mason Jordan), maker and interdisciplinary artist Nilam Sari, and writer for stage, screen, and VR Amanda Verlaque.
The Glasgow-based visual artist and curator Sekai Machache is here for a one month residency with Tilda Williams-Kelly, an artist supporting Sekai's work this year. Visitors to Cove Park currently working with Sekai include artist and former resident Ashanti Harris (here to lead a casting workshop as part of Sekai's work), Hilary Nicoll (Co-Director of Look Again), singer, songwriter and musician Shingai Shoniwa, and visual arts curator and producer Lesley Young (Director, The Bothy Project).
Writer Leah Kaminsky has travelled to us from Australia as part of our ongoing exchange programme developed with Varuna, the National Writers' House. Both Sekai and Leah's residencies are supported by The Bridge Awards.
Cove Park's Youth Arts Bursary programme continues with residencies for writer, performer, composer and lyricist Dylan Bonnar, and designer and creative facilitator Mathilde N'Doye.
The Marseille-based visual artist Eva Medin comes to Cove Park for a second time as part of our ongoing European Residency Programme, supported by British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland. The residency allows Eva to develop work presented as part of her recent solo exhibition at Palais De Tokyo, Paris.
We are delighted that both Rae-Yen Song and Sulaïman Majali will be based at Cove Park in August as part of their participation in the Talbot Rice Residents programme, and we also welcome the Karachi-based musician and anthropologist Daniyal Ahmed, the first of our International Advisors to visit Cove Park this year.
Our independently-funded programme hosts dancers and choreographers Charlie Brittain and John Darvell of Nocturn Dance, children's author and short story writer Amber Lee Dodd, visual and moving image artist Lili Chin, and visual artist Carl Linstrum.
Please scroll down for some very good news for the Argyll Beacon programme, the announcement of the recipient of the Young Gaelic Writer residency, an update on the Making Ecologies residency and partnership, details of NAARCA residencies taking place this month, current calls for applications for new residencies in the autumn, August's Saturday Studios workshop, and the events planned for September at our Unexpected Gardens to mark the Dandelion Harvest Festival.
Images: Above, Cove Park's Bridge (photography, Ruth Clark); below, Unexpected Picnic Workshop with Niki Sammon (photography, Cammie Glendinning).
News from the Argyll Beacon
We are pleased to confirm that the Argyll Beacon has received a continuation award from Creative Carbon Scotland to enable Cove Park and its partner ACT: Argyll & the Isles Coast & Countryside Trust to continue to develop projects initiated during the first year of this project. Our work to date has included an Artists in Schools programme, the commission of a new film by artists Rachel McBrinn and Alison Scott, a series of Climate Cafés, and the creation of a micro-rainforest at Cove Park. Details of new events made possible through the continuation fund will be announced next month.
Image: Still from 'Congenial Soils and Favourable Situations', Rachel McBrinn and Alison Scott, 2022.
Young Gaelic Writer Residency
The Young Gaelic Writer Residency is the result of a partnership between Cove Park and Comhairle nan Leabhraichean / The Gaelic Books Council. It supports a Gaelic writer based in Scotland aged under 30, and provides the time and funding required to develop current projects.
Tha an cothrom airson Sgrìobhadair Òg air Mhuinntireas na thoradh air co-bhanntachd eadar Cove Park agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean. Tha e a’ toirt taic do sgrìobhadair Gàidhlig fo aois 30 agus stèidhichte ann an Alba, a’ toirt dhaibh ùine agus maoin airson pròiseactan a leasachadh.
We are delighted to announce the recipient of this residency is the Glasgow-based writer Mairi Macleod. Mairi was born and raised in Glasgow, and is proud of her Hebridean heritage and Gaelic language. She holds an MA in Geography and MSc in Earth Futures. Her work explores environmental and social justice, and the connections between humans and the 'natural' world. She draws inspiration from folklore, her love of animals, and the mundane everyday, writing in both Gaelic and English. During her time at Cove Park she will be working on her first Gaelic children’s novel - a dystopian story set in a near-future Glasgow that explores the loss of nature, justice, and the power of friendship.
Tha sinn toilichte Màiri NicLeòid à Glaschu ainmeachadh mar a’ chiad sgrìobhadair a gheibh an cothrom seo. Rugadh ’s a thogadh i ann an Glaschu agus tha i moiteil às an dualchas Ghàidhealach aice agus às a cuid Gàidhlig. Thug i a-mach ceum MA ann an Cruinn-eòlas agus MSc ann an “Earth Futures”. Tha an obair aice a’ coimhead air ceartas àrainneachd agus sòisealta agus air na dàibhean eadar mac-an-duine agus an saoghal “nàdarra”, agus tha i air a brosnachadh le beul-aithris, air a’ ghaol a th’ aice air beathaichean agus air gnothaichean àbhaisteach làitheil. Fhad ’s a bhios i aig Cove Park bidh i ag obair air a’ chiad nobhail aice do chloinn – sgeul “dystopian” suidhichte ann an Glaschu san àm ri teachd, a bhios a’ coimhead air call nàdar agus ceartas, agus air a’ chumhachd a tha an lùib càirdeas.
Image: Mairi Macleod.
Ecologies in the Making:
Sculpting Futures Residency Begins
We welcome the Helsinki-based artist Iisa Lepistö to Cove Park for the first Ecologies in the Making: Sculpting Futures residency. This four-year programme is a partnership between Academy of Fine Arts - Uniarts Helsinki, Cove Park and Scottish Sculpture Workshop.
The residencies are designed to focus upon making practices at a time of climate breakdown and are aimed at MFA alumni of the Academy of Fine Arts, particularly those with sculptural methods or material processes. The programme supports research and the development of new work, and Iisa will be based at Cove Park for eight weeks before moving to SSW for a further eight weeks and the opportunity to produce new work in the residency's workshop.
We would like to thank Saastamoinen Foundation for their generous support of this programme.
Image: Iisa Lepistö at Cove Park, August 2022 (photography, Alan Dimmick)
NAARCA Residencies at Cove Park
We are delighted to welcome Jaana Eskola to Cove Park in August. This follows Jaana's work as Coordinator of Ecological Activities at Saari Residence, Finland, supported by Kone Foundation. Saari Residence co-founded with Cove Park the Nordic Alliance of Artists Residencies on Climate Action (NAARCA). Jaana is now NAARCA's Eco-coordinator which involves working directly with all five of the NAARCA partners to support each organisation's own work in moving towards an ecologically sustainable programme.
Jaana will be joined at Cove Park by Katie Revell. Based in Glasgow, Katie is a freelance audio producer and has been commissioned by NAARCA to create a new podcast series focussing upon the climate crisis and its effects on Scotland and the Nordic region. We look forward to working with both Jaana and Katie over the coming months.
Image: The Jacobs Building, Cove Park (photography, Alan Dimmick)
Call for Applications
Translation Residency
Applications are invited for a two-week funded residency for a literary translator based in a Nordic country (translating from an associated language to English). The aim is to support the development of the translator's practice, and offer focussed and supported time to make progress on a current project or begin work on a new translation.
We are delighted to offer this residency in partnership with Lolli Editions, an independent publisher based in London and specialising in literary fiction in translation. Cove Park's translation programme was launched in 2016 and this residency is part of our ongoing European Residency Programme, supported by British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland. Please read the Residency Information and Application Guidelines for details of how to apply. The deadline for all applications is 29 August 2022.
Call for Applications
Visual Arts Residency
We are pleased to offer a new two-week residency for Scotland-based visual artists aged 50 or above. This funded residency is scheduled to take place from Monday 24 October to Sunday 6 November 2022, but alternative dates during the autumn and winter of 2022/23 can be negotiated. The deadline for applications is Monday 29 August 2022. Further information is available here.
This programme builds upon Cove Park's research into how residences can best support artists aged 50+. This research was supported by British Council Scotland's Connections Through Culture Fund and developed jointly by Cove Park, Luminate, and Taipei Artist Village, Taiwan.
We are grateful to the Turtleton Charitable Trust for their generous support.
Image: Cove Park's Studios (photography, Alan Dimmick)
Call for Applications
Associates Residencies 2022/23
Cove Park's Associates Programne was launched in 2021. It creates new national and international residencies and professional development opportunities for its members. All of our former residents are welcome to join and more information is available here.
We are pleased to offer the following funded residencies during the autumn and winter of 2022/23:
Early Career Residency: A two-week residency for an Associate working in any art form or creative discipline and based in the UK. The resident will be invited to devise a Saturday Studios Workshop at Cove Park for participants based in our local community.
Visual Artist Residency: A two-week residency for Associates based in Scotland and aged 50 or above.
Artists in Schools Residency: A one-week residency for an Associate based in Scotland. The resident will be invited to deliver a workshop for pupils at John Logie Baird Primary School, Helensburgh.
Please click on each residency title for further details and information on how to apply, or contact Programmes & Communications Producer Alex Marrs directly.
Image: Ashanti Harris, former resident and Cove Park Associate, 2019 (photography by Alan Dimmick)
Saturday Studios in August
Our next Saturday Studios workshop, 'Festival Finishing Touches', takes place at Cove Park on Saturday 27 August from 10am. This is a fun opportunity to prepare for the Harvest Festival community events as part of the nationwide Dandelion programme on Saturday 10 September. Those taking part will have the opportunity to learn new printmaking techniques, and to design patterns for tablecloths, hammocks, and Festival decorations.
The workshop is open to families and to unaccompanied children aged 8 or over, and will be led by Cove Park's Curator of Engagement and designer Emma Henderson. To book your free place and read more, please visit our Eventbrite page.
Dandelion Day Camp with Niki Taylor at Cove Sailing Club (photography by Caitlin Hegney).
Harvest Festival at the Unexpected Gardens
Join us to celebrate our Unexpected Gardens here on the Rosneath Peninsula at a special Harvest Festival on Saturday 10 September. This event is part of Dandelion, and will take place at Centre 81 Garelochhead from 11am - 2pm, and then at Cove Sailing Club from 4pm - 8pm.
Food at the Festival is by artist, curator, and culinary designer Rudy Kanhye. Join us in Garelochhead to try seasonal tasters inspired by our local shoreline, and an open fire-cooked lunch. A Harvest Dinner, also created by Rudy, will be shared at Cove Sailing Club accompanied by local botanical infused cocktails.
The Festival is an opportunity to see, hear, and take part in new work by Unexpected Gardens artist Hannah Brackston and Musician in Residence Siôn Parkinson. Siôn will perform 'Harvest Hymns 21C', a new work commissioned by Cove Park and a celebration of the end of the growing season, of food, drink and the drunken revelry that often follows. Drop-in workshops suitable for all ages, along with a Plant Swap and Garden Games designed by Hannah Brackston, will take place at both venues. These are free events.
For more information and to book tickets for the event at Centre 81 Garelochhead, please click here. Information and tickets for Cove Sailing Club is here. We look forward to welcoming everyone.
