OUR VALUES
-
To promote contemporary art as an integral part of culture in the Highlands;
-
To embed an artist-led ethos in all we do;
-
To value aspiration over previous experience;
-
To develop a community of support, experimentation, exchange and ideas;
-
To develop inclusive experiences which embrace diverse communities;
-
To encourage sharing of values and collaboration between art forms.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Established in March 2019, CiRCUS is a voluntary collective of practising, professional artists and producers committed to making contemporary art accessible to a broader Highland audience as well as supporting
emergent artists in our area through our graduate programmes. We are based in and around Inverness and work across many different disciplines including painting, printmaking, sculpture, film, performance, sound and participatory work.
The current voluntary committee are:
Cat Meighan, Kirsten Body, Lorna Campbell, Nicola Gear, Richard Bracken & Sadie Stoddart
How we work
Being part of the CiRCUS ARTSPACE committee is a constant collaborative learning experience and a unique opportunity to explore our interests within a supportive group of artists and practitioners. As a community of practice the committee works together non-hierarchically to deliver a public programme, developing each aspect through conversation, mutual support and consensus.
What we do
The CiRCUS ARTSPACE committee work collaboratively to produce a yearly programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, talks, workshops, events, community projects and peer learning. We enjoy bringing people from our broad audience of ages and interests together to create memorable experiences. Our aim is to develop events which are inclusive and build on these highly valued moments of commonality and community, as well as amplifying a wider diversity of voices and experiences.
Thank you to all our past volunteers: Emma Caldow (Fellowship 2022), Sandris Masins (Work Placement 2022), Holly Osborne (Committee 2020-2021 & Internship 2019), Shaun Fraser (Committee 2019-2021), Cara Murray (Internship 2021), Hester Grant (Zine Fest Co-ordinator 2021 & Internship 2020), Taylor Black (Internship 2021), Sadie Stoddart (Committee 2019-2021 & Internship 2019), Sophie Brown (Internship 2020-2021), Isabel McLeish (Internship 2020), Jack Kay (Internship 2019) and Suzie Eggins (Committee 2019).
Where does the name come from?
We wanted a name that linked to our location; our collective originally met in Inverness Creative Academy on Crown Circus. The word circus derives from Latin meaning "circle" or "ring" and it has lots of connotations that we liked - it evokes a spirit of energy, enjoyment and curiosity and reflects our diverse practices. We also love the Inverness coat of arms featuring a camel and elephant, with origins in international trade, these surprising animals link into our imagining of Inverness’ future of vibrant and unexpected possibilities!
CiRCUS ARTSPACE is the trading name of Creative Inverness Limited - a non profit making organisation. Registered in Scotland, company number SC496380.