About us

• Contemporary art as an integral part of culture in the Highlands;

• An artist-led ethos in all we do;

• Aspiration over previous experience;

• Developing a community of support, experimentation, exchange and ideas;

• Inclusive experiences which embrace diverse communities;

• Collaboration between art forms and sharing of values.

1. To promote contemporary art as an integral part of culture in the Highlands:

• increase both the visibility and viability of being an artist in our area and support emerging practice.

• diverge from Highland cliches and instead respond to specific local, social and economic issues.

• work as a community of practice and prioritise collaboration, openness and care.

2. To develop a community of practice, experimentation, exchange and ideas relevant to now:

• work together non-hierarchically to deliver events, developing each aspect through conversation, mutual support and consensus.

• enable the artists we work with to take risks within an environment of exchange and ideas.

• promote collective learning by sharing our research and work with peers.

• be a resource for our community by sharing our skills, equipment and experience to local projects.

• develop partnerships between art forms, local community groups and organisations that share like-minded values.

• resist institutional & capitalist structures and keep our organisation small and flexible.

• promote climate justice within our programme and choose environmental options.

3. To develop inclusive experiences which embrace diverse communities and amplify lesser heard voices:

• provide access to creativity and create pathways for young people.

• support emergent practice and prioritise those who are experiencing barriers in their creative practice.

• develop inclusive experiences which embrace diverse communities, embed access and promote equality.

• focus on non-dominant narratives with our programme.

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 projects, developing each aspect through conversation, mutual support and consensus.

The CiRCUS ARTSPACE committee work collaboratively to produce a range 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.

Current Associates: Ali Bernardelli, Erin Matheson, Lizzie Wood, LG Thomson, Louise Kernaghan, Mairi Summers, Olga Dean Hart, Pauline Krawehl (Nov 2024 - Sept 2025), Claire Gordon (Fellowship 2025), Louise Kernaghan (Fellowship 2024), Lizzie Wood (Fellowship 2024), Jaden Anderson (Fellowship 2023), Emma Caldow (Fellowship 2022), Sandris Masins (UHI 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).

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!

Thank you to The Highland Society of London for their continuing support of our fellowship programme from 2019 - 2024 and Studio Sessions programme (2025 - 2026).  Without their funding, we wouldn’t have been able to aid in the development of emergent artists based in the Highlands over the past 7 years. 

Our Circus Associates and CaraVAN programme in 2024/25 were funded by the Create:Networks fund led by Creative Dundee with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Our projects 'Inland Navigation' and 'Guardians of the Gateway' in 2022, 'Daylight' in 2023, and 'Poster Party' in 2024 and 'Groundwork' in 2025 were supported by Historic Environment Scotland learning team.

The 2022 Graduate Associates exhibitions programme was supported by the Hope Scott Trust.

Our 2021/22 public programme was supported by funding from Creative Scotland's Open Fund and we worked in partnership with UHI and XpoNorth to deliver the Graduate Associates. 

Wasps Studios supported us with free space at Inverness Creative Academy from 2019 - 2021 - as part of their Arts Enterprise Programme.

CiRCUS ARTSPACE was part of Creative Scotland's Crowdfunding Creatively pilot scheme with training & mentoring from Paved with Gold. Huge thank you to all our Founding Supporters for their donations: Jim Mooney, Cathy Shankland, Bobby McCarthy, Lorna Campbell, Anna Hawkins, Jack Kay, Fiona Percy, David Body, Philip Mallard, Jon Thomson, Linda Forsyth, Leon Patchett, Catherine Carr, Mairi Mcfadyen, Andrew Tognarelli, Alison Smith, Georgina Coburn, Sarah James-Gaukroger, Kirstie Cohen, Andrew Dawson, Roddy McKenzie, Ian Barr, Alex Ogilvie, Calum & Mairi Macaulay, Clive Brandon, Joanna Wright, Morag Smith, Alexandria Patience, Adrian Farrow, Catherine Feggans, Catherine MacNeil, Martin Minton, Julia Smith, Lindsay Dunbar, Gordon Dickson, Andy Macvicar & Marley the dog, Misha Somerville, Mike Smith & Jackie Cuddy, Shona & Colin Macduff-Duncan, Mary & Brian Rushby, Margie Ramsay, Anne Duncan, David Somerville, Karen Dick, Robert Reid, Micky Johnson, Graeme Roger, Lynne Strachan, Colin O'Brien, Ailsa Strange, Anne Christie, Andrew Christie, Janet Christie, Diana A Sykes, Mairi Benton, Amy Anderson, Ailsa Robertson, Matt Sillars, Sam Banister, Caroline Inckle, Frith & Peter Zerfahs, Jill Meighan, Mairi Strachan, Billy Kinnear, Rachel Fermi, Anna Low, Margaret Moore, Kirsteen Smith, Jean Urquhart, Polly Chapman, Lucy Woodley, Kaye Christie and others.