Hopeful Futures

Photo credit: Alexander Williamson, 2024

"The Hopeful Futures gathering was such a boost for the soul. In a time when the future can often seem hope-less, and doing what we can to work towards a viable alternative can feel exhausting and a bit lonely - experiences like these are such an essential and uplifting resource."

Participant

"I've learned that the invitation to gather to celebrate hope is something people truly want and need. I was amazed at how quickly people embraced the idea - many offered help in various ways simply because they wanted to see it come to life. The enthusiasm has since rippled out, with connections already leading to other events and projects."

Mairi, curator

"The key thing I’ve carried with me and shared with others since the event is that ‘hope is a discipline’. This practice requires us to re-tune into hopefulness regularly and I feel our generous speakers gave us this opportunity to practice as they shared amazing reflections on where they find hope. Hope is; in a sense of connection, in trusting your community to help you, and in feeling that you belong."

Kirsten, curator

You can still contribute to the Hopeful Highlands Hack publication. We are keen to keep collecting information to publish a new edition of an open-ended guide with info about groups doing hopeful things or groups that people can get involved with directly. If you’re interested then please complete this online form - Hopeful Highlands Hack. Digital copies of the publication will be made available soon.

Saturday 28 September & Sunday 29 September 2024

Inverness Creative Academy

In today’s world, there’s every reason to feel hopeless. We are living through a time of crisis, where doom dominates the headlines and unimaginable suffering unfolds before our eyes. Politics feels broken, out of touch, and unable to address critical issues like poverty, injustice, and environmental destruction. The system seems rigged, resistant to change.

Overwhelming feelings of grief, despair, and fear are crushing our ability to imagine a better future. Hopelessness is stifling our motivation to act.

Yet, if we shift our gaze, we will see a growing wave of people across the country—and around the world—who are actively building more hopeful futures. Community gardens, mutual aid groups, cooperatives of all kinds, solidarity networks, creative collectives, repair cafés, tool libraries, nature restoration projects—these are just a few examples. We can cultivate a root system of alternatives—both big and small—and reclaim a sense of possibility.

Hopeful Futures was a weekend public gathering that sought to make visible and celebrate hopeful initiatives across the Highlands. The event offered talks, discussions, and creative workshops, asking, How do we plant the seeds of hope, possibility, and solidarity in our communities? How can we support each other to gather and cultivate conviviality? What is in our power? A community meal was the centrepiece, with local food and music for all to enjoy.

Full programme :

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

From 12pm, GYM HALL: Set-up - bring your posters and enjoy a cup

From 1pm, Welcome talk

1.30pm, Panel Discussion - 'Making Change: Local Activism’

Daniel Cullen, Skye - writer, actor, director and journalist. Daniel will be joined by Steven McKinnon for a performance from the play The Chariot the Flag and the Empty Empty Houses currently on tour across Scotland
Raghnaid Sandilands, Farr - local activist, artist and map-maker
Amy Clarkson, Applecross - Woodland Development Officer, Applecross Community Company
Artemis Pana, Raasay - National Coordinator, Scottish Rural Action
chaired by Mairi McFadyen

From 2.30pm, WORKSHOP SPACE:

Learn how to make a zine with Cat Meighan and the HIGHLAND ZINE BOTHY
Alice Prentice from ISLE OF RISO will be live printing our ‘Hopeful Highlands Hack,’ designed by Maddie Lennon
Bind your own copy on the MAKING PUBLICS PRESS with Katharine Barrington from ATLAS Arts

4pm, Panel Discussion - 'Cultivating Community: what's in our power?'

Mari Todd, Black Isle - Community coastal rowing
Max and Zander, Inverness - Inverness Skate Park
Fairlie Kirkpatrick Baird - Feminist Bird Club, Inverness chapter
Jon Dixon, Inverness - Incredible Edible and Holm Grown Garden
Robin Wolesy, Skye - ATLAS Arts, alternative economies in Skye and Lochalsh
chaired by Kirsten Body, Circus Artspace

From 6pm, ASSEMBLY HALL: Harvest Meal & Music

Local food prepared by chef, land and food activist Col Gordon, Invergordon
Performances from Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail with Anndra Cumming, Anja MacLennan, Emma Racionzer, Lucy Robertson & Kitty Sykes
DJ Meiggidh Fraser

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

11am, Solidarity Economy: Offers and Needs Market in the GYM HALL

A solidarity economy is rooted in principles of sharing, exchange, local production and collective well-being. It prioritises social justice and ecological sustainability over profit and individualism, fostering practices such as fair trade, mutual aid, gift circles, time-banking, local exchange networks and co-ops. Many such initiatives have existed for decades in our own communities. In this session, we will begin to build our own micro solidarity economy through the mutual sharing of our offers and needs. With Mairi McFadyen and Rachel Skene, Helmsdale.

1pm - Soup lunch and farewell

Hosted by Mairi McFadyen and Kirsten Body (Circus Artspace)

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