Green Space Dark Skies: The team of artists working with local communities to bring events to life
Green Space Dark Skies, produced by Walk the Plank and commissioned by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, has revealed the artists who will bring Scotland's August events to life!
Article Source: UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK
Last Updated: 4 August 2022 10:36
Thousands of people across the UK have been recruited to create large-scale interactive artworks in 20 of the UK’s most outstanding landscapes for Green Space Dark Skies - a participatory series of outdoor arts events forming part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, from April to September 2022.
The artworks will be created at dusk by local participants, referred to as Lumenators. They will be guided along pathways or waterways carrying smart lights that will enable digital choreography captured on film, while also being sensitive to the night-time environment. Each short film will incorporate the stories of the people and places featured and will be available to watch for free on Green Space Dark Skies website after the event. Lumenators will also be encouraged to share their own connections to the landscape and the local areas as part of their involvement through Green Space Stories - a citizen science project to find out what people think of the landscape in 2022.
Green Space Dark Skies will enable people from all walks of life to forge new connections with the countryside by supporting those who face cultural and physical barriers to experience our iconic landscapes. The series of gatherings will celebrate the countryside as well as encouraging our responsibility to take care of it for future generations.
In Scotland, the events will take place in some of the country's most stunning locations throughout August including the Cairngorms National Park, Orkney Mainland and North Ronaldsay. The Cairngorms event on Thursday 11 August is recruiting final Lumenators to join the gathering on both land and water, using paddle boards and kayaks. Aside from creating the choreographed movements in the evening, Lumenators will have exclusive access to a packed daytime programme of outdoor activities from live music and storytelling workshops to VR experiences and water sports lessons. Participants can register individually or as a group here to be a part of this unique project.
Music Directors Kapil Seshasayee and Willie Campbell (The Dalmar Chorus) will work with local musicians in each area to write soundtracks for the films, influenced by their participation in local workshops and their own experiences of the landscapes and communities. The Dalmar Chorus, formed by Willie Campbell (Isle of Lewis, Western Isles and Outer Hebrides) and Scottish-Indian artist Kapil Seshasayee (Glasgow), was originally commissioned to write songs for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance ‘Common Ground Festival’ at COP26. They have since continued to perform together, writing songs that echo those same sentiments, covering subjects such as climate change and creating a better society.
Willie Campbell says: “Green Space Dark Skies is interesting, ambitious and a really exciting opportunity for us to do something new. Working with Kapil is always a pleasure, and Dalmar Chorus is delighted to take part in this amazing project with the creative people involved.”
Scottish Film Director, Rupert Shanks will document all the events, turning them into short films for each location.
Rupert is driven by moments of wonder and his mission is to share that feeling. The natural world and people’s reactions to it are a great source of inspiration for him but, more than this, he is energised by anyone with a passion whose story he can share.
Shanks says “My feeling is to create something that is both atmospheric and personal. I want to convey the character and history of the locations - possibly through spoken word and music. Visually, I’d like to accompany this with landscapes and details that make the location unmistakable. Alongside this, I want to share the intimate reactions of those present as they connect with the landscape and each other."
The project’s Lighting Director, Nich Smith, is the design director behind Nich Smith Lighting Design (NSLD) - an award-winning, independent lighting design studio in Glasgow. NSLD has evolved from lighting works, based predominantly in arts and entertainment, to a fully-fledged lighting design studio working across architecture, arts, landscape, urbanism, culture, heritage and design.
Nich Smith is the author of the lighting section of the Glasgow Public Realm Design And Maintenance Guide. He has over 30 years’ experience in lighting. NSLD designs are visually stunning and creative yet practical, sustainable and maintainable.
Writer Merryn Glover was the first Writer-in-Residence at Cairngorms National Park and is behind the Storylands Sessions - music and storytelling workshops - alongside musician Hamish Napier. She is an award-winning, published writer of fiction, drama, poetry and BBC radio plays. A qualified English and Drama teacher, she also has extensive experience of community arts. For Green Space Dark Skies, Merryn will be leading workshops and collecting words inspired by people, nature and place from the local community in different languages (Scots, Gaelic, English and other languages) to create text for the film soundtrack. She will engage groups including Cairngorm Wild Swimmers and Colourful Heritage, which highlights South Asian presence in Scotland.
Movement Coordinator Jo Davies, from Just Dance Orkney, started dancing at the age of four and is trained in a wide range of styles. Jo has toured Scotland and was selected as a dancer for the Commonwealth Games Handover Ceremony 2010. She represented the Royal Academy of Dance in the live broadcast of the Parade for the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations. Jo’s choreography work includes local productions of musicals which feature her talented pupils, and she has also choreographed numerous pantomimes and cabaret shows.
Helping Jo at the Cairngorms project, Heather Cooney gained her Msc in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Queen Margaret University during which time she also performed in and co-created the opening ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics. First brought to the Highlands on a one-year contract with Eden Court Creative as a dance development worker, she founded The Cairngorm School of Dance in 2014, and opened their Aviemore studio in 2019.
Emily Dodds, the project’s Workshop Leader, is a storyteller and science spoken word artist with an Msc in Communicating Science underpinning her work. She has developed and delivered education programmes for the Scottish Seabird Centre, Edinburgh International Science Festival, National Museums Scotland and Our Dynamic Earth and will now work with Lumenators at Green Space Dark Skies Scottish events.
Emily is also a CBeebies screenwriter and author of over 20 fiction and non-fiction books including ‘Can’t-Dance-Cameron: A Scottish Capercaillie Story’, set in the Cairngorms, and ‘Surfing the Moon’’ about a boy with autism who learns to surf and has a love for the moon. Her mental health themed radio play ‘Black Holes and Hot Chocolate’, about a mother and son stargazing together, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Participants will also be able to experience Scotland’s natural beauty in a bold and dynamic new way, thanks to an exciting collaboration from coders, musicians, graphic designers, and filmmakers. Miro CoLabs - a British AR/VR collective - will immerse Lumenators in bespoke virtual-reality concerts which combine live music and virtual landscapes for performances which are guaranteed to engage all the senses.
UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK is funded and supported by the four governments of the UK and is commissioned and delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council, Creative Wales and EventScotland.
Sponsored Links
Latest Renfrewshire News
Jason Manford to play Paisley Town Hall as part of tour
Comedian, actor, singer and presenter is latest big name to announce date at venue.
READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums
Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE
Set sail for Paisley and enjoy a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas!
Ahoy there mateys! The Pirates of Paisley is this year's must visit FREE summer brick adventure!
READ MORE
Paisley Town Hall bells mark Imagination Library becoming permanent
Much loved reading programme, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Renfrewshire, celebrated becoming permanent with bell chimes.
READ MORE
Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres
This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORE
Crowds celebrate the summer at Barshaw Gala Day
Thousands turned out to celebrate summer at Barshaw Park on Saturday for Barshaw Gala Day.
READ MORE
FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores returns on 5th and 6th July
Summerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MORE
Grab your free reusable cup!
Fancy grabbing a free reusable takeaway cup and then getting a discount on your next drink from some of our local cafes?
READ MORE
Thorn Athletic and Inchinnan Development Trust to create brand new artificial pitches in Renfrewshire
Two major community sports projects in Renfrewshire are set to benefit from a significant funding boost.
READ MORE
Earlybird tickets drive buzz for 2026 Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show
The biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORE
July events at Dobbies Garden Centres
Check out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORE
Refurbished play park is a big success with local pupils
Pupils from Auchenlodment Primary School in Johnstone gave their refurbished play park a big thumbs up after it underwent a major upgrade earlier this year.
READ MORE
Historic Environment Scotland calls for public stories for national wellbeing exhibition
Historic Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MORE
Clan Wrestling returns to Braehead Arena with former WWE Champions
After their first event in March, Clash of the Clans, Clan Wrestling makes its return to Braehead Arena on Saturday 6th September for its second event!
READ MORE
Renfrewshire invited to honour Armed Forces community
The Armed Forces Day flag will be raised outside Renfrewshire House on Friday in a short service to mark Armed Forces Day.
READ MORE
Works set to be undertaken to restore historic Kilbarchan Steeple buildings
Councillors have agreed a £350,000 contract to carry out repairs to the historic Kilbarchan Steeple Buildings.
READ MORE
Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 adds two new categories and voting deadline extended!
Scotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MORE
Young people to choose their winners as Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund voting opens
Voting has opened for this year's Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund as young people get the chance to vote for the projects they think will make the most difference in their communities.
READ MORE
Get set for summer at Barshaw Gala Day
Crowds are set to soak up the summer vibes at Barshaw Gala Day with an afternoon packed full of exciting activities for all the family!
READ MORE
25th year of Refugee Festival Scotland gets underway
Refugee Festival Scotland gets underway today, kick-starting nine days of dance performances, film screenings, visual art and photography exhibitions and community events across the country.
READ MORE
Exclusive Superman screening at Vue venues in Scotland
Tickets are on sale for an exclusive Superman screening at Vue venues in Scotland, with fans in for an extra special treat to take home.
READ MORE
XSite Braehead accelerates into summer with a major car event
On Saturday, 28th June, Chrome 'n' Classics will host its annual event in the XSite car park for the first time – showcasing over 200 classic, custom, American, and vintage cars!
READ MORE
Programme revealed for the 2025 Sma Shot Day celebrations
Paisley town centre will host a day-long programme of entertainment this summer to celebrate Sma' Shot Day – one of the world's oldest worker's festivals.
READ MORE
Ready, Steady, Go! Paisley CarFest is back this weekend!
Paisley's CarFest is returning to Paisley town centre this Saturday, 14th June, with a fun day out for all the family guaranteed!
READ MORE
Acclaimed debut Only Here, Only Now from Tom Newlands chosen as Waterstones Book of the Month in Scotland
The paperback edition of Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands has just been released - and is already making waves.
READ MORE
Star supporting Gary Barlow visits Kibble kids in Paisley for music session
Rising music star and Channel 4's The Piano winner Brad Kella visited Kibble's Goudie Academy to meet with care-experienced young people, share his story and inspire the next generation of musicians.
READ MORE
Funding Boost for Charities at Scottish Building Society AGM
Scottish Building Society marked its Annual General Meeting (AGM) by announcing funding to support eight local charities and good causes across the country.
READ MORE
Classic car enthusiasts set to visit Loch Lomond Shores
Visitors are invited to come along and get up-close to some amazing cars, set against the beautiful backdrop of Loch Lomond, as part of a great day out.
READ MORE
Local people invited to have their say on proposed Brown Institute garden
Renfrewshire Council is inviting local residents, businesses and partners to have their say on proposals for a public garden on the site of the former Brown Institute in Renfrew.
READ MORE
MINISO debuts this week at Braehead Shopping Centre
Braehead Shopping Centre is pleased to officially welcome MINISO, the brand's first store in the West of Scotland, opening at 12pm on Friday 6th June.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links