Stay See Share /// What is Stay See Share + What Are We Doing?
In the run up to autumn I have been working on a really exciting project via Creative Scotland’s Stay See Share.
What is Stay See Share: It’s a fund that offers applications the opportunity to work on a body of research for a creative idea that they have then share the learning back to peers in Scotland, via a variety of ways. Creatives build up research by engaging with others who are already doing or building sustainably in the areas that they are interested in.
What’s my project about: The project will explore the viability of an open textile’s studio in Aberdeenshire. This is something I’ve been interested in doing for a while but after the support and positive outcomes from a previous project, specifically in terms of skill sharing, I feel this is the correct time to look at running a textiles studio hub. At this moment in time in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, there is a print workshop space for fine art, a sculpture workshop space, a jewellery workshop space and there is going to be ceramic open studio space. I wish to open up my new studio for people to hire basic screen-printing equipment, a simple textile screen-printing table, squeegees, screens and inks. As the studio develops and I gain funds to put into the studio I will get more equipment such as heat-press, steamer, repeat textiles printing table and exposure unit. Meaning I would be able to offer more. I have already spoken with Zero Waste Scotland about how this can support a more circular economy due to the equipment being shared but now I need to speak to people who are already doing similar things. With this funding, I will talk via zoom to three different open studios at different stages of their business in order to get insight into how they run it and what stumbling blocks, regulations and support they have come across. I’ll be very interested to understand a bit more of the everyday logistics of running an open studio, especially in times of COVID, in order to have a pool of knowledge. I want to open the studio to creatives on a trial level and review as we go along, so it can run alongside these conversations and I can live test any recommendations I feel appropriate. I have been reading about live testing which happens a lot in the technology world where even if something isn’t perfect you share it and through this you can reflect and adjust to see more clearly how to progress, you also get more constant feedback. There’s no doubt some things that I test out will fail but I’m looking forward to learning from them and I’m excited to hear what people think!
How will the project be shared: I will be sharing the outcome of these talks in regards to how the points raised might be tested in the Textile Studio via blogs and online posts. At the end of this project, we’ll be having an Instagram live interview with a great textiles creative talking about what I’ve found out and we’ll be recording a video to share. There will also be a sharing event from Creative Scotland that I will be taking part in.
What’s been happening so far: For the last couple of months, I’ve been organising ideas, working on the studio space, contacting open workshop/studio spaces and taking part in great support workshops with InnerEar. Now as the project is in the main swing of things, I can’t wait to share more with you.
You will find our blogs here on our website, on Medium and snippets in our newsletters. So if you want to find out first what’s happening remember to sign up to the newsletter!
Textiles Studio - Pre-launch