Scotland in Europe encourages links between Scotland and the EU, through joint arts and cultural endeavour at grassroots level.
The M8 Motorway in Glasgow by Bel Gilbert-Scott, 2009. Depicted from the artist’s studio in the Kinning Park Complex- an important building (former school) saved after local community protest (and a sit-in) for use by local organisations and to serve the people of Greater Govan. SiE is proud to be based in this thriving creative hub.
The organisation promotes the whole breadth of cultural activity – performance, music, dance, visual art, writing, and photography, primarily by engaging artists to work within communities. Projects involve two or more communities (in Scotland and the EU) and usually culminate in performances, exhibitions, events or productions. Most projects reflect cultural themes promoted by the European Parliament.
Section of mural by Louise Malone for ‘Memory of Water’- a pan-European project undertaken between 2018 and 2020, engaging with artists and communities in post-industrial cities on water (rivers or seas) in Belgium, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Poland and Scotland.
Gorbals Church by Mark N
Since the 1980s Scotland has pioneered innovation in community arts, cultural planning and socially engaged artistic practice. With the right support structures in place art can be a major contributor to social transformation. Scotland and in Europe continues to be at the forefront of this endeavour. Through forging links between communities, perspectives within Scotland are changed and international understanding of our nation’s rich culture and heritage is enhanced.
Achievements
During 1990 representatives from Shelter and Age Concern Scotland (ACS) contacted charity colleagues from Lyon in south central France and invited them to Glasgow to work on a peoples’ banner to mark the City’s European Capital of Culture celebrations. That banner survives to this day.
This community based cultural exchange galvanised the creation of a new charitable organisation. In 1991 the Glasgow group went to Paris to undertake research on setting up a voluntary organisation in another country. The outcome the was the setting up a, not-for-profit, organisation. Scotland In Europe was founded in 1992.
Since its establishment Scotland in Europe has served as an arts and regeneration forum for Greater Govan in Glasgow (where it has its HQ); set up many individual projects now run independently within the community; organised a European volunteer programme with Xchange Scotland (bringing individuals to work in locally based community organisations); forged productive partnerships with Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and Barcelona; initiated over 30 community festivals and saved a valued facility (Kinning Park Complex) from closure, ultimately transferring its ownership to the community.
In recent years, with sister organisation STAGE (Scottish Talent Across Generation Events) Scotland in Europe has delivered numerous far-reaching projects and festivals. It has also organised Memory of Water (via STAGE and Fablevision)- involving six European cities with post-industrial river histories; curated Woven Networks/Women’s Stories- documenting the experiences of women from Finland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Ukraine on the lows (and highs) of the Coronavirus pandemic and delivered Words Across Water- poetry and music in venues including Trinity College, University of Dublin
The Future
Since its founding, in 1992, Scotland in Europe has adhered to its mission of using the arts to engage with communities within Scotland and from across Europe. More committed than ever to maintaining these networks and collaborations it has brought numerous and diverse communities together through shared cultural experiences.
The process has enhanced understanding, knowledge and skills, contributing to community cohesion. Scotland in Europe’s vision and goals- continuing to build on our alliances in Europe and exercising community based ‘cultural detante’, are more vital than ever.
Colophon
Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, Glasgow G41 1BA
Scotland
Keithstraße 17, 10787 Berlin
Germany
Scotland in Europe is a registered, not for profit. Community Interest Company (CIC). The exclusive rights to use the name have been granted to the organisation by the Scottish Government.