Director’s Reflections

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Articulation Director Angela Adams-Gray shares her reflections on the past year.

Angela Adams-Gray speaking at the Articulation Summer Gathering 2025. Image credit: Eoin Carey

As we move into the Year of the Fire Horse we wish you Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭喜發財) and  prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Historically and socially Fire Horse Years have coincided with cultural shifts and a push for change. It certainly feels that this aligns with where Articulation is at in terms of our current energy and momentum. Before we gallop headlong into the  Red Horse Year  we’ve been reflecting on what we achieved this past year . 

The first months of 2025 started with  anticipation of important funding outcomes for us and the wider arts sector. It was also a time of research and development – we started Outdoor Arts, Circus and Spectacle (OACS) sector research in partnership with Queen Margaret University. This culminated at the end of the year in  our sector report launch  Beyond the Stage at Scottish Parliament and subsequent motion raised  for increased support for OACS  raised in Parliament. 

We continued to  deliver a range of training and webinars covering; arts funding  with Truffle Pig, International Touring for Circus with Yellow Everything and Outdoor Arts sustainability training with Theatre Green Book. Partnership working is a key component to how Articulation supports and champions outdoor arts, circus and spectacle. Our partners include Manipulate Festival, which brings much-needed  physical theatre, puppetry and animation magic to Edinburgh every February. A programme highlight from last year’s festival was Ockham Razor’s TESS – the incredible circus adaptation of Thomas Hardy‘s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. This year, we’re looking forward  to hosting a panel discussion as part of the festival’s industry afternoon, and a networking event following Siddiq Ali’s premiere of Tell Me. 

Summer ‘25 festival season brought Fresh Street- Circostrada’s international gathering of Outdoor Arts professionals to the Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth.

A large blue information sign for "Beach of Dreams" stands on a sandy beach in front of an installation of many colorful silk flags.

The 17th edition of Out There  was a truly inspiring programme that showcased many brilliant artists and companies, including  the anarchic Catalan clowns Los Galindos. Kinetika’s stunning Beach of Dreams flag installation that explored the heritage, cultures and futures of UK coastlines in the face of climate emergency (pictured).

In July, our annual Summer Gathering was held at The Social Hub in partnership with Surge and the Merchant City Festival. We were joined by Digital Storyteller Jideofor Muotune, Culture Counts Co-Director Kathryn Welch and artist and storyteller Luke Winter. This year, Surge and the Merchant City Festival coincide with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We’re looking forward to sharing more details of Articulation’s involvement with Surge and Merchant City Festival this summer soon.

August brought  an Edinburgh Festival with  more high-level circus than ever before, including the European premier of Gluck’s Opera Orpheus and Eurydice in collaboration with pioneering  Australian Circus Company CIRCA . 

Our Edinburgh Fringe presence included a panel discussion with members from the Copenhagen Collective, who shared their insights on international touring. The refurbishments on Fringe Central’s new premises will be complete this Spring, and we’re looking forward to joining them at their new home this Summer.

A panel of three people speaks on a stage beneath a screen reading "ARTICULATION," with a sign language interpreter standing to the left.
A group of adults sit around a table listening to a presentation that is being delivered by a man standing at a lectern in front of a screen.

Autumn brought us to Findhorn Bay Festival on the beautiful Moray coast. Articulation and  Jideofor Muotune led an exploration of the crucial role outdoor arts have in  expanding people’s understanding of and connection to place, informed by the perspective of his recent work at the Merchant City Festival, Uncovering Glasgow’s Hidden Past: A walking Tour of the City’s Ties to Slavery.

Winter has been a time to compile our research, we’ve just launched our report and now we move onto  the next steps. As we move into the  year of the Horse – a symbol of strength and perseverance in Chinese tradition – we’re  ready and motivated to take forward the Beyond the Stage recommendations and work towards recognition, sustainable funding and better  infrastructure for our sector. Join us for the ride! 

Gallery

Aerial performers in pink jumpsuits suspended in a dark warehouse under dramatic, fan-shaped beams of white light.
All or Nothing at Hidden Door Festival. Credit: J Gray.
A marching band in vibrant red, green, and white uniforms playing brass instruments during a daytime street parade.
PARADE at Out There Festival 2025. Credit: J Gray.
A large, glowing, woven white boat float carrying a performer moves through a crowd during a nighttime parade.
SPRAOI 2025. Credit: J Gray.
A solo performer dances in a public square at night in front of a grand building facade illuminated by bright purple light.
Black by OULOUY at Fira Tarrega 2025. Credit: J Gray.
A top-down perspective looking into a circular well installation lined with square blue and green tiles, showing scattered coins at the bottom.
The Well installation at Glasgow Cathedral – Aproxima Arts. Credit: J Gray.
A circular, vintage-style sign from the Hippodrome Museum featuring the text "Fabulous Fiesta of... Human Circus" in red and green lettering.
Hippodrome Museum, Fresh Street 2025. Credit: J Gray.

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