Reflections: The Space Between

Articulation Director Angela Adams-Gray shares her thoughts on Findhorn Bay Arts’ recent Creative Learning Exchange: The Space Between. Articulation delivered a workshop session with multi-disciplinary artist Jideofor Muotune and Angela delivered a keynote presentation as part of the event.

It was fantastic to return to beautiful Moray to take part in Findhorn Bay Arts‘ Creative Learning Exchange: The Space Between . This event is biennial – alternating with the delivery of the Findhorn Bay Festival, a multi-arts celebration set in unexpected locations and places within the rural towns and villages in the stunning bay of Findhorn and beyond. The Creative Learning Exchange: The Space Between explored the creative development process . In a series of keynote talks and workshops we examined how we can create the space for ideas and creativity to thrive and encourage innovation.

My keynote Stories of Place – Shifting the Narrative delved into the role Outdoor Arts has in changing the way people experience places and how they can strengthen connection to a place and shine a light on untold stories. I posed the question of what stories our villages, towns and cities tell us – whether it is a tale of industry, a famous landmark, or a stigma like being “deprived” or “left behind”. Places seen as “ordinary” or “ worth-less” can be re-cast as sites of resilience, imagination, and creativity through outdoor arts.

We were joined by multi-disciplinary artist and Articulation member, Jideofor Muotune, to deliver an interactive workshop as part of the event. Jideofor is a storyteller and the curator of the Afrowegian platform, and we looked at his recent work, The Listener, a walking tour that uncovers Glasgow’s hidden past and the city’s ties to slavery. We examined how these kinds of creative interventions are an important tool in decolonising public spaces and fostering a sense of identity, autonomy and belonging.

If Black and Global Majority communities are not represented in the built heritage, the message is: your history doesn’t count. If women and the working class are absent from statues, the message is: your contributions don’t matter. If Queer stories and stories of Disabled people are erased , the message is your stories are not important.

I am passionate about Outdoor Arts’ power to transform the narrative of place and part of the work of Articulation is to ensure that it is recognised as an invaluable tool that can allow everyone to tell their stories, on their own terms.