Spring Fling has unveiled the full programme for the 2024 open studios weekend – which will feature a new Rural Mural along the seafront in Stranraer.
Taking place from 25-27 May, Spring Fling is Scotland’s premier event of its kind, with a record-breaking 104 studios to visit across Dumfries and Galloway.
One of the big attractions is expected to be SFRM24, a large-scale mural on The Boat House, in Stranraer’s Agnew Park, which will be created by Argyll-based street art specialists Recoat along with local visual artist Jennifer Buchanan.
This will be the third Spring Fling Rural Mural (SFRM) – and follows successful projects in 2014 and 2016 and saw nine large temporary artworks created around the region.
It will be a welcome return for Recoat’s Amy Whiten and Ali Wylie, who have over 15 years’ experience painting murals across Scotland and internationally, and who were central to both previous SFRMs.
Amy said: “We are very proud of the artwork and connections that came out of the original SFRM projects. They murals created in D&G were amazing.
“These projects, and the artists we worked with, remain some of our favourite experiences and connections.
“We are excited to be coming back to the area to work with an artist to create another vibrant mural.”
Upland, which organises Spring Fling, is working in partnership with Creative Stranraer to get the community involved in the design through a series of engagement sessions to get people’s ideas (see below).
Spring Fling has just launched Virtual Studios, allowing people to pay an online visit to participating studios through its website.
It’s a great way to find out about the artists and decide who you would like to go and see over the weekend itself.
There will also be:
- CREATE – the chance to see work by two artists working in less commercial and traditional ways. They are Bea Last (Dumfries), who creates “sculptural drawing installations” (often using salvaged or found materials) and Hope London (Wigtown) who is experimenting with video, animation and drawing to explore the issues she has faced with cancer and recovery.
- Emerge – an annual initiative that helps nurture emerging artists and makers in the region. This year it features Lorna Phillips, a ceramicist using local clays to explore the nature of the areas they come from, and multimedia artist Sarah McCusker whose work includes collage, sculpture, installation and printmaking.
Bus tours are also being organised in partnership with community transport initiatives in Galloway, Thornhill and Cairn Valley which will take visitors round studios in the Stranraer, the Rhins, Dalry, Eskdalemuir and Moffat areas.
They will let visitors reach artists working in more isolated locations and have a relaxed day out all while helping the environment by reducing vehicle emissions.
Likewise, people are being encouraged to enjoy the beauty of one of Scotland’s most rural regions by travelling to studios by bike – suggested routes will be in the brochure.
Joanna Jones, Upland Assistant Director, said: “This year’s Spring Fling is set to be one of the best – and will cover even more of the region. For the first time we will have studios taking part from Moffat in the east to Stranraer in the west.
“The event will embrace everything from public art and experimental art to landscape painting, photography, jewellery, woodwork, ceramics and much more.
“There will be the chance to see the work of some of the best established artists and makers in this part of the world as well as by exciting emerging artists.
“We are especially pleased to be working with Stranraer Water Sports Association to create the latest of our Rural Murals on their boathouse.
“It’s a great chance for us to engage the local community and create an artwork that will contribute to all the regeneration initiatives taking place in the town.”
Upland and Spring Fling have been working closely with Creative Stranraer on SFRM24 and the project is intended to complement other artwork in the area.
It’s also hoped that it will be a positive asset for SWSA, which does great work introducing people to water sports and which will be bringing the Skiffie Worlds coastal rowing boat championships to Stranraer in 2025.
SFRM24 public consultation sessions:
- Saturday, 9 March: All welcome – a community-wide session at the Creative Stranraer Hub. For details see www.spring-fling.co.uk
SFRM24 youth consultation sessions:
- There will be sessions involving 180 students at Stranraer Academy and 15-20 young people through the Urban Collective skate group.
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Notes for editors
About Spring Fling
- Spring Fling made its name a Scotland’s premier visual art and contemporary craft open studios event covering all Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland. It is the flagship annual event of Upland CIC.
- For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk or contact [email protected]
- For the full list of participating studios visit www.spring-fling.co.uk.
- Brochures can be ordered from the website and will be available in April.
- Spring Fling is pleased to once again have the support from Dumfries & Galloway Council as one of the region’s Signature Events.
- The open studios event also plays an important role in supporting artists and makers who are often working in remote areas – and contributes significantly to the region’s economy.
- Since its conception, Spring Fling has attracted around 174,000 visitors who have made over 546,000 studio visits.
- In 21 years over £10.2 million has been spent in the studios and the event has brought over £17.5 million for the region’s economy.
- Visitors will be able to follow six colour-coded routes taking them round studios in different parts of the region.
- Some studios will have special evening openings and there will be other attractions like walking and bus tours and, demonstrations on the lead up to the event.
About Upland
Upland CIC (Community Interest Company) supports artists and makers based in, and with connections to, the region. It delivers, events, training, networking, support and opportunities as part of a year-round programme to benefit the region, its artists, communities and economy. Upland CIC runs the annual Spring Fling contemporary visual art and craft open studios weekend in Dumfries and Galloway. It will work closely with other arts bodies in the region to further-strengthen the sector. Upland is based at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries and exists to:
- produce and deliver festivals, events, and experimental projects of the highest quality
- nurture an environment where artistic excellence thrives and grows
- inspire and educate a wide range of audiences, customers and clients to understand, celebrate, be actively engaged in and supportive of visual art and craft practice
- raise the profile of visual artists and makers locally, nationally and internationally fulfilling a crucial role in the culture and tourism of Dumfries and Galloway
- build strategic partnerships at regional, national and international level
- maintain a financially sound and adaptively resilient organisation
- work to the benefit the local economy and the sustainability of local communities.
Its funders are Creative Scotland, D&G Council, The Holywood Trust, The Barfill Trust.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.
For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected] or call Upland on 01387 213 218.