People asked to pick favourite Lerwick 28 commission ideas
PEOPLE in Shetland are being asked for their thoughts on a number of commission ideas for the Lerwick 28 town of culture bid.
The ideas included in a new public survey were submitted by people and organisations for commissions worth up to £200,000.
The numerous proposals span across a range cultural ideas, many of which attempt to tap into Lerwick and Shetland heritage.
Among the proposals are theatre, dance, sculptures, music, food and drink and a parade.
There are also proposals submitted from organisations outside of Shetland, including the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and experimental art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast.
There is also a proposal to host the Scots Trad Music Awards in Lerwick in December 2028.
One example of an idea is ‘Pioneers of Lerwick’, described as a major contemporary performance celebrating Lerwick’s cultural pioneers and social innovators.
Musicians Chris Stout and Catriona McKay would create an “ambitious new work combining music, dance, song and visual design to tell the story of Lerwick through the lives of visionary figures including Arthur Anderson, Rhoda Butler, Dr Tom Anderson, Peerie Willie Johnson and Haldane Burgess”.
Other examples include ‘The Shetland Feast’, which would culminate in a ‘feast day’ at midsummer 2028, while there is also a proposal which encourages folk to think ‘what if the whole town became a playground’.
Another proposal would see a feature film shot and set in Lerwick, telling the stories of the “diverse immigrant communities in Lerwick” – with a choir of hundreds, “and every kind of band and group”, involved.
Proposals are divided into three categories – inspiration, play and launch – with folk asked to pick their favourite from each.
The public vote will serve to inform the Lerwick 28 commissioning panel when they vote on which projects to include in the town of culture bid. The public vote will not determine which commissions are selected.
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It comes after more than 1,200 contributions were recorded in a wide-ranging Lerwick 28 consultation, which has highlighted opportunities for children and young people as a priority.
Lerwick 28 also sought proposals for commissions for projects with a price tag of up to £100,000 and £50,000.
A total of 130 commission applications were received from artists, organisations and individuals.
Shetland’s capital is in the running to be named the first ever town of culture by the UK Government, with Lerwick one of six ‘small towns’ shortlisted.
An independent panel will select a best small, medium and large town to go through to the final round, with the overall winner receiving £3 million to deliver events and projects in 2028.
The Lerwick 28 bid must be submitted by 5pm on 30 November, with the town of culture winners announced by the UK Government in March.
If the Lerwick bid is successful, there will be further commissioning opportunities announced up to £20,000 for smaller projects.
Graeme Howell, chief executive of Shetland Arts and Lerwick 28 bid director, said: ‘For me, the question running through all of this is what will be different for someone growing up in Shetland because Lerwick became town of culture.
“What opportunities will they have in 2038 that they don’t have today?
“To everyone who completed a survey, shared an idea, submitted a proposal, joined a conversation or encouraged someone else to get involved: thank you. And thank you to the team and community liaisons doing all the work.”
The public survey can be found here.
After the survey closes, the commissioning panel will meet at Mareel on Monday 26 October to consider applications and develop its preferred commissioning programme for the final bid.
The panel will consider the public vote as well as, “artistic ambition, opportunities for young people, involvement of Shetland creatives, community participation and lasting benefits, alongside practical delivery and the overall balance of the programme”.
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