Arran Theatre and Arts Trust have exciting news about the Arts Heritage Trail they are developing and are looking for people to help see this new project come to life. (Featured image shows a painting by Thomas Dudgeon, of Brodick castle from the waterfront 1878).
Arran Theatre and Arts Trust has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new Arts Heritage Trail. Thanks to National Lottery players, the project will celebrate Arran’s rich arts heritage, which deserves to be celebrated and documented.
The Isle of Arran has been the inspiration for many important artists and over the course of the coming year we will be working with members of the local community to search out, celebrate and document this rich heritage through the establishment of an island wide Arts Heritage Trail.
The trail will be an interactive way for visitors to travel around the island and visit locations where artists have painted landscapes of Arran. It will see the creation of an archive, and will consist of physical place markers, a dedicated website and accompanying leaflet. The trail will for the first time make it possible for locals and visitors to visit, learn about and appreciate the locations which have inspired so many prominent artists. It will be a tourism draw, an educational tool, and an opportunity for the community to come together and learn new skills. A new arts archive will be added to the fantastic collection held with the Arran Heritage Museum.
The team are looking for local people to join a research group to help with the project.
Here is a message from Simon, one of the project facilitators:
Are you interested in how Arran has inspired artists through the years? Would you be interested in helping to build a new Arran Arts Heritage Trail?
We are looking for local people to join a HERITAGE RESEARCH GROUP which will assist in compiling an archive of artists who have been influenced by the island’s natural beauty in years gone by. The goal will be to establish the Arran Arts Heritage Trail next year, which will allow visitors and locals to explore the rich and diverse arts history that we have here on Arran and how this has been inspired by our beautiful landscapes and villages.
As a participant in the group you will have the opportunity to learn and expand your archiving and research skills, gain more knowledge about Arran and its unique arts history and heritage, as well as contributing to the creation of a brand new Arts Heritage Trail which will benefit the local community and visitors alike.
If this sounds like your cup of tea and you are interested in joining this group, please get in touch with me by email on arranartsheritagetrail@gmail.com . You can also follow our Facebook page and our twitter feed for further information and to keep up to date with the project as it develops.
HOW WILL THIS WORK GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION?
Obviously due to current restrictions on movement and contact, it will not currently be possible for the Heritage Group to meet in person, however we will be initially facilitating collaboration using digital tools and social media. The group will meet digitally initially, our aim is to meet twice a month, and we will be able to provide you with digital support for online meetings, and access to online 
videos created by our Researcher regarding archiving techniques and groups tasks. If you do not have online access I will be able to outline tasks and catch up by telephone.
This will provide a way for the group to work together and communicate ideas even though we are unable to physically meet up at this point. Further down the line, as restrictions are relaxed, we can provide child care support and transport costs to support your attendance at the group.
Of course we are all thoroughly aware of the short term impact that the current situation is having on Arran’s tourism and visitor numbers. The trail will not be launched until 2021 and we hope this resource will be a draw to visitors in the future.
Just let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like to join the group!
Many thanks,
Simon Ross-Gill
Facilitator – Arran Arts Heritage Trail
E: arranartsheritagetrail@gmail.com