Headpiece by Jeanette Sendler

Three nationally acclaimed craft artists-in-residence start work in March at schools in three areas of the Highlands – Caithness, Lochaber and Wester Ross - as part of the 13 Hands Initiative.  Each artist has been specially selected by pupils from local schools who also chose the craft they wished to study. Applications were received from craft makers from all over the country and pupils in each area selected three to interview before deciding on the successful applicant. 

Each residency lasts for 40 days and during that time the artists will create a unique work in response to the area and the residency. Three small showcase exhibitions on the craft being studied will run alongside the residencies showing the work of other artists and will come together with the new work created during the residencies to tour Highland Council galleries in Wick, Thurso, Inverness and Kingussie later in the year.   The best of the work created by pupils during the residencies will also tour alongside the professional work. The artists will be compiling Handling Collections that show and explain how the work is created.

To see more information on each Maker, select the following links:
Paul Topen
Rachel Higgins
Jeanette Sendler

This is the first stage of the Craft Residency project. Further funding will be sought to set up residencies  in all 8 areas of the Highlands over the next three years, culminating in a major touring craft exhibition in 2007, the Year of Highland Culture.

Funding for the project has been received from the Scottish Arts Council and the Highland Council Education, Culture & Sport Service. It is an objective of the Scottish Arts Council crafts strategy ‘to improve opportunities to experience crafts in education and lifelong learning and in particular to ensure that every schoolchild has experience of making.’ 

For further information please contact:
Pamela Conacher, Project Manager Tel.01687 470320 or Cathy Shankland, Exhibitions Officer, the Highland Council Education, Culture &Sport Tel 01463 710978(office 07702 682553 (mobile)