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‘ARRESTING’ Art: Cultivating local creativity in pop-up weekend event

A unique pop-up design shop and gallery event will take place in Aberdeen this weekend (24-25 September) displaying the work of a collective of local artists and designers as part of Robert Gordon University’s ‘Cultivating Creativity’ programme.

Members of the public will have the chance to view and purchase a range of original hand-crafted items including fashion, jewellery, furniture, lighting, textiles, accessories, ceramics, art works and photography at the Academy Shopping Centre on Saturday 24 from 10am-9pm and on Sunday 25 from 11am-6pm. Visitors of all ages are welcome and will also have the chance to chat to artists and designers about their work, as well as enjoy musical performances.

Cultivating Creativity is a residency programme supported by Gray’s School of Art and Aberdeen Business School, and funded through Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures programme which aims to give the North-east economy a boost by giving creative practitioners from across the region business and enterprise training as well as opportunities to market their designs to the public.

Helen Greensmith (25) from Alford will be showcasing her ‘Helen Ruth’ range of vibrant scarves, currently on sale online and in a Notting Hill boutique. Using whimsical imagery, intricate detail and quality silks and wool, the scarf patterns are printed in the UK before being hand-finished.

Fellow Aberdeen-based fashion designer and part-time lecturer at Gray’s, Isabelle Randall (39), will display her quirky take on classic womenswear. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Isabelle has worked at the frontline of fashion for industry stalwarts including Roland Klein, and has created costumes for the Pussycat Dolls’ World Tour.

She comments: “The Cultivating Creativity programme has offered us real support and encouragement in our business ventures and also opened up an entire network of people for us to share ideas with.

“Events such as the pop-up design shop and gallery are leading the way in stimulating the area’s cultural development and will hopefully open up talent in the region to new audiences.”

Libby Day, Principal Resident and Project Leader of Cultivating Creativity, says:

“The pop-up event offers the Aberdeen public the opportunity to snap up a one-of-a-kind creation that has been ‘made’ and not manufactured, and to see the wealth of creative talent the city has to offer.

“The project aims to promote the professional development of Aberdeen’s creatives, bridging the gap between artistic vision and business acumen to enhance the local creative economy.”

ARRESTING: Pop-up design shop and gallery is in the Academy Shopping Centre on Schoolhill from 10am-9pm on Saturday (24 September) and 11am-6pm on Sunday (25 September).

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