Young people across Scotland have been talking, debating and engaging with each other for months about what makes them proud of the region they call home and what one symbol best captures that pride through #ScotArt, the national youth engagement programme as part of Year of Young People 2018 finale during Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
Over 300 young people have taken part in creative workshops led by #ScotArt Young Champions and emerging Young Artists from Shetland to the Borders to decide on the final 14 #ScotArt symbols which have been realised with assistance into incredible wicker sculptures by lead artist Ariel Killick.
The project has reached a hugely diverse range of young people across Scotland, including school groups, young carers, young refugees and LGBT groups. The chosen 14 sculptures represent the brilliant diversity, passion, pride and creativity of young people living in Scotland today.The final sculptures unveiled today by the #ScotArt Young Champions and Young Artists alongside Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
The sculptures now go on display on the Royal Mile until 29
December, after which they will come together to form the fiery heart of Scotland as outlined by thousands of torchbearers at the epic conclusion of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Torchlight Procession on the 30th December, providing a suitably brilliant conclusion to Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018. #ScotArt Young Champions will also lead the Torchlight Procession, each carrying a banner emblazoned with their regional symbol, with an additional banner representing a 15th European symbol of pride being carried as chosen by young people from across Europe during a recent trip to Edinburgh.
On the symbol selected from young people in the Scottish Borders #ScotArt Champion Rebecca Tait said: “The symbol for the Scottish Borders was designed by fifteen young people from the region. We had so many fantastic ideas – from unicorns, to the Eildon Hills, to the Borders railway. We thought about lots of different categories as well, from food and drink, to iconic people to sport.”
“In the end the group voted the symbol they want to represent the Scottish Borders to be a Highland cow with a rugby 7s ball on his head. The Highland cow represents the farming industry in the Borders and the rugby 7s ball symbolises the famous rugby 7s tournaments that take place in each of the Borders towns every summer. The idea of rugby also fits in well with the well-known Borders Scotland rugby player, Stuart Hogg, who is from Hawick.”
On the symbol selected from young people in Edinburgh & the Lothians, #ScotArt Champions Tony Anderson & Chris Marshall said: “The symbol chosen to represent Edinburgh and the Lothians is Greyfriars Bobby guarding Arthur’s seat.
The young people had a few options on what symbol best represents their region including the three bridges (Forth, Rail and The Queensferry Crossing), but they decided that the story of Greyfriars Bobby and the beautiful landscape of Arthur’s Seat showed off the best of what we have here in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, said: “Year of Young People 2018 has been an incredible celebration of our nation’s young people. Projects such as #ScotArt have created new and exciting opportunities for them to express their creativity, talents and views on a world-wide stage.”From the very start young people have been at the heart of everything we are doing with the Year of Young People. It is only right that they continue to be the beating heart of Scotland as we move into 2019.”
Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said: “A big part of our vision for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is to actively engage young people across Scotland and to do so throughout the year. So, it’s been great to work as part of the Year of Young People 2018 which last year launched Edinburgh’s Hogmanay by revealing the young people of Scotland’s choice of – #BRAW; and this year – with #ScotArt – we close the Year by asking young people to conceive of a symbol that best sums up their region.
“The enthusiasm coming back has been brilliant – we’ve engaged 100s of young people from across Scotland and from a diverse range of backgrounds which is reflected in our incredible 14 sculptures, we’re going to showcase the best of young Scottish creative talent, putting young people front and centre of our celebration of the new year.”
“We’d encourage as many people to pop along to see the 14 amazing #ScotArt sculptures on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile until 29th December before they form the heart-shaped fiery finale of our much-loved Torchlight Procession on the 30th December.”
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Where better to capture Scotland’s soul than right here in the heart of the Capital? This remarkable display will line the Royal Mile this Christmas in celebration of our young people, our shared culture and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. The culmination of many months of workshops up and down the country, the wicker sculptures will be on show before they form the fiery conclusion of the Torchlight Procession on the night of 30 December.”
#ScotArt is supported by the Year of Young People event fund, which is run by EventScotland as part of VisitScotland’s directorate. The project is a partnership with Underbelly and Edinburgh Art Festival.Year of Young People 2018 is a celebration of Scotland’s incredible young people, while giving them a lounder platform for their voices to be heard.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festival’s Expo Fund, EventScotland International Events Programme and Scotland’s Winter Festivals Fund and the Year of Young People 2018 Events fund, all working together to create a bold new Hogmanay for Scotland.
The Final 15 #ScotArt Symbols per Region:
Ayrshire – Tam o’ Shanter riding his horse Meg over the Brig o’ Doon, pursued by Nannie the Witch
Dumfries & Galloway – Peter Pan and Tinkerbell touching a star over a large open book
Edinburgh & the Lothian – Greyfriars Bobby guarding Arthur’s Seat
Lanarkshire – Coal cart filled with IrnBru
Central Scotland – TV set with thistles for an aerial
Glasgow – Billy Connolly busking with his banjo
Dunbartonshire + Argyll & Bute – Steam boat on Loch Lomond in front of Ben Lomond
Tayside – Person with Scotland flag at top of Dundee LawRenfrewshire – Witches hat with Paisley swirl for the tip
Grampian – Lighthouse with waves spelling out ‘Fit like?’
Shetland & Orkney – Viking Puffin
Fife – Peacock wearing a crown with the struts of the Queensferry Crossing as its tail feathers
Highlands & The Islands – Stag in a kilt, highland dancing with a dram of Whisky in its hand
Europe – Patchwork love heart with peace sign behind
Borders – Highland cow with rugby 7s ball on its head
