Power to the People

Arts Officer SHONA ARTHUR fights through the paperwork to provide the view from Nairn.

NAIRNSHIRE, a traditional seaside holiday destination down through the generations, has a long history, stretching from the early bronze ages settlers with their extraordinary stone cairns and the establishing of an early Christian mission by St Ninian through to Thomas Telford building the harbour. All the while, the folk in the Fishertown and the local farmers plied their trades shoreside and southside….and all was well.

Today, Nairnshire, home to some 11,000 souls, appears a little battered by recent events. The rise of the package holiday, the closure of the yard at Ardersier five years ago, and the steady march of supermarket culture have all contributed to the rise in unemployment, the closing of High Street shops, the conversion of hotels to housing and an increasing share of social challenges.

I joined The Highland Council as Nairn’s first Arts & Events Officer (AEO), a half–time post, at a time of major organisational change. I inherited a host of high expectations created by the sterling work of the previous team – two full-time posts of Tourism Officer and Events Officer with a budget from the ‘District Council’ days. Their remit was to employ the attractions of this pretty, historic town and its hinterland to increase visitor numbers.

All that changed ‘moments’ after I took up the post, as Culture & Leisure Services merged with Education to become the Education, Culture & Sport Service, signalling a fundamental change in my work practice. Progressively my remit moved away from arts development to using art as a tool to deliver community learning, social inclusion and building community capacity – all valuable and relevant aims in our ever-changing financial, cultural and structural environment, but not new ones.

Moreover, this was the Scottish Executive recognising the value of the work being delivered by the many fine artists living and working within our communities over the years, only now it was as part of the educational establishment. Arts Officers have become subject to the same inspections and evidencing as any local authority employee, leading to a burgeoning rise in bureaucracy.

Two initiatives which have made a new, positive contribution to the community are The Nairn Children’s Art Club and Fèis Inbhir Narainn.

For starters, try the processes of L.E.A.P. (Learning, Evaluation and Planning) and H.G.I.O.C.L. (How Good is Our Community Learning), there to help us measure our progress and quality of work. Then there’s the range of Quality Indicators for Personal Development, Building Community Capacity, Ethos and Values, Resources, Management, Planning and Quality Assurance – it’s a steep paper climb but we’re assured we’ll learn the lingo and get into the habit.

Recent budgetary pressures, already well-covered by the media, have created the need to source more external funding, no easy task but one I pride myself in, by utilising volunteer group led community empowerment.

There are downsides, however, including volunteer burnout and finding volunteer groups willing to accept the increasing bureaucracy inherent in good child protection practices, licensing of events, evaluations, records and reports. The upsides are the joy of bringing folk together to create fewer but genuine community events with the capacity to develop at their own pace.

My early practice was to provide opportunities and tasters through Summer Activity Programmes and schools, promotions and mini projects. It was a fruitful route to meeting and greeting the ‘people on the street’ and allowing them to make informed choices about what they wanted more of. I now plan in partnership with groups formed as the direct result of these taster stages.

Two initiatives which have made a new, positive contribution to the community are The Nairn Children’s Art Club and Fèis Inbhir Narainn. Both organisations deliver year-round programmes with a strong community ethos, and I would like to express my thanks to the local mums (mostly), whom I’ve worked with to form committees, front applications and deliver sustainable, quality, highly accessible programmes to the wider community.

“It’s so wonderful to be able to do something as a family”

“The atmosphere is just great!”

Participants at the Fèis Inbhir Narainn Weekend

These new initiatives have enriched an already busy cultural calendar, which includes the Nairn International Jazz Festival, the fledgling Nairn Book & Arts Festival, Nairn Drama Group based in the swanky new Nairn Little Theatre, the Arts Society, Gaelic Choir, Museum, Ceilidh Society, Literary Society, Highland Games and Circuses – and remembering the “events” bit of my title, it’s an important part of my role to provide advice and support as and when requested.

New funding opportunities available through Highland 2007, the Scottish Year of Highland Culture, are stimulating new dreams, and after a slow start, the creative wheels are beginning to turn with applications from schools, festivals and other community groups in the pipeline. It’s an important and valuable opportunity for all of us to celebrate and reclaim some of the glory of Nairn’s wonderful heritage and its community spirit.

Nairn Children’s Art Club has been one of the first beneficiaries locally of the new money. Part one of its Nairn Community Celebrations Project has been to build core skills in the 14–25 age group through creating community celebrations. The first phase was rolled out, in partnership with the AEO, at the 2005 switch on of Nairn’s Christmas lights, chosen due its place in the hearts of Nairn folk and the wider community.

The participants created a fabulous, joyous procession with percussion, lanterns, dancing and singing. The atmosphere in the High Street was electric. But the very best thing was the number of groups who responded to the invitation to play a part – The Children’s Art Club, Community Learning & Leisure staff, Nairn Academy Music & Art Departments, Corporate Services, Nairn Association of Small Business, Nairn Drama Group, Nairn Library, Mellow Yellow, Eden Court Outreach Drama Club, Rosebank, Millbank, Auldearn & Cawdor primary schools, parent and teacher volunteers, over 300 young folk aged 5 to 20 and a band of highly skilled, truly inspirational artists, both local and from further afield.

“It (the procession) made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It even brought a tear to my eye. We did the best business we’ve ever done!” (Local Shop Owner)

“Well done you – what a great night for all – my mum & dad have been in Nairn over 30 years and say they have never seen any thing like it!!! “ (Local Parent)

Reactions to the Nairn Community Celebrations Winter Procession

Let’s hope that the sparks lit by my work will grow brighter and burn long after Highland 2007 as a legacy and inspiration for other projects driven by visionary community participants working in partnership with The Highland Council. My job is challenging, varied, enriching and … hot off the press, I understand there’s a new ‘better’ evaluation procedure coming our way from headquarters sooooon. Watch this space!

My favourite quote of the last year

“I didn’t know before that the Duke of Cumberland stayed above the Sue Ryder shop (on the High Street)”
Primary 4 pupil, thank you letter, Time Travellers Project

© Shona Arthur, 2006