Inverness Street Art Project

Organisation: Merkinch Community Council 

Unfortunately, this organisation was not successful

It is a public art creation process proven across the world to have beneficial effects for everyone. Literally every single person we speak to about making street art has a favourable response, and the attraction of refocusing some of wilder youthful energies into creative practice is something to aspire to - and succeed, because once a young person gets a taste of creative flow and associated validity, they see from a higher ground, ever changed.Initially starting small-scale, ISAP's first project for public street art would follow the templates set by existing successful public street art projects as evidenced in Invergordon, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and from around Britain and around the world. Inverness is a city - let's make it look like one!

The project leads will identify and propose a series of sites on walls and fixtures around the city (see Merkinch reference photos in project document, submitted separately).

Then we will liaise with property owners and the Highland Council, and simply ask if we can paint art on a delineated space (e.g. bricked-in, recessed windows; fire doors; shop shutters; electricity, gas & telecom boxes).

**August 2024, and ISAP has been awarded £4,700 from the Inverness Common Good Fund**. This is how we start!

As the project develops and gets increased funding, it allows deeper local engagement, such as school and colleges involvement: setting up engagement workshops with art teachers, lecturers, special needs teachers, local artists, social workers, CAB, Highland Council, mental health, sports, prison service and any relevant stakeholder or supportive organisation.

Amount requested: £5,000.

We are engaging with Artists in the Making. By close involvement with local communities & schools, we are outreaching to the very children who are making some awful graffiti around town, giving them agency and input, so they will see part of their own designs on our public art.

There is the common perception working class art is not seen as valid as that which comes from the middle and upper classes.

Evidence shows time and time again that quality public street art raises citizens' spirits, increases tourist footfall, and even increases value of land and buildings.

20 children from P6/7 merkinch primary will take part in the initial pilot project. We will be focussing on children with Additional Support Needs. The project will achieve the following changes for the young people:

1. Increased confidence

2. Increased skills / learning new skills

3. Improved levels of concentration and classroom motivation

4. Wellbeing and emotional health improved.

5. Young people taking part in new experiences in their own community

6. Increased sense of belonging to and ownership of their place.

In a time when the arts are being decimated, we can show the world impressive and beautiful art crafted in and by Merkinch.

Link to priorities identified for the local area by children and young people: 

• Youth-led projects, youth empowerment and more trust in young people
• Community needs to look nicer with safe spaces and playparks
• Learning and activities in the local community
• Access to early intervention and support to help children and young people make positive decisions for their own futures
• Create safe spaces, more things to do and more choices
• More trusted people in our communities who help to keep young people safe.

How to vote 

• You must first register or log in to be able to vote - you can do this in the menu bar at the top
• Please vote for any projects/applications as you would like to - please have a look at all of them
• We are using stars to cast votes and you have a maximum of five stars for each idea
• The more stars you give an idea, the more you support it
• For example, if you really like an idea and want it to receive funding, you could give it five stars
• You don't have to vote for anything but we would encourage you to explore all ideas
• The ideas that receive the most votes will be successful until all of the £30,000 is spent.