A Moray town centre is to become the focus of an arts project aimed at encouraging artists to contribute towards revitalising the area.
Findhorn Bay Arts has been awarded £50,000 from Creative Scotland to run initiatives in Forres for a year.
The group hopes the Creative Work Shop initiative will encourage local artists to find new ways to help the regeneration of the town’s High Street.
Karen Dick, Creative Scotland’s interim head of place, partnerships and communities, said: “The people of Forres and the place they live are at the heart of this ambitious creative project.
“Artists will work with residents, experimenting and making new work, rooted in and inspired by the town’s historic past and contemporary challenges.
“The project will bring a fresh, creative energy to Forres’ High Street and reinvigorate the heart of the town.”
Kresanna Aigner, creative director of Findhorn Bay Arts, said: “Through interactions with everyday occurrences on the High Street, the year-long Creative Work Shop residencies will engage residents and visitors alike through a multi-arts programme of activity, performance and conversations.
“It will bring about positive change in how we see and use our high street spaces.”
Findhorn Bay Arts is currently putting together an advisory panel for the project. Applications for artist residences will open in January next year with the first expected to start in February.
