Ley Lines Commons: Creative Placemaking in the Highlands
Closing date 19 March 2026
Application Link: Ley Lines Commons: Creative Placemaking in the Highlands
SCAN invites artists, curators, freelancers, and cultural practitioners based in, or working across, the Highlands to take part in a paid participatory research opportunity.
Ley Lines is a SCAN initiative; mapping, connecting, and supporting the contemporary visual arts ecosystem in the Highlands. Building on our wide-ranging research and community engagement, this next phase of Ley Lines centres on a participatory Commons.
The Commons is a space where practitioners move from always being consulted to becoming co-authors with SCAN. Together we will listen, contribute, and build connections that extend beyond the report itself.
Facilitated discussions will bring Commons participants together to reflect on the research findings, share lived experience, and co-design ideas for long-term cultural development in the region. Insights from these discussions will feed into the final report.
Participants will also have the opportunity to access seed funding for their own creative placemaking projects through the Commons. This could be projects already underway, in development, or dormant, and this provides a practical route to bring ideas generated in the Commons to life.
What are the Participatory Commons?
Six people will take part in six participatory gatherings. Small, facilitated sessions will be held over a six-to-eight-week period in 2026 starting Wednesday 22 April 2026. There will be four sessions online and the two in-person events.
Discussions will focus on key themes identified during earlier stages of the project, including visibility and isolation, transport and networks, and tourism and cultural infrastructure.
The Commons are designed to centre collective voice and support equitable power-sharing within creative placemaking processes.
Commons Schedule:
Each session will be held on Wednesday lunchtimes and last for one hour.
- 1pm, Wednesday 22 April 2026 (in-person). The launch session will be in-person at Wasps Inverness Creative Academy.
- 1pm, Wednesday 29 April 2026 (online)
- 1pm, Wednesday 6 May 2026 (online)
- 1pm, Wednesday 13 May 2026 (online)
- Time TBC, Wednesday 20 May 2026 (in-person). In person at An Talla Solais in Ullapool.
- 1pm, Wednesday 27 May 2026 (online)
Participants in the Ley Lines 2026 Participatory Commons will:
- Receive paid participation and travel support to ensure accessibility.
- Access seed funding for creative placemaking projects, so ideas from the Commons can come to life.
- Co-author the final report and help shape the Highlands’ cultural future.
- Connect with fellow cultural practitioners across the region through small, collaborative gatherings. This is an opportunity for peer-learning and developing support networks.
- Reflect on practice and share insights via SCAN’s website and advocacy channels.
Practical Information
An online information session will be open to all interested parties at 1pm, Wednesday 4 March 2026 via Zoom. Please register using this Zoom link.
Participants will be selected by a panel including members of the SCAN team and an independent contributor.
Each participant will be paid £500 for their time, including fees for participation and a final written/audio reflection and any access needs will be fully covered.
Participants are expected to attend at least four of the six sessions. Reflections and insights from the discussions will be collated and incorporated into the Ley Lines Report, launching in summer 2026.
How to apply
Please fill out this form to apply as a participant.
Applications close at 6pm, Thursday 19 March 2026. Selected participants will be notified the week of 23 March 2026.
Travel
SCAN recognises the unique geography and infrastructure challenges of the Highlands and remote rural areas. We have created Highlands & Remote/Rural Travel Guidelines with support from Atlas Arts and Lyth Arts Centre.
Participants can access travel bursaries for the in-person sessions and SCAN will support with travel planning, ride share and access needs.
Get in touch
If you are interested in the opportunity but are worried about any barriers to participation or have any questions please contact Emma Gibson, Highlands Development Lead, [email protected].