Community & Collaboration

Cove Park collaborates with artists, community groups, schools, youth programmes, and other partners to co-create residencies, commissions. projects, and events. By working together, our aim is to develop strategies for change and alternative approaches to the urgent problems facing our community.

To date this work has focused on rural isolation, geographic disadvantage, the impact of climate change upon our region, the preservation of Scotland’s rainforests, marine pollution, and the conservation of our natural heritage. Other current projects involve unpaid carers, those recovering from ill health, and artists with lived experience of displacement who are now based in Scotland.

Community & Collaboration shares Cove Park’s unique resources – its outstanding 50-acre rural site and award-winning facilities – with the aim of enriching the cultural life of our region, protecting our local environment, transforming lives, and strengthening communities.

Our established Artists in Schools programme creates opportunities for local primary and secondary school pupils to work directly with artists in the classroom, and our Saturday Studio and Project Studio programmes of free creative and environmental workshops – devised in collaboration with artists and the participating children and teenagers – continue to take place at Cove Park and in Helensburgh.

Cove Park’s regional collaborators include ACT: Argyll & the Isles Coast & Countryside Trust; ABCAN: Argyll & Bute Climate Action Network; Centre 81 & Route 81 Garelochhead; Cove & Kilcreggan Youth Café; Helensburgh Community Hub; Helensburgh & Lomond Carers; Jean’s Bothy Community Hub.

Our work also connects our region to national and international communities, notably through our role in NAARCA, the Nordic Alliance of Artists’ Residencies on Climate Action and the consortium of partners in Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. To learn more about NAARCA’s pedagogy programme for young people, visit naarca.art

This page highlights current and recent projects, events, and opportunities. To find out more please contact Emma Henderson (Curator of Engagement).