The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced an ambitious year-long and country-wide celebration of Scotland’s architecture, the Festival of Architecture, for 2016, with support already in place from key national organizations, including the Scottish Government.
Neil Baxter, RIAS Secretary, said: ‘The RIAS is delighted to be able to use the centenary of the Incorporation as a launch pad for a nation-wide, year-long Festival of Architecture and the Built Environment.’
‘The Festival aims to raise awareness of the importance of a well-built environment, to renew confidence in engagement and inform politicians of the economic and social benefits of architecture, while celebrating the achievement of this art form, past, present and prologue.’
‘The Government’s endorsement of the Festival in the new architecture policy ‘Creating Places’ is especially welcome, and a government-supported round of consultation workshops across Scotland also captured the interest in and appetite for our plans’.
Deborah Mays, RIAS Assistant Secretary, who led the workshop sessions said: ‘Each workshop was unique but all shared a deep enthusiasm for the Festival’s potential and a resounding commonality of agreement on what its key aims should be.’
‘Now furnished with a wealth of ideas on what to do, how to do it, with whom, where and when, the 2016 committee working with our many enthusiastic partners can develop the formal strategy and begin to harness the constructive energy.’
The RIAS writes:
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is delighted to announce an ambitious, year-long, country-wide, celebration of Scotland’s architecture for 2016. The Festival of Architecture 2016 is supported by a number of key national organisations. The Scottish Government’s new policy statement on architecture and place for Scotland, Creating Places, launched on Monday 24th June, announces the Government’s support for the 2016 Festival.
While 2016 marks the centenary of the RIAS, the Festival will be much more than just a 100th birthday party. The RIAS centenary is really no more than a stepping off point. The Festival seeks to make a lasting difference to Scottish communities. The support of the Scottish Government for this national celebration is a real vote of confidence for an event designed to boost confidence in and understanding of our built environment.
The Festival will raise awareness of the importance of a well-built environment and help inform communities throughout Scotland of the economic and social benefits of good architecture. The year will provide an opportunity to emphasise and celebrate the quality of our architectural heritage and contemporary design. It will also support Scotland’s ambitions as a player on the world stage. In the past Scottish architecture and Scottish architects have been hugely significant internationally. Our present crop of creative talents will be supported to ensure this influence continues.
The Festival will be celebrated throughout Scotland in events, creative commissions, school/community educational programmes, new online resources, touring exhibitions, pop-up architecture and competitions. There is strong demand to harness all art forms to capture the spirit and impact of architecture on our lives: anthologies of writing and poetry, imaginative art, commissions for musical scores. Additional resources will support the widely acclaimed Doors Open Day events, to ensure they run across Scotland and further successful educational initiatives, such as Creative Spaces.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘We see ‘Creating Places’ as crucially important to improving the built environment for all people in Scotland. The Festival will both celebrate Scotland’s fantastic architectural heritage and encourage people to become more involved for the benefit of our nation’s future generations.’
RIAS President Iain Connelly said: ‘Our ambition is high, to work together with our partners in other built environment organisations, with our museums and galleries and with the many agencies whose mission is to show the best of what Scotland can offer. Together we aim to transform Scotland’s relationship with its built environment, towards a whole new level of appreciation, understanding – and fun!’
Download the workshop reports: HERE
RIAS News: LINK
