Remembering Together Midlothian: Co-creating Covid Community Memorials

Artists and creatives are being sought to support Remembering Together Midlothian, a co-created COVID community memorial.

Remembrance

Remembering Together is a national programme that brings communities together with artists and other creative practitioners in collective acts of reflection, remembrance, hope and healing. Managed by greenspace scotland, and supported with £4.2 million provided by the Scottish Government, memorial projects are being co-created in every local authority area of Scotland.

Midlothian memorial

Midlothian communities and greenspace scotland are now seeking expressions of interest from artists and creative practitioners of all disciplines for Phase 1 of the Community Memorial in Midlothian. Phase 1 is when ideas and opportunities will be developed with communities that could include not only gardens and physical structures but also work that is digital or can exist in many locations. These ideas will be realised in phase 2 of the programme, beginning later in the year.

Co-creation

The role of the artist/creative practitioner will be to work with people in ways that are inclusive and relevant with the emphasis on co-creation. Remembering Together Programme Manager Kim Simpson says:

“Remembering Together will create space to reflect and remember all that we are experiencing during the Covid pandemic, while reconnecting within our communities and inspiring hope and healing. At greenspace scotland, we feel deeply honoured that we will co-create this programme with communities, artists and partners across the country.

Deeply meaningful

"While the memorials themselves will be important, the process of co-creating them, together, with those who are most affected by the pandemic feels deeply meaningful," added Kim. "We look forward to supporting the many ways that memorial making emerges in communities across Scotland.”

Get involved

If you are a local artist or creative, and are keen to be involved with this project in Midlothian, you can:

• find out more about Remembering Together on their website and
• download the Midlothian brief for the project 

The closing date for expressions of interest is 9am on Monday 25 April 2022.