Tourism body seeks artist for Aberdeenshire lighthouse sculpture ahead of trade event
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VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation has made an urgent call for artists to submit designs for its Light the North lighthouse sculpture.
The national body has become a sponsor for Light the North, an art sculpture trail organised by CLAN Cancer Support.
Local artists are being encouraged to submit designs for the VisitScotland lighthouse, which connect and celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.
The deadline for artist submission is Friday, February 21.
The Light the North trail, which will light up the north-east of Scotland in Autumn 2020, aims to raise awareness of cancer support as well as raising funds for CLAN.
Most sculptures will be exhibited from September, but the dedicated Year of Coasts and Waters 20-20 themed lighthouse will be displayed at VisitScotland Expo, the two-day premier business to business travel trade event at P&J Live on the evening of April 1.
VisitScotland’s Themed Years Communications and Engagement manager, Chelsea Charles said: “We are excited to be a part of CLAN’s Light the North Trail, as part of our 2020 celebrations.
"The lighthouse sculpture will demonstrate the significance of our coasts and waters, which have an important impact on our natural environment, our economy and our wellbeing.
“As the flagship event for the travel trade, Expo is the ideal place to display our lighthouse, and we look forward to hearing from artists willing to take up the challenge of designing and decorating the eight foot high sculpture in time for our April event.
“We want to work with someone who can create an eye-catching design which will evoke the magic of Scotland’s natural landscape and maritime history to delight our visitors and locals later this year.”
CLAN CEO Dr Colette Backwell commented: “We have already had some fantastic designs from artists for the sculptures, and the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 lighthouse represents a new and exciting opportunity for a further design.
“CLAN was proud to join VisitScotland at Holyrood at the beginning of the month to promote the Year of Coasts and Waters.
"We chose the lighthouse theme as CLAN has been described as offering a light in the storm, or a beacon of hope.
"Our collaboration with VisitScotland works perfectly as CLAN is a local, Scottish charity which supports local people across the north-east.
“CLAN receives no funding from government, and our services have to be paid for by our own work, so we are delighted that so many organisations are supporting Light the North.
"Sponsorship means we can concentrate on making the trail as enjoyable as possible for everyone in the north-east, as well as making sure we can raise money which will ensure we can continue to provide wellbeing services to everyone affected by cancer.”
Artists who wish to submit a design for VisitScotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 lighthouse should visit www.lightthenorth.co.uk.
The deadline for entries is Friday, February 21, and the artist should be available to complete the decoration of the lighthouse during March 3-20 either at the artist’s own studio or at CLAN’s community painting space.
Artists who have already submitted a design are welcome to provide an additional submission.
CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer and covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.
