Taking inspiration from our neighbours

Yesterday we were privileged to visit Kilmahew / St Peters, invited by our neighbours NVA. It was wonderful to tour the site and hear from Angus Farquhar, Clare Simpson and Rebecca Powrie the future plans for the unique exhibition and performance space. Peering into the building and exploring locations such as the walled garden in the wider Victorian designed landscape, we got a real sense of the ambition and scale of the project and forthcoming programme soon to be realised on our doorstep in Argyll & Bute.

The opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences of capital development projects and arts programmes was really nourishing and gave us the chance to think about opportunities for working together in the future.

Thanks Angus for producing a flask of warm tea which provided us with much needed fuel after a few hours in the foggy outdoors.

Goings on above the tree line

From Oak Pod we can hear and occasionally see what is happening with the build of the new Artist Centre. As we progress into Autumn and the trees shed their leaves more of the construction site is exposed from this low vantage point. Even more will become apparent as the building takes shape and appears above the tree line. The enormous crane that appeared on the horizon last week is an essential piece of kit to make that happen in the coming weeks.

Crane action shots to follow!

A Flight of Swallows supports our new Artist Centre

The swallows that twist and turn around Cove Park during the summer months are on their journey south for the winter. A few swallows, of the porcelain variety, however do remain.

Designed and hand cast by ceramicist and former resident Dawn Youll the unique edition of swallows are available for sale with proceeds going towards the Artist Centre. Find out more about purchasing a single or pair of swallows and how you can feature on our 'A Flight of Swallows' wall in recognition of your support on the Cove Park website here.

A pair of swallows taking flight south to Manchester to a Cove Park supporter 

We look forward to welcoming the swallows back to Cove Park next year and see them sweep and weave around the new Artist Centre.   

Cove Park landscape open day

Friday 9 October 2015 saw a great turnout for our consultation with our local community about ways in which we can develop and improve access to our spectacular 50 acre site. Proposals include the planting of a native woodland, a poly tunnel for growing fruit and vegetables and developing links with our neighbouring woodlands: Peaton Hill Community Nature Reserve and Peaton Glen Wood. 

Community woodland specialists Gordon Gray Stephens and Will Self took representatives from key organisations in our local area on a walk round the site and canvassed their ideas and opinions.

With Cove Park's new Artist Centre due to open in April 2016, the opportunity will exist for all kinds of workshops, masterclasses and other creative activities to be offered to local communities and beyond. Our intention with the site plans is to complement the opportunities afforded by the new building. Opportunities for volunteering, school gardening and environmental projects, John Muir Award activities, environmental art and local heritage studies were all discussed. 

Following the open day, Will Self is now producing an interim report which will then be made available to those who were there, and those who could not make it on the day for further comment.

If you have any ideas about how to develop and improve access to our site, we would love to hear them! Please email Polly Clark on polly.clark@covepark.org.

Keeping an eye on progress

Marvellous! We have two time lapse cameras recording the construction of the Artist Centre. Site Manager Jamie hopes to hand over some footage to us in the next couple of weeks which we will share with you here. Please return.

Its official! 'Construction of Cove Park's new Artist Centre begins'

Today we announced our delight that the construction of our new Artist Centre had begun and is due for completion in April 2016.

The £1.4 million capital project is funded by Creative Scotland and a number of trusts and individuals, including major awards from the Robertson and the Monument Trusts. The new Centre has been designed by architects CameronWebster and is being built by Clark Contracts for Cove park's expanding programmes of artist residencies and public events, with spaces for workshops and performances and comfortable communal space for visitors. 

The build includes two accommodation units and two studios, which will increase Cove Park's capacity to twelve and allow a greater diversity of residencies for individuals and groups.

The Centre will be fully disabled accessible, is designed on sustainable principles and enables Cove Park to host residencies and events all year round. The orientation of the new building will maximise views across Loch Long, so that visitors and artists will for the first time be able to enjoy Cove Park's spectacular west coast setting in all weathers.

Chair of Cove Park's Board, Seona Ried said:

"This is an exciting time for Cove Park. The Centre will offer facilities for artists and the public that will enhance our growing international reputation as a centre of excellence for the arts."

Lesley MacDonald of the Robertson Trust said:

"The Robertson Trust supports projects and activities which widen access and increase participation in all forms of artistic activities for people throughout Scotland. We are delighted to support this new phase in the history of Cove Park." 

Abraham Cruzvillegas, recipient of the Hyundai Commission at Tate Turbine Hall and Cove Park resident in 2008 said:

"Cove Park's residency programme has been crucial as it provided me not only with lots of freedom in terms of the development of my practice, but also an immense experience of learning and sharing with others."

Foundations provide blank canvas for new Artist Centre

The foundations of the old centre have been revealed and are ready for the new Artist Centre to be built upon. We will post updates here regularly so do return and see how we are getting on with the construction.