This document outlines plans for an artist residency hosted by the Pier Arts Centre in association with the Orkney Auction Mart. The residency has two key aims: 1) to increase participation of people with few opportunities in the visual arts, and 2) to develop the artist's creative practice through work reflecting their experience of Orkney's agricultural community. The artist plans to engage with farmers, encourage participation, and work collaboratively. They will explore themes of transformation through the agricultural landscape, weather, decay, and life on the land. The conclusion states this is an exciting opportunity for the artist to dedicate time exploring themes related to Orkney's farming environment and help participants and viewers gain new appreciation and insights.

1. Art and Agriculture
A residency hosted by the Pier Arts Centre
In association with the Orkney Auction Mart
Two key aims:
1. To increase participation of people who have few or no opportunities to
take part in the visual arts.
2. To develop my own creative practice, producing new work that reflects my
experience of Orkney’s agricultural community

2. Art and Agriculture
Engaging with the Community
To increase participation of people who have few or no opportunities to take part in
the visual arts:
1. Engaging with Orkney’s farming community
2. Encouraging participation
3. Working collaboratively

3. Community
Involvement
First Thoughts
• A day in the life of an Orkney Farmer
• The life and death of a farm animal
• Oral and Visual Histories
• The role of the family in farming
• Special events in the farming year
Help participants look at their lives and
communities from a new perspective.

4. The Orkney
Auction Mart
The Orkney Auction Mart is a focal point
for all of Orkney’s farmers.
• Livestock Sales
• Farm sales and Grass lets
• An amazing array of farming
related books
• A Canteen, to meet up with your
pals for a good natter
• And the ever poetic Cattle Report!
Sales Room - Social Space

5. My Creative Practice
• Water as a metaphor for transformation and
change;
• The liminal space between land and sea;
• The transformation of objects from one state
to another.
Continue exploring the theme of transformation in
this residency:
• The agricultural landscape throughout the
year;
• Weather and its effect on the landscape and
the people in it;
• Decay - the man-made reverting to the
natural;
• A life on the land – changing bodies and minds.
Develop finished pieces using a variety of media.

10. Art and Agriculture
Conclusions
An exciting Residency and an amazing opportunity:
• to dedicate time to exploring a number of my own
creative themes in relation to Orkney’s
agricultural environment;
• to learn new skills in collaborative and
participative working;
• to help the participants gain a new
appreciation of the landscape in which the
live and work and important role they play in
all our lives;
• to help viewers/observers gain insight into
what it is to be a farmer in our marginal
communities.