Art Buds Collective

Our Painting with Petals project continues!
This week we've been exploring the amazing world of seeds and seed pods, from the garden and the wider world. The children loved smelling spice seeds like coriander, star anise and fenugreek. We shook seeds from cones and teasel heads, and pulled fluffy artichoke seeds. Using clay and plant material each participant created a sculptural imaginary seed.
What might grow from these seeds?

Thank you to Rik and Trudi at , D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Longstone Trust, , and Plum Trust for supporting this project.

Our Montessori nursery groups have been busy exploring storytelling through story boards and pocket books while looking out for the first signs of new life in the gardens!

edinburgh 🌱

Following the introduction of our new director last week we'd love to take the time to celebrate our wonderful team. Sara became founding member of 'Art Buds Collective' in 2020. A talented artist and experienced educator, she enjoys combining these passions within an outdoor setting, bringing people and their environment together through the medium of creativity. Her own work explores the intersection of human and plant existence, our connected lives. Engaging in the process allows the artist to express themselves while creating bonds with all dimensions of their surroundings. 🌱

Following the introduction of our new director last week we'd love to take the time to celebrate our wonderful team. Julie became a founding member of 'Art Buds Collective' in 2020. With a background in literature and early years she is passionate about the power of nature, art and sustainable materials in children's education. Julie has a deep respect for children's rights to express themselves and explore their world. Whether it's through story-telling, play, art-making or drama, the joy, connection and learning that comes from letting a child's curiosity and creativity lead the way is limitless. 🌱

Photo credit: Roberto Ricciuti Photography

We are delighted to welcome our newest director, Zuzana, a talented artist whose own work focuses on connection with nature and the home. Her passion for the process allows her to guide children through this journey working in tandem with their materials. We look forward to continuing our collaboration through this role! 🌱

Happy Holidays, from all of us at Art Buds Collective! Wishing everyone a joyful, creative and peaceful winter break. 🎄💚🌱

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We were delighted to make space to dream and plan with Edinburgh University at their Future Self events. Children and adults from all over Edinburgh joined us to create future-themed paper sculptures in three free family workshops. This creative space gave parents the chance to talk with experts from about constructive and positive long-term thinking and life planning.
Thanks to Emily Shipp, researcher in future thinking at Edinburgh University, Ruby and all the families who joined us to get creative and positive about the future.

We've been heading back to nature for our Painting with Petals project at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. Children of all abilities from Oaklands Special School, Ferryfield Primary and Rowanfield Special School are working together with the outdoor garden space, exploring creative possibilities of the garden flowers and the fruit and vegetable plots. Beetroot, woad, blackberries, cosmos and marigold are just some of the plants that have provided the magic and colour for the children's art.

Thank you to Rik and Trudi at , D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Longstone Trust, , and Plum Trust for supporting this project. Painting with Petals will continue in February and March 2025.

We're celebrating! On Tuesday 15th October the communities of Niddrie and Bingham came together to officially open the NB:Connect mural in the tunnel at the bottom of Hay Avenue, Edinburgh.

Art Buds Collective worked with artist KMG and 3 young interns to create an artwork which celebrates the areas past and present. We were thrilled to hear from local schools and families at our workshops during the creative process - you told us you wanted to reflect local nature, the area's history of coal mining and brickworks and incorporate the names of ‘Niddrie’ and ‘Bingham’ into your mural. Visit the site to see how we used your ideas!

Thanks to artist KMG and Yardworks Studio for developing the technical art skills of our young interns and bringing . The finished mural captures the spirit of the two communities, but also improves a vital route by which Niddrie and Bingham are linked.

Sara Gough, Art Buds Collective Director, said: "The NB: Connect mural project is more than just painting walls; it's about engaging young people, listening to the voices of local residents, and creating stories that reflect the strength, resilience, and diversity of Bingham and Niddrie. Art has the power to transform spaces and lives within our communities and this mural will hopefully be a source of pride for years to come.”

This project was made possible thanks to funding from Sustrans and Transport for Scotland and the support of Network Rail, Bingham:Lifting Neighbourhoods Together and Glasgow. Congratulations to all involved. Let us know what you think of the mural in the comments below!

Location: Hay Avenue, National Cycle Network Route 1

Photo credit: Michael

Creativity and Community have exploded onto the walls of the Niddrie-Bingham tunnel! Check out these images of our artists at work, as they bring the vision of local people to life.

Artist KMG worked with three talented young interns and local residents of all ages, to design a mural that links past and present and reflects the area's rich history and vibrant community.

Thanks to Laura and the team for training interns, Gabie, Harry and Parker - we love the results of their hard work and we hope you do too!

Visit the finished NB:Connect mural and let us know what you think!

Photo credit: Michael

A new artwork is about to be unveiled in the Niddrie-Bingahm tunnel at the bottom of Hay Avenue, Edinburgh! Here's a sneaky peek at the creative process that's been going on for the last few months...

We joined forces with artist KMG, talented young interns and local residents of all ages, to design a mural that links past and present and reflects the area's rich history and vibrant community.

Thanks to the team at Sustrans, Craigmillar Library, Craigmillar Literacy Trust, Know Your Neighbourhood, Castlebrae High School and Holy Rood High School, Bingham Community Renewal: Lifting Neighbourhoods Together, the Community Alliance Trust, and everyone who joined us for a workshop!

Visit the finished NB:Connect mural and see the community's creativity for yourself!

Photo credit: Michael

Meet the NB:Connect interns!

We are delighted to introduce Gabie, Harry and Parker. Huge congratulations to these 3 talented young artists from Niddrie and Bingham who recently secured places on the NB:Connect paid internship programme. We were not only impressed by their artistic abilities but also by their passion for and commitment to their local community. Gabie, Harry and Parker will work with artist KMG to create a new mural in the Niddrie-Bingham tunnel at the bottom of Hay Avenue. We can't wait to see what comes out of their collaboration. For more information on this amazing project, contact [email protected]

A brilliant new community mural by artist KMG is coming to the Niddrie Bingham tunnel at the bottom of Hay Avenue!

Can you spare 2-3 hours to help scrub the tunnel walls in preparation for artwork?

Join us for 3 fun and messy days of community improvement! Coffee, tea, biscuits and good company guaranteed.

Contact Sara to sign up and for more info: [email protected]

Sustrans, Art Buds and Transport for Scotland are working for and with communities, to create healthier places and happier lives for everyone. For more information about this project, visit www.artbudscollective.com

Breaking News!

Art Buds Collective, Sustrans and Transport for Scotland are thrilled to announce the launch of NB:Connect! NB:Connect is a Community Arts project transforming the Niddrie to Bingham tunnel this autumn. We're working with brilliant Edinburgh-based artist KMG, local young artists and the community, to create a brilliant new mural for the area. The project will boost creativity, improve employability for local young people, and transform a vital travel link between Niddrie and Bingham. Follow here for more info and to get involved!

Every child deserves a creative education.

We’re having so much fun exploring different art forms and responding to nature in our nursery and school sessions. If you know an education setting that could benefit from the Art Buds approach, get in touch. We deliver regular sessions and workshops for groups age 3-18.

Image description:

1. Tool use with nursery aged children
2/3. The same creative prompt delivered two completely unique artworks.
4/5. Creating with natural pigments.
6/7. Kinetic sculpture fun.
8. The joy of process art makes it mark.

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Some more photos from our Granton Beach week including group crab identifying, some beautiful paintings, drawings and prints, and lots of team fun exploring and creating 🐚🦀✏️🌊🌞

We had a blast at our fun-filled Granton Beach summer camp happened earlier this month! Our group spent the week exploring the rock pools, hunting for beach treasure, Painting with homemade paints, printing with shells, and creating with clay. There were also some fantastic collborative sculptures built from the beach bounty, and a few paddles as well. Thanks to everyone who came along and made it amazing!