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North Lands Creative

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North Lands Creative

North Lands Creative International Centre Dedicated to Glass Making The first Artistic Director was Professor Keith Cummings of Wolverhampton University.
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In 1995 North Lands Creative was established in Lybster, a small fishing village in Caithness on the Far North East Coast of Scotland, to stimulate the growing interest in the possibilities of glass as an art form. From the start it aimed to become an international centre of excellence in glass making, encouraging collaboration with other artforms. The inspiration for North Lands Creative came fro

m Robert Maclennan, at that time Member of Parliament for Caithness and Sutherland. He developed the idea of an international centre for glass in Caithness with Dan Klein, one of the world’s experts in studio glass, and Professor Keith Cummings of the University of Wolverhampton. The first master class was given in 1996 by Bertil Vallien, the legendary Swedish artist, who returned to Lybster in 2002 to lead another class. Other master class leaders have included notable glass artists: Tessa Clegg; Irene Frolic; Mieke Groot; Richard Meitner; Klaus Moje; Joel Philip Myers; Dante Marioni; Richard Marquis; Jan Erik Ritzman; Paul Stankard and Ann Wolff. Sculptors: Tony Cragg; Richard Deacon; David Nash and Richard Wentworth, and the Scottish painter Adrian Wiszniewski, have figured among course leaders from disciplines other than glass. He was succeeded by Tessa Clegg, winner of the 1999 Jerwood Prize (1997-1998), Elizabeth Swinburne (1999-2002) and Jane Bruce (2002 – 2007) formerly senior lecturer at the Glass Workshop at Canberra School of Art, part of the Australian National University. Peter Aldridge became Chief Executive Officer in 2006 and also took over the role of Artistic Director in 2008. On his resignation in August 2008, Dan Klein, Chairman of the Advisory Council became the honorary interim Artistic Director until the appointment of glass artist Mieke Groot, in October 2009 and Emma Woffenden from 2014 -2016. North Lands Creative current Director is Karen Phillips, who took over the role in August 2016. In July 2002 the new fully equipped state of the art Alastair Pilkington Studio, designed and developed by Elizabeth Swinburne, was opened by H.R.H. Prince Charles. It is situated in the refurbished Lybster Old School, a handsome limestone building constructed in 1870. The purchase of the studio was made possible by the generosity of Lady Pilkington who in 1998 offered to sell her late husband’s collection of glass to enable North Lands to buy the building. Further substantial funding came from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund, Caithness & Sutherland Enterprise, The Foundation for Sport and the Arts and a number of charitable foundations and private individuals. North Lands acquired and refurbished the Old School House adjacent to the Studio in 2004 to provide a library and residential accommodation for artists on campus. The international interest in the master classes and residencies has encouraged North Lands to meet further demand by increasing the number of master classes. It is also planned to widen the potential for developing special projects and generally fostering a spirit of permanent enquiry into the artistic possibilities of glass.

2014 has seen the completion of capital developments to extend the Studio and residential accommodation. The development project was funded with the generous support of European Regional Development Fund, W Grant & Sons Charitable Trust, Dan Klein Memorial Fund, Creative Scotland, Highland Council Discretionary Fund and Friends of North Lands Creative Glass. A new light, bright and airy Studio workshop space has been created and a Pinelog Lodge installed which provides new accommodation for visiting artists, makers and community groups. In 2016 North Lands Creative celebrated 20 years of experimenting with glass and connecting with the world from a remote Scottish village. The new strategic plan covering 2018 – 2021 continues the vision as an international centre dedicated to the study and development of glass as an art form.

14/07/2023

We’re currently experiencing technical issues with our website and we are working hard to get it back up and running. Thank you for your patience, we hope to be back in business by Monday 17th July.

12/07/2023

Friends and Colleagues,

Like many organisations, North Lands Creative has faced some significant challenges in the last few years. The ripple effects of the pandemic, recruitment challenges (particularly in a rural area), the energy crisis, and the subsequent funding crisis have created a creeping, negative toll on our programming, and most importantly, on the wellbeing of our people. As such, due to the extenuating circumstances we find ourselves placed in, the Board of Directors has taken the hard decision to pause this year’s summer programme and cancel the forthcoming scheduled professional classes. Our community classes will run as scheduled until the end of this month.

We know this will come as a huge disappointment to those of you planning to travel and participate and will cause concern for those of you who hold North Lands in your hearts and minds. To those individuals who have registered for classes, we will be in touch with you to organise a refund of fees immediately. To our instructors, we really hope that you will join us again at a later date, to deliver the classes exactly as you envisioned.

However, though our professional programme is to be temporarily paused, we are not stopping. North Lands has, since its establishment, strove to be a place of learning, community, development, and a source of inspiration; behind the scenes, both the board and staff will be dedicating themselves to safeguarding this vision and making North Lands a place we are proud to invite our guests into once again.

Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and the support that so many of you have offered – we hope to be taking many of you up on this in a more practical way very soon. We wholeheartedly acknowledge the importance that North Lands holds for many and look forward to welcoming you all once again to Lybster in the near future.

With very best wishes,

The board and staff of North Lands Creative

30/03/2023

Your experience and knowledge could be a vital part in helping shape our future, apply before tomorrow at midnight to be a member of our board⚡️

Applications close Friday 31st March at midnight📝

29/03/2023

- What’s Happening Wednesday -

We’re back! After a short hiatus and a wonderful time at Collect Art Fair, the clocks have sprung forward and exciting things are happening in our studio.

This week Juli & Jimena Bolaños-Durman kicked off their 2-week residency by getting stuck into cutting experiments in the coldshop and exploring Lybster harbour, and in the Caithness sunshine too!

Our residency opportunities give artists the time and space to experiment with unexplored creative visions and ideas in our studio, while absorbing the inspiration from their surroundings.

We also have the perfect opportunities for you to learn and explore something new… Places are available on our next set of classes led by Elmira Abolhasani & María Renée Morales Lam starting on May 1st. Check out the link in our bio for for information on both of these.

Images 1-6: Juli & Jimena Bolaños-Durman in the NLC studio & exploring the harbour.
Image 7: Elmira Abolhasani
Images 8: María Renée Morales Lam

28/03/2023

Board Members Wanted 📣
Closing in 3 days! Apply by Friday 31st March

Our Board Members have a key role in supporting the management team at the Alastair Pilkington Studio in driving the overall direction of the organisation, which is vital for shaping a well-governed charity, sustainable for the future. It is an important role and an opportunity to make a positive difference by supporting and enhancing our National and international community.

Interested? Of course you are! Head over to our website (via link in bio) and get your note of interest in by 31st March📝✔️

https://northlandscreative.co.uk/opportunities-jobs-scholarships/

Images by Angus Mackay
1: Katherine Huskie delivering our Young People & Fire initiative in August 2022
2: Kit Paulson masterclass March 2022
3: Matt Durran speaking at our Forum in 2019
4: Denis Mann’s solo exhibition “A lifetime of adventures in glass”, August 2019

25/03/2023

Closing date approaching! Send your notes of interest by this coming Friday the 31st March📝

Board Members Wanted 📣

North Lands Creative is seeking new Board Members as it develops its programme of activity and events and continues to be an exciting art studio and community hub in the North East of Scotland.

Our Board Members have a key role in supporting the management team at the Alastair Pilkington Studio in driving the overall direction of the organisation, which is vital for shaping a well-governed charity, sustainable for the future. It is an important role and an opportunity to make a positive difference by supporting and enhancing our community.

Interested? Oh of course you are! Head over to our website below and get your note of interest in by 31st March📝✔️

https://northlandscreative.co.uk/opportunities-jobs-scholarships/

25/03/2023

Today, Iain Gunn, a well known face to so many, is celebrating his 90th birthday 🎉🎈

As many of you will know, along with friends and associates Robert Maclennan, Dan Klein, Alan J. Poole, Keith Cummings and Denis Mann, Iain and his wife Bunty were integral to the establishment of North Lands Creative Glass in 1995. Their shared vision was of a haven for artists to work without the constraints of time or money, inspired by the Caithness landscape, history and community.

We know many of you will want to join us in sending our very best wishes to Iain today - we’ll share your messages with him when he and Bunty return from their family holiday🎈🎂

Image credit: Angus Mackay

21/03/2023

We’re looking for new board members - please share and register any interest by 31st March

21/03/2023

Ever wanted to learn how to draw with glass?✍️

01.05.23 - 05.05.23

SKETCHING 3D WITH TINY BORO RODS - ELMIRA ABOLHASANI

FLAMEWORKING | INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

This class will allow students to think and experiment in three dimensions, creating sketches on paper before transferring their ideas into reality with flameworking techniques using borosilicate rods. We will also cover how to apply netting technique to 3D large-scale installation.

Glass is a material that can be in a soft or hard, transparent or opaque, solid or liquid. A living creature that you have to befriend with to be able to work with. However, as an artist, Abolhasani uses each object that can show her concerns. This is totally clear in her all individual exhibitions and works. The mixture of daily used things and the spiritual mood of glass, cause her works to have the taste of a dream.

💥head over to our website for more information https://northlandscreative.co.uk/class-programme-2023/💥

Material Cultures | March - August 2023 | North Lands Creative Class Programme 2023

Images: ELMIRA ABOLHASANI | Credit: Unknown

17/03/2023

📣Announcement📣

We have some very exciting news and we’re over the moon to be sharing it with you all, so without further ado…

We are thrilled to announce that Karlyn Sutherland has joined the North Lands Creative team as our Interim General Manager.

Originally from Lybster, Karlyn has recently returned to Caithness from the USA, where she was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at Corning Museum of Glass, New York. A homegrown, internationally-renowned glass artist, Karlyn has a long-standing relationship with North Lands and a breadth of experience within non-profit arts organisations.

We are incredibly excited for the future, and are looking forward to delivering our summer programme with her working alongside our existing team.

Image 1: Karlyn Sutherland in the North Lands Creative cold shop, courtesy of National Museums Scotland.
Image 2: Our 2023 programme, Material Cultures
Image 3: The North Lands Creative studio in Lybster, courtesy of David Hall.

Board Members Wanted 📣North Lands Creative is seeking new Board Members as it develops its programme of activity and eve...

10/03/2023

07/03/2023

Calling all flameworkers!📢🔥

NOBLE GLASS – AGUSTINA ROS

LAMPWORKING | INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

27.03.23 - 02.04.23

This class will combine the sensitivity of clean and organic forms and the resolution of design. Focusing on the use of blown borosilicate glass, students will learn how to incorporate precious metal finishes to explore the potential of contrasting colour and chemical effects, to produce fluidity and form.

Agustina Ros, feeds on the millenary craft of blown glass, applying it in a creative proposal that reflects current affairs, with a timeless and contemporary vision. Her inspiration is dominated by the search to highlight the brightness and reflections that are manifested in its main element: glass. Its particular link with light and space, allow infinite possibilities of appreciation.
Using mastery of techniques such as flameworking, glassblowing, coldworking, fuming of noble metals (gold, silver), she creates unique designs, unreproducible volumes and textures in her designs.

💥follow the link or just send us a message with any questions💥

https://northlandscreative.co.uk/2022/11/27/noble-glass-agustina-ros/

Material Cultures | March - August 2023 | North Lands Creative Class Programme 2023

Images: Agustina Ros | Credit: Unknown

Address

Quatre Bras
Lybster
KW36B

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441593721229

Website

http://www.northlandscreative.co.uk/, http://linktr.ee/Northlandscreative

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