Lanark Community Connections to Scotland's Heritage Showcased in National Touring Exhibition, Opening 4 November 2008

Young people, residents and visitors in Lanark will be able to discover more about Scotland's rich built heritage, thanks to a dynamic touring exhibition showcasing community artworks inspired by one of Scotland's National Collections.

Treasured Places: Creative Connections will be on display at Lanark Library from 4- 29 November 2008.  The exhibition will be open to the public from Monday 9.15am-7.30pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.15-8pm, Wednesday, Saturday 9.15am-5pm, Friday 9.30-7.30pm.

Treasured Places: Creative Connections features a visual feast of animation, expressive art, poetry and photography specially created by community groups across the country during workshops organised by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).

The exhibition launched in August 2008 and will run until May 2009 and visit eleven venues across Scotland, close to the communities that participated in the original workshops. The creative outcomes from the workshops will be showcased alongside reproductions of the archive material that inspired them.

Led by local artists and RCAHMS specialists, the creative workshops were based around a significant local place or relevant topic, such as maritime heritage in the Orkney Isles and the Forth Bridges in Fife.  Participants were encouraged to interpret the fascinating public archive of drawings and photographs held by RCAHMS in a new and creative way, drawing on their own responses and experiences, to produce a variety of different art works.  A range of different audiences have taken part in the workshops, from primary school children learning about the architecture of religious buildings through model making, to war veterans who explored the role of war memorials through poetry.

This exciting show forms part of a diverse programme of events launched by RCAHMS to celebrate 100 years of creating Scotland's collection of architecture, archaeology and industry.  The programme of events seeks to encourage more people to become interested and involved in their local heritage and to discover and celebrate the places they treasure.  The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government.

During five days in January and February 2008, RCAHMS staff and local artist Lesley Hepburn explored ideas of cultural diversity with two classes at Robert Owen Memorial Primary School in Lanark. This art workshop for Primary 6 pupils highlighted some of the main faiths practised in Scotland today, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and the different buildings in which religious worship takes place. Drawing on material from RCAHMS fascinating archive as a starting point for discussion and inspiration, the children were encouraged to undertake various drawing and design activities, leading up to the construction of their own large-scale cardboard models of a Cathedral, Mosque and Synagogue. This was then followed by printmaking activities, which looked at the interiors of these buildings.

Siobhan McConnachie, Treasured Places Project Manager, said: "It was wonderful to see our collections being used in such an exciting way.  The workshops were a lot of fun for everyone and, as can be seen through our Creative Connections exhibition, the work that was produced is of such a high standard and really inspiring."

The Treasured Places:  Creative Connections Tour Diary is attached.  For further information visit www.treasuredplaces.org.uk

1. RCAHMS is the national record of Scotland's built environment, whose mission is to identify, survey and interpret the archaeological, architectural and historical environment of Scotland, to preserve and add to the collection, and to promote public understanding and enjoyment of items in the collection.

1. ‘Treasured Places' was set up by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) to help celebrate its centenary in 2008.   The project launched in September 2007 with an online vote to find the nation's most ‘Treasured Place'.  Over 20,000 votes were cast via the Treasured Places website, www.treasuredplaces.org.uk, with the Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange winning the coveted title.

1. A major exhibition of Scotland's 'Treasured Places' will be shown from 25 October 2008 to 17th January 2009 at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh. The exhibition will showcase, often for the first time, original items including drawings, photographs, prints as well as new media, from the extensive collections of RCAHMS.  Also featured in the exhibition are Scotland's top ten treasured places as voted by the public in the online vote allowing the wonderful drawings and photographs to be experienced first hand.  The exhibition will include activities for families and a small public events programme for children, families and adult learners.

1. ‘Treasured Places' is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government, and run by RCAHMS, www.rcahms.gov.uk.

Treasured Places: Creative Connections Tour Diary

• Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy

7 August- 3 September 2008

• Cromarty Courthouse Museum, Cromarty

6- 27 September 2008

• Benbecula Airport, Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula

3- 29 October 2008

• Lanark Library, Lanark

4 November- 29 November 2008

• The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland,16 Bernard Terrace, Edinburgh

2 - 12 December 2008

• Omni Centre, Edinburgh

22 December 2008- 14 January 2009

• Dundee Central Library, Dundee

16 January - 14 February 2009

• Tweeddale Museum and Gallery, Peebles

17 February- 21 March 2009

• The Mall Shopping Centre, Falkirk

24 March - 9 April 2009

• The Pier Arts Centre, Stromness

Dates TBC