Gathered, Here

Artists of colour coming together through heritage and place.

We are delighted to announce that our community group, Chilli Tree Network for Black People and People of Colour (BPoC) creatives across Scotland, has been selected as one of the eight groups to participate in the Delivering Change: Community Catalysts programme with Museums Galleries Scotland. Led by Zya Community, in partnership with Shetland Museum and Archives and Inlet Studio (Edinburgh), the programme supports a group of four emerging artists of colour, including writers, visual artists, and performers, to work collaboratively on a collective exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives in October 2026. Together, participants will explore themes of systemic exclusion, belonging, and how landscape and place shape lived and living experience.

This opportunity builds on the values and conversations that have shaped Chilli Tree Network’s work centring lived experience, collective practice, and long-term change within cultural spaces. It is practice-led, grounded in exploration, curiosity, and shared authorship.

Who This Opportunity Is For

This opportunity is for a group of four emerging artists of colour working across, or between, disciplines, including:

• Writers: poetry, prose, spoken word, text-based practice and able to show work for a collaborative exhibition.

• Visual artists: painting, drawing, print, photography, film, installation.

• Performers: live art, movement, sound, interdisciplinary or experimental performance.

By emerging artists, we mean creatives who have not yet had a solo exhibition, published pamphlet, or a significant work publicly exhibited, selected for viewing, performance, or publication. We welcome artists at the early stages of their careers who are ready to develop new work that can be presented in a public exhibition and who are looking to explore their practice in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to artists who have a connection to the Chilli Tree Network, through either:

• In-person events, gatherings, or workshops

• Online sessions, talks, or digital activity

You don’t need to be a long-standing member; what matters is a genuine connection to the network and its community.

What the Programme Involves

Selected artists will take part in:

• In-person project launch and creative workshops in Edinburgh

• Online exchange sessions with the Shetland Museum and Archives team

• Supported access to archives and collections (including digital access)

• A fully supported research field trip to Shetland

• Site-responsive workshops and community engagement

• A collaborative creation period with facilitated reflection

• Exhibition-preparation support with Inlet Studio

• Co-creation and co-curation of the collaborative exhibition, which may include:

  Visual artworks

  Live or programmed performance

  Writing, spoken word, sound, or moving image work

  Shared or collaborative installations

• Contribution to a digital feature in Mix Magazine

• Co-creation of a practical navigation tool for future artists.

Key Dates (January – November 2026)

Applications open: Now

Applications close: Monday 12 January 2026 at 5 pm

Exact Dates will be confirmed at the start of the Programme

End of January 2026 – In-person launch, introductions, project overview, reflections, and shared connections

February 2026 – Online exchange with Shetland Museum and Archives; introduction to collections and archive access

March 2026 – In-person workshop exploring heritage, identity, and systemic exclusion

April 2026 – Planning and preparation for Shetland field trip; access and wellbeing support confirmed

May 2026 – Research field trip to Shetland; archive visits, site exploration, and creative workshops

July – August 2026 – Collaborative creation period; exhibition-preparation workshop; two in-person practice reflection sessions

September 2026 – Co-curation and exhibition planning; development of accessible interpretation; creation of shared navigation map/tool

October 2026 – Public collaborative exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives

October – November 2026 – Evaluation, reflection, and learning

Artist Commitment

Artists selected for Gathered, Here are expected to sign a partnership agreement to:

• Commit to the full programme (January–November 2026)

• Attend all core sessions (in-person and online)

• Take part in the Shetland research field trip over three days and 2 days for travel.

• Engage actively in group discussion, reflection, and peer support

• Develop new work responding to programme themes

• Work collaboratively toward a shared exhibition outcome

• Participate as co-curators and contributors to interpretation

• Attend the exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives with the same time frame as the field trip.

• Contribute to an individual creative’s profile article for the Zya digital Mix Magazine

• Contribute to Programme reflection and evaluation

Support Provided

• Artist fees of £500

• Travel and accommodation for the Shetland research trip and Exhibition

• Workshop facilitation and mentoring

• Studio and meeting space

• Materials budget of £200

• Access and wellbeing-centred support

• Contribution towards childcare and workshop attendance travel expenses

• Documentation and digital publication support

What You Will Gain

• Time and space to develop new work

• Experience working collaboratively across disciplines

• Access to archives and place-based research

• Support to create and present work in a museum context

• Increased confidence, visibility, and professional development

• Peer connections and long-term networks

• A collaborative exhibition and digital publication

Delivering Change: Transforming Access to Culture

Delivering Change is a programme by Museums Galleries Scotland that acknowledges the historical exclusion of many of Scotland’s people and communities from museums and their narratives. This three-year programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and the Scottish Government. This three-year initiative is dedicated to supporting museums and galleries across Scotland in making meaningful changes that ensure culture is accessible to all.