Shared Perspectives: Driving Culture Through Place
Wednesday 16th June
11:15– 12:15
Shared Perspectives: Driving Culture Through Place
From internationally recognised design and drama, to wellbeing and the environment, Scandinavia has done particularly well at creating an image and understanding of itself that has sold globally. This sense of provenance and unique heritage is shared with the Highlands and Islands, forming an integral part of how it presents itself to the world. Featuring two businesses from northern Norway, two from the Highlands and Islands and moderated by renowned Western Isles writer Kevin MacNeil, this fascinating session will explore the rich relationship between the creative industries and place, discuss how geography shapes and defines culture and how this creates meaning and value for communities and businesses.
Speakers:
Beatrix Wood
Clare Campbell
Veronica Melå
Tormod Amundsen
Chair:
Kevin MacNeil
Chair
Kevin MacNeil
Novelist, Poet, Playwright and Screenwriter
Kevin MacNeil is a leading Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter, born and raised in the Outer Hebrides. His most recent novel, The Brilliant & Forever, was published to huge critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Saltire Fiction of the Year Award. Kevin recently edited Robert Louis Stevenson: An Anthology, Selected by Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares. He invented a form of cooking called Hai Cookery (also the title and subject of his next book). Kevin has won a number of prestigious literary awards and he lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Stirling. He has performed his work and taught writing masterclasses in many countries, including Colombia, USA, Japan, Ireland, Hungary, Italy and Argentina.
Speakers
Beatrix Wood
Director / Producer, TrixPixMedia
Director / Producer, TrixPixMedia
Beatrix is a self-shooting Director/Producer of creative documentary films and runswww.trixpixmedia.com. Recent credits include the 75’ “The Highland Cattle of Ardbhan” and 3 x 1 hour series ‘San Fhuil/It’s In The Blood” for BBC Alba. She is currently making “Maorach”, a documentary about the impact of Brexit on Hebridean fishermen, also for BBC Alba. Beatrix has extensive experience as a Screenwriter & Producer on award-winning European documentaries and is Producer on Anthony Baxter’s feature documentary “Flint” and Executive Producer on “Eye Of The Storm”, both for BBC Scotland.
Clare Campbell
Founder / Co-owner, Prickly Thistle
Prickly Thistle Scotland Ltd is an industry-disrupting, sustainable tartan design and manufacturing business in the Scottish Highlands. The textile's dynamic legacy is upheld and propelled through its Highland revival, galvanised by Clare Campbell – native Highlander, designer, entrepreneur and activist – where unique tartan cloths are weaved on heritage looms that took years to restore, and then lovingly sewn into products that will last a lifetime. Now, every day Prickly Thistle elevates the voices and value of local makers to solidify their commitment to the Scottish supply chain; keeping everything as local as possible and championing the ‘Made in Scotland’ identity that cultivates a glorious fusion of rich tradition and playful contemporary exploration. Environmental consciousness and social justice are also at the heart of everything this independent business does.
Veronica Melå
Founder + Publisher, Utenfor Allfarvei Forlag
Veronica worked in journalism and photojournalism in Oslo for 15 years before returning to the north of Norway. After a few years based up north travelling the world as a photographer for various clients and projects, she decided that it was time to establish her own publishing house - Utenfor Allfarvei Forlag (Off the Beaten Track Publishing). Since 2015 they have published 23 books and arranged multiple art shows, talks, concerts and more, all in the name of presenting voices from the north. Leading a very small in-house team, it's crucial for the businesses that there is a surrounding creative industry to co-work with in the northern parts of Norway.
Tormod Amundsen
Founder and CEO, Biotope Architecture
Tormod Amundsen is founder and CEO of Biotope Architecture. An outdoorsman by passion, and an architect by profession. At Biotope he is leading a 5 man and woman office specialising in giving architectural shape and form to the nordic concept ´friluftsliv´. Through architecture Biotope aims to inspire more people to enjoy a life spent in the outdoors. Biotope works exlusively with nature based projects, ranging from schemes to build communities through nature connection, to destination development projects based on eco tourism. In short; Biotope is designing everything from nature shelters to bird hides, while also engaging in the wider context of their projects. Biotope has been based in Vardø, arctic Norway for 10 years, and have been a key part of building the region´s nature based tourism scene. Currently Biotope is setting up a new construction office outside Tromsø, while also expanding the design branch with an office relocation to Helsingør in Denmark. The aim is as always; to connect people with nature.
