Imagining the Centre 2006

On Saturday 9th September 2006, a diverse group of 14 Highland artists took over Church Street in Inverness with twelve hours of innovative and thought-provoking art installations as part of Imagining the Centre. 

As the Inverness City Advertiser reported following the event, "Thankfully the sun shone and Church Street was imbued with the spirit of both playful rebellion and a genuine attempt at inspiring interaction between the city and its inhabitants.  The first stage of Lead Artist Matt Baker's planned projects for the Old Town, it bewildered and engaged in equal measure which made for quite a few startled reactions from unsuspecting shoppers."

Feedback from the public was sought throughout the event and a short booklet produced containing information on the project, as well as some of the choicest quotes from the intrigued public:

"I really don't understand what is going on, but I like it!"

"I felt quite proud to be an Invernessian!"

"Long overdue"

"This is excellent and there should be more.  This is the Highland Capital.  Innovation, that's what we need."

"I like to see art you can understand.  You can see that's a bird.  I don't know where some of these artists get their ideas from.  I think they must be on drugs!"

Artists taking part in the event were:
What's Pants About Inverness? -  Sarah Barnes
Cape Reality - Graeme Roger & Jeep Solid
One Day Revolution - Sophie McCook & DUFI
Lorg - Rosie Newman & Caroline Dear
Hidden Heroes - Evelyn Pottie & Dean Melville
Sea Eagle & Pray-Prey - John McGeogh & Sam Barlow
To The Power Of - Gavin Lockhart
I Built This City - Gordon Urquhart

Imagining the Centre was part of the Old Town Regeneration Project, run by Inverness City Partnership (with support from Scottish Arts Council) under Marie Mackintosh, devised by Lead Artist, Matt Baker.  The Public Art Coordinator was Evi Westmore and Susan Christie Project Managed the event.