Keith Brown MSP hosted a Scottish Parliament reception for Wasps Studios-based artists, the charity’s supporters and its trustees where he acknowledged ‘their exceptional contribution’ to the cultural and economic health of the nation.
A member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, he said creative industries are an essential part of Scotland’s identity and economy, generating £4.4 billion annually.
He said the Scottish Government had invested in cultural regeneration throughout Scotland with the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. “Support which I know Wasps has been able to turn into fantastic community and creative hubs for artists and makers such as the wonderful Inverness Creative Academy, Perth Creative Exchange and the soon to be completed Briggait Clydeside Market Halls.”
Mr Brown added: “The exceptional contribution of Wasps’ 1000 artists and creatives and their reach and impact on local communities is important for the cultural and economic health of the nation.”
He acknowledged the challenges the sector faces in a post Covid world.
Wasps chair Karen Anderson and Chief Executive Audrey Carlin said energy price rises and the increased cost of running and maintaining buildings were making it hard for some artists.
Karen said: “There are big challenges for artists vulnerable to the cost of living. It is important we work to make buildings more affordable and support more fragile practices.”
At the reception in the Scottish Parliament’s Fleming Room, Audrey and Karen highlighted the Wasps manifesto entitled Scotland’s Culture Matters: Support Our Artists. This calls for UK and Scottish Governments to help reduce costs for tenant artists by scrapping the punitive 20% VAT on maintaining heritage buildings and supporting the drive to Net Zero by 2025.
Audrey said that while highlighting the challenges it was important to celebrate the successes.
“In the past year we provided studio spaces to over 1,000 artists, supported 25 arts charities, and provided space for 81 creative businesses across Scotland.
“Our Wasps Arts Enterprise programme, which has grown to become self-funded, supported 450 artists through 76 events, exhibitions, and markets. Notably, we saw £49,000 in sales for our artists through Wasps-supported exhibitions, making it our most successful year yet.
“Overall, we have created eight new facilities for creatives across Scotland in the past nine years, investing over £4.5m from Scottish Government’s RCGF, to leverage in a total of £20m in funding. This is in line with demand for what we do, by continuing to grow across many locations in Scotland.
“We have worked very hard to provide secure, stable and sustainable creative working spaces throughout Scotland. We know that the security of having a lease for a space can be invaluable for some artists and creative organisations who are often having to move from one meanwhile space to another.
“Being able to grow and provide these secure spaces has allowed us to support more digitally based creative practices, a fast-growing sector and one characterised by micro businesses often working internationally. We welcome the support of the Scottish Government’s TechScaler Programme which now has a base in our Inverness building and is supporting many of our creative industry businesses across the country to develop and grow.”
Audrey said none of this would have been possible without supporters. She said: “We would be unable to deliver any of these transformative projects without the support of our wonderful partners. The Scottish Government, HES, NLHF, AHF, Landfill Funders, Councils, private individuals and foundations – thank you all for the continued confidence you have shown in Wasps’ ability to transform and regenerate derelict historic buildings to create vibrant, facilities for artists, makers and creative industries, in the heart of communities across Scotland. “
Our Holyrood stars
The stars of the show at the reception were our inspirational artists. Laura Derby, Ade Adesina and Kayleigh McGuinness took centre stage at the Scottish Parliament as they talked how the Wasps family has supported them on their artistic journeys.
Laura Derby is a rug tufter and fibre-based artist working out of her studio at Wasps’ Cannonwalls and Claverhouse in Kirkcudbright. She paints and sculpts with yarn to make unique rugs, wall hangings and furniture. Laura was awarded The Inches Carr Foundation Emerging Maker Award 2022 and The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Certification Mark in 2021 in acknowledgement of the origin and sustainability of Laura’s work and emphasis of her use of 100% British Wool and upcycled local materials.
‘So much value in being a Wasps tenant’
Laura said: “The difference of being able to work in a warm studio is huge. There is so much value in being a tenant of such a high-profile organisation such as Wasps. That helped me gain valuable exposure with an exhibition at Kirkcudbright National Gallery and my first solo exhibition, Hidden Line, at Wasps’ Granton Station.”
Kayleigh is a visual artist based in Glasgow, with a studio at Wasps’ headquarters, The Briggait. Heritage plays a major role in Kayleigh’s work as she has recently spent time travelling to places across Scotland that her women ancestors would have lived to explore the natural materials, sounds and space. She was commissioned by Wasps last year to lead on The Briggait’s 150th anniversary, which included a time capsule project made by her fellow artists at the building, and printmaking workshops with local school children.
‘Wasps gave me a career springboard’
Kayleigh said: “I moved into my Wasps studio three years ago. Connecting with other tenants in The Briggait has been so inspiring. You feel part of a community, part of a family.
“Being with Wasps gave me a springboard to jobs and opportunities that I never had before. Wasps is such an important place – without it none of what I have achieved over the last few years would have been possible.”
‘Wasps is my place of joy’
Ade Adesina is a visual artist and printmaker based at Wasps’ Langstane Place, Aberdeen. He is a Royal Scottish Academician, Member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, Associate Member of the Royal Society of Printmakers and Etchers, and Member of the
London Group. His most recent accolade is the 2023 Mario Avati Printmaking Award, given at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His work is exhibited around the world, including two pieces which feature at the Scottish Parliament.
“I have travelled from Nigeria, to London to Aberdeen. I found an inspiring space and environment when I moved to Wasps. Without Wasps I would not be where I am today. Wasps is my home, my living room, my place of joy.”
