Highlands & Islands residential 2019

This two-day residential course at Inverewe Garden, Wester Ross, delivered training in facilitation, developing communication skills to help motivate others within their work, workshop design and practical first hand experience of peer review techniques using Liz Lerman's Critical Feedback Process as well as artist-led workshops, walks and meals together. The course created a network of peer review leaders who are able to act as facilitators by building effective and constructive sessions locally to directly tackle issues around isolation within the Highlands and Islands’ artistic community.

The peer review training included how to work non-hierarchically, develop an inclusive space that promotes equalities by making it accessible to all our members as well as strong facilitation skills. A peer review process offers equality to individual’s experiences and perceptions of artwork as well as creates an inclusive process for everyone to respond to the discussion.

Some of the written feedback received from participants:

“It was wonderful to congregate with fellow artists to network and experience a different method of critically reviewing each others artwork. To also devise a way of continuing to carry forward peer review in the future, a valuable contribution to the personal creative process.”

“Useful, practical and inspiring course – incredibly valuable in terms of developing skills, peer support and networking. Highly recommended. Well paced, good range of learning activities, well planned and executed. Looking forward to more SAU learning events.” 

“It was friendly and well run and I was able to meet and talk with my peer group which meant a lot for an artist working in isolation. This course has also made me evaluate my working practice.”

“Accommodation/meals provided and travel bursary enabled me to attend. I gained more experience and boosted my confidence within the group setting with critical discussion. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know other artists with similar experiences and from all different backgrounds. Feeling energised and motivated to pursue my work – let’s continue to make new connections and share ideas and skills. Thank you!”

“Great to meet other artists in the Highlands & Islands, would be wonderful to stay in touch and create more of a network of artists/makers.”

“Excellent content delivered in a warm and easy fashion. It was a wonderful learning experience and an invaluable opportunity to meet other artists, an opportunity which rural geography usually inhibits.”

“Excellent course on peer review – will benefit my practice on many levels. Meeting other artists and learning to talk in-depth about each other’s practices was an invaluable experience.”

“A really good mix of learning processes – practise, peer to peer specific technique, making connections with similar artists more locally and planning for next steps back home which feels very supportive and exciting.”

“Really valuable learning, new network contacts and gained motivation, inspiration and confidence. Feel privileged to have had the opportunity. First class organising, planning, advanced info and facilitation.”

“Really well structured, great use of venue, keen to start using the peer review learning practically in my work.”