Learning Newsletter - April 2025

Hello! I'm Emily. I'm very excited to be in my first couple of weeks as Learning Organiser for the Highlands and Islands with the Scottish Artists Union. The role has passed to me from the brilliant Kirsten Body, who as many of you know, has been in post for 7 years and has organised many wonderful events during her time. We wish her all the best for her future work! I'm looking forward to learning from her expertise and community building knowledge as I take the work forward in collaboration with Ben Callaghan, Learning Organiser for the Lowlands and Uplands.

 

I'll be based in Staffin / Staffainn , in the North East of the Isle of Skye / An t-Eilean Sgitheanach. Please do reach out if you're in the area! Wherever you are in the Highlands and Islands and The Gàidhealtachd regions, I'm looking forward to getting to know you. If you have anything you're keen to learn about or share with fellow artists, do let me know what you're yearning for and what's impacting you this year.

 

Ben and I are looking forward to working together. With this first newsletter we wanted to highlight some SAU solidarity statements and some interesting upcoming events around Union organising and being an arts worker in Scotland. On the 10th May, SAU will be joining the Highland March for Palestine which offers a chance for members to meet and march together - all are welcome! It would be great to see you there.

 

Gach deagh dhùrachd. With kind wishes

 

In solidarity

 

Emily (she/her) and Ben (they/them)

 

1pm Gathering at the bottom of Stephen's Brae, Inverness City Centre

1.30pm March begins

2.30pm - 3pm Finishing event at Bught Park

Organised by Highland Palestine

 

Look for the SAU banner at the march gathering point (the banner is red and yellow). 

 

For anyone who wants to decompress or have some social time after the march, we can go for a wee tea or coffee nearby afterwards.

 

You can let us know if you'll be attending, or just turn up on the day emily.nicholl@artistsunion.scot / 07583733645

For more information about the march or about Highland Palestine, see their facebook page and website

 

 

 

Thank you for your patience during the migration and renewals process!

 

If you are one of our members who still needs to sign in and renew your membership through our new members portal, please check your inboxes and junk folders for your welcome email from Glue Up - the system SAU are now using. Please do reach out if you have any questions or need support.

 

Here is a link to helpful tips and guidance about your membership update. 

 

The trans community is facing a major crisis in the UK following the Supreme Court ruling last week on the legal definition of sex for the purposes of The Equality Act 2010. The consequences of this ruling have already begun, with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission proposing changes to the Equality Act Statuatory Guidance to introduce blanket bans on trans people using facilities in the UK that match their lived gender.

 

The decision by the Supreme Court does not reflect public opinion in the UK and was informed by evidence given by anti-trans campaigners funded by large amounts of private wealth, while no trans voices were allowed to give evidence. This movement to erase trans people from public life and endanger their existence is a key part of a world wide political project to shift politics toward the far right, ultimately leading to injustice and oppression for all.

 

SAU will be making a full statement on the ruling soon. In the meantime, please write to your MSP to request an in person meeting to protest the ruling. You can find information on how to contact your MSP and guidance on what to say to them here.

 

SAU reaffirms its commitment to PACBI - the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, and stands in total solidarity with the Palestinian people as they face a renewed genocidal onslaught from Israel. At the SAU AGM 2024, SAU members voted overwhelmingly in support of a Motion to endorse PACBI and to campaign around it. SAU is a member of Scottish TUC which has supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign (BDS) since 2010. As a Trade Union, SAU recognises that we have a duty to set a standard within the sector. SAU urges all arts & cultural institutions and organisations to endorse PACBI and to stand alongside us in solidarity with Palestine.

 

As artists and culture workers, we all have the opportunity to use our creativity to realise and imagine a liberated future for all. This means we can use all of our skills and platforms to resist genocide, apartheid and imperialism. People in Scotland

were at the forefront of the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa and can be at the forefront of the cultural boycott of Israel.

 

We thank and commend Art Workers for Palestine Scotland for their tireless campaigning around PACBI and call on Scottish arts & cultural organisations to endorse the boycott via the form on their linktree.