Glasgow School of Art and Taigh Chearsabhagh will welcome students from one of Europe’s most prestigious art schools during a collaborative visit in early October.
A group of third year sculpture students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris will spend two weeks travelling in Scotland as part of an educational trip.
They will have three days in Glasgow, including a visit to Glasgow School of Art’s Garnethill Campus.
Then the group will then travel north to collaborate on a project as part of Archipelago 136, Glasgow School of Art’s Institute of Design Innovation’s Island Research Programme. Students aim to gain a better understanding of life in the islands, including aspects of community, infrastructure, landscape and identity.
They will stay in Lochmaddy from 2nd to 9th October, where they will work with Taigh Chearsabhagh. Sturdents will will also work on drawing and digital art projects with two groups of visual arts students from UHI. This will be followed by visiting the Glasgow School of Art’s Highlands and Islands Creative Campus in Forres from 9th to 15th October, where they will work with arts students from the art school on a week long collaborative project that continues the themes of rural identity and landscape.
It is hoped that the trip could lead to further collaboration with the art school, including the potential for a visit to France by Glasgow School of Art and UHI students.
“We are delighted to welcome students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and hope that this will develop into a stronger international relationship as well as sharing what the Highlands and Islands have to offer,” says Research fellow Dr George Jaramillo, of Glasgow School of Art.
“They will see two different sides of Scotland during their trip and I’m sure they will find both equally inspiring for the projects they will be taking part in. We hope this is the first of many collaborative visits with the school.”
“The trip is a great opportunity for the students to discover a different context as well as working together as a group with GSA and University of the Highlands and Islands students. I am especially looking forward to exchanging ideas and developing some new artwork inspired by the collaboration,” added Professor Anne Rochette of L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
“Earlier in the year researchers from Glasgow School of Art’s Institute of Design Innovation presented workshops in Taigh Chearsabhagh, where our studios are located. It provided a great opportunity for a number of students, from both the degree and certificate courses, to engage with innovative design technologies and discuss areas of design research that were of interest to them,” said Dennis Magee, Course Leader for the BA Fine Art at the UHI.
As a result, we have developed a very positive connection with the GSA. The fact that this connection has now led to us being able to invite students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts to come here, provides a great opportunity for our students to develop future international connections. These are extraordinary opportunities for students working in a remote location like Uist.”
Pictured is the courtyard of the celebrated École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris.