Craigmillar: Arts the Catalyst in Review @ The Gothenburg

Craigmillar Debriefing & Action Seminar at The Gothenburg

The Prestoungrange Gothenburg was both privileged and delighted to host Craigmillar’s Debriefing & Action Seminar after its most successful exhibition in Autumn 2004 in Edinburgh – which had attracted some 6000 visitors. The occasion was chaired by Willy Roe, Chairman of the Highlands & Islands Enterprise and a long standing supporter of all things Craigmillar.

Convened by Andrew Crummy in his role as Craigmillar Communiversity leader, attendees included senior figures from Glasgow College of Art David Harding and Sandy Moffat, Jim Bennett CEO of Scotland UnLtd., John Murtagh the tv actor and director, Dr Judy Greenwood the Community Psychiatrist and many more from local social work and industrial concerns.

Arts – the Catalyst

Much of the discussion focussed on the 'feeling' that after so much success recent developments in Craigmillar had deprived it of a great deal of its creative energy because the arts were no longer seen as the engine for community development. Housing and infrastructures can be ordained by planners but only humans can create communities and their mobilisation remains the eternal imperative. This is not a role for professionals as leaders but as mentors as the community itself determines and actions what it wants to do. And it was noted that appreciation of and respect for heritage is one sure way forward for community regeneration as many a murals programme has shown worldwide; and was being exemplified today in Prestonpans.