The Art of the Garden Show

Click image to view our photos from the event on flickr. Photos by Kevin harrison

 Children from local schools flocked to the first ever Duntreath Castle Garden Show, to have their Olympic Dream garden designs judged by Children’s Laureate and author of ‘The Gruffalo’ Julia Donaldson, who as patron of one of beneficiary charities, Artlink Central, agreed to join sponsor Dobbies to select the most original and attractive designs by school children from across Central Scotland.

Set in the idyllic gardens of Duntreath Castle, home to Sir Archie and Lady Edmonstone, this ambitious new show, brought creativity and gardening to the fore. Artlink Central exhibited their Greenhouse Galleries, installations of artworks created by older people in wards in NHS Forth Valley and charities from across the area created beautiful plant and food displays amongst the stallholders giving this new event a beautiful and intimate feel which combatted unfortunate weather.

Local Strathblane community groups, Canine Partners, Erskine, Scotland’s Gardens and Camphill Village Trust all were set to raise funds alongside Artlink Central, as the event went underway. A full programme kicked off with a gala evening featuring a performance by the Royal Marines on the lawn. Talks, demonstrations and wonderful stalls all created a highly successful event expected to raise up to £30,000 to local causes.

Artlink Central is a leading arts agency and charity in Central Scotland, developing artist led creative programmes for those who face barriers to participation due to mental health issues, disability or other social barriers.

We use music, literature, storytelling, visual and performing arts to remove barriers that create or sustain inequality, and to discover and nurture creative talent in people, particularly emerging disabled artists.

Key areas of our programming include:

• Artspace programme creating access to regular arts opportunities for people experiencing mental health issues in the community.
• Artreach cross art form programme for adults with learning disabilities supporting participation, audience development emerging talent across Stirling area.
• Arts and Health programme which delivers arts experiences targeted at people with mental ill health, dementia, physical illness, stroke as well as sick children in thirty one wards across the Forth Valley.
• Arts, Transition and Social Inclusion programmes in schools across the region, including Creative Leavers programme for young disabled artists leaving school supporting them to create, exhibit and sell work in a professional setting and build a portfolio to support their adult aspirations.

Contact Kevin Harrison for further information.

Artlink Central, Cowane Centre, Cowane Street, Stirling FK8 1JP

Tel: 01786 450971 email: info@artlinkcentral.org www.artlinkcentral.org

Charity No SC008158