ATLAS Arts


ATLAS Arts is a visual arts organisation dedicated to commissioning contemporary arts, culture, heritage, and education based in the Isle of Skye. It was formed in 2010 and since then has delivered a varied programme of contemporary art including installations, sculpture, live performances, film screenings, and collaborative public works. It is one of Creative Scotland's portfolio of regularly-funded organisations.

History

ATLAS Arts was founded in 2010, partly in response to the closure of Skye's former arts centre An Tuireann, and following research conducted by the Scottish Arts Council which found that Skye and Lochalsh had the largest gap in visual arts provision in the northwest of Scotland. Initially the organisation was hosted by HI~Arts until 2012, when it became an independent organisation with charitable status.
From 2013 to 2015 ATLAS Arts collaborated with the Uist-based museum and arts centre Taigh Chearsabhagh to produce a pan-island programme of exhibitions, events, performances, and new commissions. Called , this included hosting an exhibition of work by Vija Celmins as part of the ARTIST ROOMS series of touring exhibitions.
In summer 2014 ATLAS Arts participated in the Scotland-wide exhibition programme, commissioning a two large scale out door works and public programme by artists Joanne Tatham and Tom O’Sullivan.
In October 2014 it was announced that the organisation had secured three-year funding as part of Creative Scotland's portfolio of 119 regularly-funded organisations for the period 2015-2018.

Aims

ATLAS Arts' stated aims are to promote the advancement of contemporary art, and culture by promoting and enabling access, initiating projects, and providing opportunities for artists. A strong theme reflected in all the work commissioned by the organisation has been the environment, history, and culture of Isle of Skye and beyond.
Additionally the organisation also promotes the advancement of education and the general public's awareness of visual art and culture through a variety of learning programmes including exhibitions, film screenings, performances, talks, workshops, and publications.

Past projects

Artists whom ATLAS Arts have exhibited or collaborated with include: