Sea Change: one year on
Approximately a year into our Sea Change project, we asked embedded artists – Eve Mosher and Gabby Morris – to reflect on their experiences so far in Montrose and Buckie respectively.
Sea Change is a multi-year project working with artists in two coastal towns in Scotland to develop plans for how communities need to transform in response to climate change. Eve and Gabby employ creative methods to help everyone have their voice heard in order to shape the future of each place.
Watch and listen to the following short clips where Eve and Gabby discuss what events have already taken place in both towns, what challenges they’ve encountered, the importance of working with local and national partners, and their reflections on the role of an embedded artist.
Introducing Eve and Gabby
Eve Mosher is an artist, creative community and arts organiser and has a deep passion for healthy communities. Based in Montrose, she has developed tools for tapping into imagination and creativity to help communities tell their own story of tomorrow.
Gabby Morris is an artist and designer working at the intersection of the environment, coastal futures and collective imagination. Based in Moray, her work focuses on creating experiential, imaginative and engaging ways for people to explore what coastal futures might look and feel like.
What have you been up to since the start of the project?
In this video, Eve and Gabby discuss their processes so far in this anchoring phase of the project – initial research, extensive conversations with partners and their first creative ventures with their communities.
What’s happening in Montrose?
Montrose is a town heavily affected by climate change and the transition to net zero, and vulnerable to coastal erosion and flooding.
Eve shares more information about her Imagination Labs, held at the PoP Shop on Montrose high street, including how they invite a creative and playful investigation into how Montrose perceives and imagines itself now and in the future.
What’s happening in Buckie?
Buckie has many people working in industries related to fishing and offshore oil and gas, and the town is bound to see significant change through the efforts to protect marine habitats and transition to renewables.
Gabby details how she felt the unique environment in Buckie – the extensiveness of burrowed mud – naturally lent itself to a series of pottery workshops or ‘Mud Clubs’, where people have been able to talk about climate and nature more openly through hands-on making.
What challenges are you responding to?
In this video, Eve and Gabby compare the situational similarities and differences between their work in Montrose and Buckie.
Exploring the embedded artist role
Eve and Gabby reflect on the symbolism of their role as embedded artists and how it is shaped the perceptions of others in their local communities.
The importance of making local connections
Gabby shares her experience of discovering the people within a local community who can make positive ripple effects.
Working with partners
In this video, Eve and Gabby touch on the dynamic of connecting empowered local communities with the work and aims of national organisations. Supported by their creative practices, they hope multi-level collaboration will achieve mutually beneficial changes including improved climate or social-economic conditions in each coastal town and a drive forward for Scotland’s just transition plan.
What’s next?
The Sea Change project runs until June 2027 – what do Eve and Gabby wish to see happen before then?
Visit the Sea Change – Buckie and Sea Change – Montrose Facebook pages to stay up to date!
About Culture for Climate Scotland
Culture for Climate Scotland is a charity that connects culture and climate change, and harnesses the role of arts in achieving transformational change to a sustainable Scotland.
About the Sea Change partners and funders
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is an international foundation that promotes the development of individuals and organisations for a more equitable and sustainable society.
NatureScot is Scotland’s nature agency, working to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it.
The Scottish Government Marine Directorate is responsible for managing Scotland’s seas and freshwater fisheries along with delivery partners NatureScot and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
The Open University is a global leader in higher education, pioneering distance learning and delivering teaching and support to students across the UK and the world.
About the Buckie partnership
Buckie Area Forum brings together representatives from local community organisations and local residents to tackle issues which have been identified through local consultation. The Forum runs The Hub, which provides space and a wide range of services to the local community.
Findochty and Buckie Development Trust is a community-owned and led organisation which uses a combination of enterprise and creativity to improve the quality of life for people living in the Findochty and Buckie area.
Findhorn Bay Arts is an award-winning arts producer making creative things happen across Moray and beyond.
Moray Climate Action Network (Moray CAN) is a network of groups, organisations and individuals working together to tackle climate change in Moray.
tsiMORAY connects and supports Moray’s third sector. It supports charities, community groups and social enterprises by helping them access funding, learn and grow volunteering.
About the Montrose partnership
ANGUSalive is the culture, sport and leisure trust for the county of Angus.
Angus Climate Hub is a community climate hub funded by the Scottish Government that helps the people and nature of Angus thrive.
Montrose Community Trust is a charity that utilises the power and widespread appeal of football to inspire change.
Montrose Playhouse Project is a community owned three-screen cinema and art centre with café bar, activity spaces and retail area.
ProMo: Montrose Development & Improvement CIC is a group of locals who have come together following the Angus Council Charette to try and bring about the revival of Montrose Town Centre.
