Seeking 'Games’ inspired art for Stromness street display   

Local folk are being urged to share Orkney’s creativity during the Island Games - by submitting art, sculpture, photos, or words for displays in windows ‘doon the street’ in Stromness.

Anyone can submit work - from bairns and first timers to professionals – for consideration.

Orkney Islands Council, with support from Northlight Gallery and Móti Collective and in partnership with Stromness Shopping Week, are staging this street exhibition as part of the cultural offer of the Games – with the show also continuing into Stromness Shopping Week to delight home-comers, visitors and locals who flock to the town’s annual celebration.

(Pictured here left to right are Emma Gee, OIC's Arts Officer, with Wendy Barker representing Moti Collective - who'll be exhibiting in Northlight Gallery as part of the project - and Cary Welling from Northlight Gallery. They're 'measuring up' the Gallery in preparation for installing art work and writing.)

The project, supported by the Council’s Arts Development budget, currently has more than 15 properties who’ve committed to hosting art in their windows.

Emma Gee is the Council’s Arts Officer and says while the suggested theme is ‘Games’, works don’t need to be strictly sport related.

“What we are hoping to capture is the breadth and depth of creative talent here, and the excitement of the community about all these island groups coming together during the 2025 Island Games. Previous window shows have been very successful and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, and we hope it will help add to the buzz of the Games coming to Orkney.

“Once we know who has committed to exhibiting, we will allocate spaces for artwork in windows and put creatives in touch with hosts to liaise about installing the work and taking it down again.

“While we’re unable to facilitate sale of artworks, it is possible for people who submit work to use this opportunity to offer it for sale – contributors would need to clearly label as such including a means for potential buyers to directly contact them such as a QR code.” 

Anyone wanting to display their creativity is asked to contact Emma at the Council, or Cary Welling at Northlight Gallery, by Thursday 1 May detailing their name and email address, whether they intend to exhibit objects, 2D artwork or words, and an indication of what size of mounting board you might need for your work as boards will be provided for 2D works.

Works need to be available for installation by the project team between Thursday 10 and Sunday 13 July and will be taken down again on Monday 28 July.

Those interested should contact Emma Gee, Arts Officer, Orkney Islands Council at emma.gee@orkney.gov.uk or phone 01856 873535 ext 2406. Alternatively contact Cary Welling at Northlight Gallery at carywelling@gmail.com

More about the Moti Collective

Named after the Norse term meaning ‘towards’ and ‘to meet’, the group brings together creatives with links to Orkney to help bridge the gap between studying and becoming established artists and designers.