about us

Nurturing creative talent and careers

Who we are

emergents is a community interest company that aims to support the development of creative careers, enterprise and the economy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and beyond.

We aim to achieve this by nurturing creative talent and creative businesses through general and specific support including mentoring, training, advice and networking.

Our services

Mentoring
Marketing
Funding
Networking

Our team

Peter Urpeth -

DIRECTOR (WRITING & PUBLISHING)
Peter runs the Writing Development programme and provides support to writers throughout the Highlands and Islands. Email Peter

Pamela Conacher -

DIRECTOR (CRAFT, FASHION & TEXTILES)
Pamela runs the Craft programme and provides advice, training and support for the craft, fashion and textile sector. Email Pamela

Avril Souter -

PROJECT MANAGER
Avril supports the Emergents team, assisting with crafts events, administering the website, social media and crafts newsletter. Email Avril

Funders:

News and opportunities

All the latest news, blogs posts and articles.

New Investment for Skye sheepskin tannery

A significant employer in one of the north’s most fragile areas has announced a six-figure investment this week, after securing a £33,360 contribution from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Skyeskyns Ltd, based in Waternish in north west ...

Design for today’s business world

Design for today’s business world Date: Tuesday 29th March Time: 6pm-8pm Location: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye (Ionad Iain Noble building) Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-for-todays-business-world-tickets- ...

Sculpt at Kew: Open for Applications

This year, Handmade in Britain and Kew Gardens are pleased to announce a new outdoor sculpture exhibition as part of Handmade at Kew: SCULPT AT KEW. This is an exciting new exhibiting opportunity for makers at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ...

Launch of new jewellery business in Orkney

This Spring, Orkney jewellery designer, Zoe Davidson launches her jewellery business from her workshop in the picturesque town of Stromness, find out more about Zoe and her work below: Life Born in the wilds of Borneo, diving among corals and s ...

New Fine Art degree launched at Shetland College UHI

The Creative and Cultural Industries department at Shetland College UHI are now taking applications for a new BA (Hons) Fine Art degree, which will start in September 2016. The degree compliments the well established BA (Hons) Contemporary Textile ...

Deadline approaching for Handmade at Kew

Deadline approaching for Handmade at Kew Handmade at Kew 6 - 9 October 2016 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Handmade in Britain and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are excited to announce the second year of the international craft event, Handmade at Ke ...

Introduction to Screenwriting: LERWICK

Introduction to Screenwriting - a whole new language Saturday 30th April 2016, 10am - 5pm Shetland Museum & Archives, Hay's Dock, Lerwick, ZE1 0WP COST: £10 per person (plus booking fee) includes full-day workshop, buffet lunch a ...

SCOTLAND LAUNCHES WORLD CLASS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME

SCOTLAND LAUNCHES WORLD CLASS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME Scotland Can Do SCALE A first of its kind programme is being launched today (10 March 2016) to help Scottish entrepreneurs with potential to scale-up to grow their businesses with world cl ...

Go and See Funding – London Craft Week

Go and See Funding – London Craft Week 3 – 7 May 2016 Last year the first London Craft Week launched with 70 events, 20,000 visits and a wide cast including HRH The Prince of Wales, Grayson Perry and 350 makers. From 3 – 7 May the seco ...

Scottish Showcase at Tent: Call for Makers

Scottish Showcase at Tent, London Design Festival: Call for Makers Craft Scotland and Emergents are working in partnership to present a showcase of innovative design-led Scottish craft at Tent, the four-day industry event that is the highlight of ...

North jeweller has designs on future growth

A north jewellery designer’s contemporary and eye-catching work is attracting increased attention at home and abroad thanks to her attendance at several prestigious trade exhibitions. Plockton-based Gilly Langton is taking part in trade fairs in ...

Pier Arts Centre Trainee curates new exhibition

Pier Arts Centre Gallery Programmes Trainee curates new exhibition A new exhibition curated by Lauren Henning, Gallery Programmes trainee, opened recently at the Pier Arts Centre. The display is the result of Lauren’s personal project undertaken ...

Working with Trends Workshops

Working with Trends - Fashion/Textiles/Craft/Jewellery DATES: STROMNESS: Wednesday 23 March 2016, 10am - 12.30pm STORNOWAY: Tuesday 26th April 2016, 10am - 12.30pm LERWICK: Tuesday 17 May 2016, 2pm - 5pm A free workshop providing an o ...

Growing Pains Workshops

This Spring, we are taking our ‘Growing Pains: A Remedy’ workshop on the road again with two dates in Stromness & Stornoway. DATES: STROMNESS: Tuesday 22 March 2016, 2pm - 5pm Stromness Library, (John Rae Room), Warehouse Buildings ...

Lois Walpole – Weaving Ghosts

The latest Gadderie exhibition opens at Shetland Museum and Archives on Saturday 27th Februrary 2016. As the name of the exhibition implies it is about weaving and ghosts. Lois Walpole explains: “The weaving bit is simple - it is what I do as ...

INDIE NETWORK - SUPPORTING INDIE AUTHORS

INDIE NETWORK - SUPPORTING INDIE AUTHORS connection, insight, advice and knowledge exchange for indie authors The Indie Network is XPONorth’s network for indie / self-publishing authors. Facilitated by indie author and consultant, Ben Galley ...

INDIG
SEEKING MAKERS WORKING IN TRADITIONAL CRAFT

RESEARCH PROJECT SEEKS MAKERS WORKING IN TRADITIONAL CRAFT A new research study to find out who is making Scottish indigenous craft, sometimes described as folk, traditional or heritage craft, and to collect information about what crafts are being ...

Emergents Events: STORNOWAY

Emergents is pleased to announce details of workshop events and one to ones for Crafts, Fashion and Textiles businesses and Writers in Stornoway this April 2016. These events are listed below and full details can be found and places can be booked ...

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Writer One to Ones - Register Your Interest

Emergents is delighted to announce details of writer 1-2-1s which are taking place in the Highlands & Islands this April - July 2016. DATES: STORNOWAY, WESTERN ISLES: 27 APRIL 2016: https://writeronetoonestornoway.eventbrite.co.uk LERWICK, ...

New exhibition opens at the Pier Arts Centre

We Are Our Journey, an exhibition showing developmental work by Norna Sinclair, Orkney College`s Fine Art Textile third year undergraduate student, will open on Saturday 13 February at the Pier Arts Centre. The exhibition is a core part of the Pro ...

True North Conference

“History is a set of lies agreed upon.” ― Napoléon Bonaparte Timespan is holding its annual True North Conference on the subject of re-writing history. They invite you to reflect on the cultural values we inscribe on the past, the proces ...

Highland Wool & Textile Festivals

Highland Wool & Textile Festivals: May 2016 Following the successes of the Highland Wool & Textile Festivals in Dingwall in 2014 and 2015, organisers Anne Marie Foot and Jenny Brogden, will be holding a new Festival this year at Pitlochry. ...

WRITERS PITCH TO PUBLISHERS AND AGENTS

WRITERS PITCH TO PUBLISHERS AND AGENTS AT XPONORTH 2016 Deadline for submissions is Friday 1st April 2016 at midnight XpoNorth is looking for writers to pitch completed works to a panel of publishers and agents at this year's XpoNorth in Inverne ...

DORNOCH FIBRE FEST 2016

The 7th Dornoch Fibre Fest, an annual weekend celebration of fibre and woollen based crafts, will be held from 11th to 13th March 2016. The Fibre Fest opens with a talk ‘Interpreting Natural Forms’ by Wendy Dolan at 6.30 p.m. on Friday 11th Ma ...

Catalyst – A Fresh spark for you and your Business

Catalyst – A Fresh spark for you and your Business Do you want to grow your business? Pushed for time? Want to be inspired? Catalyst offers training tailored for small businesses, including the Creative Sector, throughout Moray and th ...

Making Progress Makers Announced

MAKING PROGRESS FOR NEW START UPS MENTORING PROGRAMME We are pleased to announce the details of the group of designer/makers who are taking part in the Making Progress for new Start Ups mentoring and online programme for 2015/16. We are supportin ...

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF NORTHERN ARTISTS & MAKERS

JOIN A DIGITAL COMMUNITY OF NORTHERN ARTISTS & MAKERS Introducing Artlands North: an online, interactive map showcasing the wealth and diversity of art and craft in the North of Scotland. Maintained by Timespan, this register of galleries, pub ...

Highland Visual Arts and Crafts Award Scheme

Highland Visual Arts and Crafts Award Scheme In order to advance the Highland Culture Strategic Board’s cultural strategy ‘Highland Culture: take part, take pride’ High Life Highland in partnership with emergents and Creative Scotland have e ...

Hunting for Lost Crafts Films

Hunting for Lost Crafts was a project and an exhibition of crafts and historical objects connected with the pursuits of hunting, shooting and fishing in the Highlands illustrating how historic techniques and materials have been transformed by conte ...

 

Testimonials

Gilly Langton (Jewellery Designer, Plockton)

"A really supportive Craft team, that is such a necessity to any Highland Craft maker, for advice, support, networking and promotion."

Patricia Niemann (Jewellery & Body Adornment Designer, Caithness)

"Fantastic to have a dedicated team for Crafts! I feel I can contact them for any relevant advice and assistance I might need. They are up to date and well clued-in with all recent developments and opportunities in the sector. The Crafts programme is essential for information relating to growing my business, the craft awareness in the Highlands and the craft sector on the whole."

Jenny Robertson (A’Nead Knitwear, Isle of Eigg)

"I have benefitted hugely from the support of the Crafts programme and really appreciate all the support and advice given. There is no way my business would have grown the way it has this year without this support and I very much doubt I would have had the confidence to go to a fair in London without it."

Heather McDermott (Jewellery Designer, Isle of Skye)

"I feel I have really grown as a designer/maker and this wouldn't have happened if not for the mentoring programme. I have found every aspect really useful in particular the mentoring side of things. I am still in touch with my mentor and she is such a great encouragement. I have really enjoyed each session and have found them really useful and practical in transferring them to my business."

Support

We offer a range of support to makers, textiles and fashion designers.


Crafts

Case Studies

Check out our case studies and click to see them.

we work with makers and writers

Contact us

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