Community Contexts Over Solutions: Observations from The Rural Art Network, Scotland

Abstract

The utilization of arts and culture within public engagement has been of increasing interest to policymakers and funding bodies as a response to socioeconomic issues within Scotland’s rural and remote areas. However, the arts and cultural organizations undertaking projects related to community engagement often navigate these issues in isolation: the contexts experienced by remote and rural organizations that might contribute to, and benefit from, knowledge-sharing with other similar organizations also inhibit the development of community between said organizations. This text illustrates the facilitation of such knowledge-sharing through a Community of Practice and introduces findings from the resulting Rural Art Network Scotland.