This document summarizes art and social practice projects held on the island of Rousay in Orkney, Scotland. The project aimed to have conversations where participants shared meaningful places on the island and items that reminded them of those places. Two conversations were held, one with 12 adults and one with 7 children. The adults had an open discussion sharing photos, sketches, and poetry about special internal and coastal places. The children shared objects and photos but required more guidance. Both groups enjoyed learning about each other's connections to places on Rousay. The adults expressed wanting to do another session while the children agreed to participate in a future community art project.

1. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Art and Social Practice

2. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Rousay is one of Orkney’s inner
northern Isles.
It has a wealth of archaeological sites,
and is often referred to as the Egypt of
the North.
It has some good agricultural land but
at least 50% is taken up with the hill
that dominates the island.
Rousay’s population is about 210
people. A mix of native Rousayites, and
incomers from across the globe.
It has a primary school with 16 pupils.
Secondary pupils take an hour long
journey to Kirkwall everyday to go to
the grammar school.

3. Rousay – A Sense of Place

4. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Explicit aims – identified in the leaflet given
to potential participants
1. Find out about personal meaningful
places on Rousay, as different from the
well known attractions
2. Participants to bring an item that
reminds them of that place
3. Participants to be involved in a
conversation about their special place
Implicit Aims – Kelley’s idea of ‘mutual
transformation’
1. The conversation would provide an
arena where the participants could
learn more their island, and about their
neighbours.
2. The session would be build stronger
bonds between the participants through
shared experience.

5. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Held 2 conversations in the end - partly due to my anxiety about the success of the Monday
meeting. But also thought it would be interesting to see how the 2 conversations would be
different based on the ages of the participants.
On Monday Morning from 11 to 1 – with 12 adults – 11 female, 1 male – ages from 50’s to
80’s!
On Sunday morning at Y-Crew youth club - with 7 kids – 4 female, 3 male – ages from 11 to
16

6. Rousay – A Sense of Place
The Conversations – Adults
Interpreted the brief quite loosely
Shore finds – photographs – made things – sketches – poetry
Places – views – people – an understanding of internal places
Shared experience – calmness – time to think – happiness – meditation
Kierfea’s Morning Veil
Lifts – a slight of hand reveals
A knife sharp against the stone sky

7. Rousay – A Sense of Place
The Conversations – Kids
Lots of great objects and photographs, and
thoughts!
Places and people
Calmness – tranquillity – escape from
parents, and irritating siblings
Computer games – tv – technology

8. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Open Format Closed Format
Undirected subject Everyday conversation Argument
Casual interview dialogue Debate
Class discussion Lecture/speech
Directed subject brainstorming Panel discussion Theater
From Helguera: Education for Socially Engaged Art – pg45
Key:
– Adults
– Kids

9. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Kids – Helguera’s directed participation – The adults present led the conversation and
pushed it forward.
Adults – Helguera’s creative participation/collaborative participation - I did a short
introduction but the conversation did not need further intervention from me. I was one of the
participants.

10. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Documentation
Nothing other than about 12 photos in total
from both sessions.
Not appropriate given the dynamic that
existed for both groups to do video or
sound recording.
The adults conversation was intimate and
informal and I think they would have
become more reserved and less
forthcoming if they were recorded in any
way.
Whilst it may have had a hugely
detrimental effect on the more self-
conscious kids in the Sunday group.

11. Feedback
Adults Group – very positive feedback “When can we do it again?”
– and about interesting “secret” places on Rousay
– enjoyed learning more about other participants
Kids Group – agreement to be involved in the Rousay Quilt project
– enjoyable, interesting to find out a little more about each other
Rousay – A Sense of Place

12. Rousay – A Sense of Place
Reflection
Were Aims Achieved?
1. Enthusiastic participants who had made an effort and enjoyed sharing their items with
others.
2. Adult conversation was very relaxed and friendly, and required very little input from me,
after the initial introduction.
3. Even though the kids required a little more guidance and input it is my belief they
enjoyed finding out more about their friends.
4. Difficult to ascertain whether the groups felt more cohesive after the event. From
feedback I would say the adult participants had bonded as they discovered similarities in
experience through sharing. With the kids event I am unsure!!
If I was doing the same or similar again I would be more confident about most people’s
naturally helpful demeanour and desire to help in such endeavours!
And this project has certainly helped me to understand how conversation can be art!!