Borders...what Borders?

Denis Inch on an initiative to bring together artists on both sides of Hadrian's divide

Borders and Northumberland artists gather to form Border Crossings
Picture: Barbara Berkowitz

ARTISTS and craft makers from both sides of the Border are getting together to blow a bugle for an area which is too often bypassed. The result should be that parts of the Scottish Borders and Northumberland will be more highly visible on the arts and tourism map this summer.

The success of artists' events in neighbouring areas - Spring Fling in Dumfries and Galloway, Perth Visual Arts Forum and the Art Tour centred on the Tynedale district in west Northumberland - have perhaps overshadowed the arts and crafts activities in a stretch of country bounded by Hawick, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Wooler.

But glass worker Julia Linstead, based in Coldstream, found that the Borders had more than 500 full-time visual and applied artists, the second highest density per population in the United Kingdom after London, and twice the average density of Scotland as a whole.

She gave these facts to a meeting of about 45 artists and makers in Hawick earlier this year and argued for the area to have its own artistic identity. She also called for a network covering the central and east Borders region and also north Northumberland, with its own website and printed map for visitors. And the area should have its own big event, with smaller localised happenings throughout the year, she said.

Out of that gathering has been born Crossing Borders, an association of artists, makers and galleries working to bring it all about.

Chair is John Davidson, sculptor in wood, who has a studio at the crafts centre at The Hirsel, Coldstream.

Secretary Cara Lockhart Smith, a book illustrator, said that Crossing Borders had about 150 members already. Their skills included painting, pottery, weaving, jewellery making, illustrating, bookbinding, furniture making, wood sculpture, printmaking and felt work.

"We are not restrictive about who can join. After a long discussion about criteria we decided that members should be career-orientated and producing quality work," she said.

Julia Linstead, who is also based at The Hirsel, described how the group came into being for a number of reasons.

"We used to run craft fairs, but the general feeling was that craft fairs had tailed off. In the 1980s people would buy something of high quality and were prepared to spend money on it.

"Now the public thinks of craft fairs as somewhere to buy cheap things, like a glorified market. But a hand-made scarf may cost £ 70, or a table £2,000.

"We don't have anywhere to sell quality work except galleries, which people are often shy of entering.

"There are dozens of makers in the area who are not being promoted, although their work is of high quality, and their profile has been diminishing."

An approach from Sue Beck, a member of a tourist partnership, wanting to add to the area's visitor interests, led to the idea of forming a group. They looked to Spring Fling and the Aurora project, a network of artists and makers in Northumberland, as examples.

"Sue started stirring up enthusiasm - and it ran away with her," Julia said.

The idea attracted support from Aurora project manager Brian Reid and from Louise Butler, Berwick Council's arts officer. Both have given ideas and information out of their experience.

"Louise had experience of working in the Scottish Borders and thought we could do something quite unusual and interesting," said Julia.

"We could join up the entire swathe of country on both sides of the barrier across the north of England and the south of Scotland."

Louise Butler, who has also long worked in the Borders and other parts of Scotland as a freelance administrator, said: "My knowing people on both sides of the border provided a catalyst to get this moving. There is a synergy between the two areas.

"This has been bubbling away for a while, but now the time is right, because there are agencies involved and more funding. There is such energy behind it - it's amazing."

Brian Reid and Crossing Borders members are now developing a double event in September. Hopes are that all sorts of individuals and local organisations will join in to create two weekends of arts events and exhibitions, talks, workshops, and so on.

The first will be centred on Hawick from September 5 to 7 and the second at Berwick from September 12 to 14.

In between those dates and those locations an art trail of open studios is being planned. And in any village where there is an open studio, local groups will be encouraged to hold their own events and create a mini-festival, adding to the attractions and interest for visitors.

"We want to draw in as many different people as possible to these events," Louise said.

Crossing Borders is also aimed at reducing the isolation of many artists and makers, working alone. It should make it easier for them to share ideas, information and practical help.

Julia, who is the group's under-secretary, said: "We cover people who produce anything that is designed and handmade, but I would like us to extend membership to other artists like dancers and musicians, and to artisans like soap or cheese makers."

Whatever helps artists and makers earn a living should be good for the local economy as a whole, especially if it draws in more visitors for longer stays.

"We have a core of people who love the Borders and North Northumberland but many tourists just pass through on their way to Edinburgh and the Highlands," Julia said.

"But the area is quiet and peaceful, and it's a good place to come to for a weekend or a longer stay, or for an out-of-season visit."

DENIS INCH
denis@whooshbooks.com