About Upland

Upland is a bold, ambitious, rural-based visual art and craft development organisation based in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland.

Spring Fling Rural Mural (2016) by 44FLAVOURS and Rory Laycock. Photo by Colin Tennant

Upland is a bold, ambitious, rurally-based visual art and craft development organisation that evolved from Spring Fling CIC and was established in 2015 - find out more in Our History

Overview

Spring Fling Open Studios continues as Upland’s flagship event but we now offer a year round programme delivering a range of projects, events and exhibitions working with young people, emerging and established artists and makers. As the visual arts and craft development organisation for Dumfries & Galloway, Upland aims to provide a network for learning and sharing, offering advice and support to creative practitioners whilst aiming to inspire and educate a wide range of audiences to participate in and be supportive of visual arts and crafts.

As a membership organisation we work to create opportunities that connect our artists and makers with audiences, communities and each other. With a strong sense of place, we aim to highlight and celebrate our unique region and its creative community, raising its profile in a national and international context.

Our Vision

Creating a sustainable, innovative and inclusive visual arts and crafts sector in Dumfries and Galloway.

Our Mission

To provide leadership in the visual art and craft sector regionally, collaborating with the cultural sector across Dumfries and Galloway and beyond.
To raise the profile of the visual art and craft sector of our rural area in a national and international context and build meaningful partnerships to support this.
To listen to local visual artists and makers and respond by providing relevant support and act as a collective voice to advocate on their behalf.
To support the engagement of a wide diversity of audiences in visual art and craft and initiate opportunities that promote inclusive, meaningful participation.
To produce and facilitate ambitious creative projects that are innovative and experimental in approach.

Our Core Values

Inclusivity
Experimentation and Innovation
Quality
Creativity
Professionalism
Nurturing and Respect

Our Aims

To produce and deliver festivals, events, and experimental projects of the highest quality that are rooted in place and far reaching in scope.
To nurture the development of artistic excellence so that it thrives and grows
To inspire and engage a diverse range of people to celebrate, participate in and be supportive of visual art and craft practice.
To raise the profile of visual artists and makers locally, nationally and internationally fulfilling a crucial role in the culture, economy and tourism of Dumfries and Galloway.
To actively work to reduce our impact on the climate and environment and embed positive climate action in our work.

Read our Environmental Policy here.

Read our Equality & Diversity and Dignity At Work Policy here.

Read our EDI Action Plan here.

Read our Safeguarding Policy here.

Read our Fair Work Policy here.