Phase 2 of North Ayrshire’s national Covid memorial project is now underway…
Design prototype workshops were recently held at Fullarton’s Old Parish Church, Irvine and Lochshore Park in Kilbirnie as the national Covid-19 memorial programme ‘Remembering Together’ resumes.
The project that is funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with Greenspace Scotland, and the community workshops that were held signal Phase 2 now being underway.
Hosted by North Ayrshire’s creative practitioner, icecream architecture, the workshops invited local people to share their design ideas and develop protypes using a host of crafting and 3D modelling techniques.
Do you want to get involved in North Ayrshire’s contribution to the Covid-19 National Memorial Programme? If so, save the date! Design workshops are being held on Tuesday next week (19 September) and members of the public are invited to come and have their say at the following locations:
- 11am until midday at Kilbirnie Tesco
- 12.30pm until 2pm at Kilwinning Main Street
- 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Ardrossan Harbour
- 4pm until 5pm at Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
- 5.30pm until 6.30pm – Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
Or, if you live further away, visit the #rememberingtogetherna website to find out how you can contribute virtually.
Once models were made, the groups then physically tested their versions of their memorial ideas, exploring form, function, shape and scale with icecream’s art and design experts.
Project Manager at icecream architecture, Rachael Kelly, reflected: “We have received over 200 stories in Phase 1 so it is exciting now to be working in Phase 2 to consider how we are going to shape everyone’s pandemic experiences into a fitting community memorial for North Ayrshire.
“Thank you to everyone who attended our recent workshops. We have spent the most part of this year sifting through over 200 stories, memories and reflections shared by local residents to better understand their needs.
“The workshops allowed us to take the project to the next level – as we delivered a series of creative activities to troubleshoot how everyone’s unique community ambitions can be taken to a design stage and full realised.
“From a quiet space to lay down to an engaging and multi-sensory place to spend time walking in, we’re looking forward to see where Phase 2 will lead us next.”
Project Manager at icecream architecture, Rachael Kelly, reflected: “We have received over 200 stories in Phase 1 so it is exciting now to be working in Phase 2 to consider how we are going to shape everyone’s pandemic experiences into a fitting community memorial for North Ayrshire.“Thank you to everyone who attended our recent workshops. The workshops allowed us to take the project to the next level – as we delivered a series of creative activities to troubleshoot how everyone’s unique community ambitions can be taken to a design stage and full realised.
“From a quiet space to lay down to an engaging and multi-sensory place to spend time walking in, we’re looking forward to see where Phase 2 will lead us next.”
And those taking part at the workshops shared some great feedback:
One resident said: “When I came along, I had no idea what to expect, I am surprised to realise that I do have a creative streak too.”
With a parent adding: “My kids loved this, they had the chance to build 3D models and pitch their ideas to an engaged audience, a great experience.”
Delivered in all 32 local authorities to acknowledge moments of reflection during the pandemic, the project is beyond the halfway point of the community consultation in North Ayrshire.
So far, the team have delivered four memory-sharing workshops in Beith, Irvine, Fairlie and Ardrossan, two drop-in sessions at Barrmill Community Centre and the Argyle Community Centre in Saltcoats and three guided walks in Beith, Kilwinning and Stevenson.
The Irvine and Garnock creative workshops mark the most recent milestone.
Project lead from Connected Communities, Lindsay Robbins said: “The Connected Communities team are delighted that icecream architecture are back in North Ayrshire to help us on our way in the creative process for our contribution to this important memorial project. With so many stories already shared, the first phase has been so well received.
“Now the pop-up workshops on Tuesday, September 19, will give members of the public a chance to stop by, see some of the prototypes and decide upon what ideas resonate most with them. So if you haven’t had a chance to get involved just yet, why not pop along to have your say?”
- 11am until midday – Kilbirnie Tesco
- 12.30pm until 2pm – Kilwinning Main Street
- 2.30pm to 3.30pm – Ardrossan Harbour
- 4pm until 5pm – Harbour Arts Centre Irvine
- 5.30pm until 6.30pm – Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
Or, if you live further away, visit online to share your views on the most recent design concepts: Updates | Map of Memories | Remembering Together
Stay tuned on social media for further updates coming soon…
For more on the Remembering Together programme and what is happening across Scotland, visit the website: https://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/remembering-together
Remembering Together: Co-creating Covid Community Memorials is a project that aims to commemorate people’s experiences across Scotland throughout the pandemic. You can read what has been shared already online at: https://www.mapofmemories.com
Stay tuned on (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icecreamarch) and (Twitter: https://twitter.com/icecreamarch)