Starcatchers’ Where We Are project sets the scene for a season of outdoors creative activity across Fife.

Set in the stunning Lochore Meadows in Fife, Starcatchers’ team of artists and artistic trainees met for the first time at the start of June to plan sessions for Where We Are. The project will see creative activity embedded in communities across Fife and enrich direct engagement with babies and their young parents.

Where We Are will see the team of artists travel to Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Lochgelly/ Cowdenbeath and Leven over 8 months, with inspiring outdoors arts activity, designed so the voices of the participants – both babies and young parents - are reflected and heard. The project builds on an existing relationship with partner Fife Gingerbread as well as Starcatchers’ previous work in Fife with their flagship community engagement project, Expecting Something.

The artists on the Where We Are team are Lead Artists, Kirsty Pennycook - Theatre Maker, Kirsten Abraham – Visual Artist and Callum Younger - Musician, and Trainee Artists Roz McAndrew and Claire Docherty. Together with Starcatchers’ Associate Artist and Creative Babies Coordinator, Kerry Cleland, they met in Lochore Meadows Fairy Trail to plan immersive and engaging creative play sessions involving messy play and finding sounds and rhythm in nature. The sessions began this week and will run weekly in different outdoors spots in Fife.

Where We Are is a new creative initiative by Starcatchers, Imaginate and Lyra encompassing a travelling ensemble, creative play, and participatory performance making, all co-designed with children and young people across Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife, and supported by the Creative Scotland Youth Arts Targeted Fund.

Rhona Matheson, Starcatchers’ Chief Executive said: 

“Where We Are is a fantastic new initiative that we hope will bring some joy, magic and creativity to children and young people who are currently involved with Fife Gingerbread. Central to Starcatchers’ Where We Are strand is the opportunity to engage artists to work directly in communities with teen parents and their babies who have found the impact of the pandemic particularly challenging, and to ensure access to artistic and creative experiences for the youngest children.” 

Louise Harding, Fife Gingerbread Support Worker said:

“Fife Gingerbread families are super keen to get involved with this opportunity with Starcatchers new project Where We Are. The project provides parents and their little ones with engaging outdoor creative play well as a platform for self-expression and socialisation with others. It’s going to be great fun, and we’ve seen the hugely positive impact play has with families- everyone is so excited!”

A Where We Are project participant said:

“Noah absolutely loved when he was there! He was so comfortable around everyone and everyone made me and Noah comfortable seeing as it was our first time there, so many ideas for babies to play with that I would have never thought about!”

Linsey Proctor from Fife Gingerbread said:

“By working with Starcatchers, Fife Gingerbread can now offer something new and exciting to our families- the innovative methods and ethos really aligns with what we know works with bringing families together. Having that connection with nature is something that is special not only for the children but for the parents too.”

Find out more.