Growing Old Competitively

Written By Kevin Harrison

Photographer: Alex Rotas (alexrotasphotography.co.uk)

Location: Forth Valley Royal Hospital Exhibition in 2024

Supported by: Artlink Central Art and Wellbeing Programme

About the Exhibition

Growing Old Competitively is a photographic exhibition celebrating older athletes who continue to compete at the highest levels. The exhibition features 12 striking images by photographer Alex Rotas, selected from her 2018 series at the Park Gallery, Falkirk, and highlighting senior Scottish sports participants.

The photographs capture athletes aged 60 to 90+ in action at their chosen events, including sprints, hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, and distance races — often in moments of record-breaking performance or medal-winning achievement. Each image showcases skill, dedication, and the energy of competitive sport at any age.

Community Involvement The exhibition was curated and installed with the support of Larbert High School pupils, who participated as part of a summer work placement with Artlink Central’s Art Coordinator. Pupils from the Art and Design department:

  • Assisted with curation and installation of the artwork

  • Created interpretation text for visitors

  • Contributed to other activities supporting the Art and Wellbeing programme

This partnership gave students hands-on experience in exhibition delivery and arts-based community engagement, combining creative learning with practical skills.

Special Events Photographer Alex Rotas visited the exhibition in August 2023, accompanied by Falkirk Council’s Exhibitions Officer Gillian Smith. The visit included:

  • A talk at Larbert High School for photography higher students

  • Dedicated feedback sessions for students on their own creative work

This event provided an invaluable opportunity for young creatives to learn directly from a professional photographer and engage with the themes of age, achievement, and performance in sport.

Explore & Learn More View the mini interview with Alex Rotas and Gillian Smith [here] (link to interview)

Kevin Harrison
Kevin Harrison is the Director of Artlink Central, a charity and social enterprise designing creative experiences in conjunction with artists, public bodies and led by disadvantaged or marginalised people particularly in health, social care or criminal justice contexts. . Kevin joined the organisation five years ago and was previously Arts and Wellbeing Manager with Sense Scotland since 2006, supporting a Scotland-wide participation in the arts for disabled people with communication needs. Kevin managed the development of a range of arts projects including Threads and Found in Translation, projects exploring cultural diversity and disability, and Leaving New Craigs, a life history project in Inverness for people leaving the last long stay hospital in Scotland. He managed a national arts and wellbeing team and supported the establishment of a strong creative programme in the TouchBase, a new inclusive base for people and communities supported by Sense Scotland in the south side of Glasgow. Kevin who has a degree in theatre and film from Roehampton University and who undertook postgraduate studies in Arts Management and Policy at Birkbeck University of London is also a trustee for Scottish Prison Arts Network, chair of Dementia Friendly Forth Valley as part of a Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) programme. Previous posts include freelance editor and administration roles with key national disability arts organisation, Shape Arts and public sector roles in Arts Development and as Business Manager, Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council, supporting a multi-million pound EQUAL creative industries inclusion programme . He also has experience of managing Music 4 Slough, a Youth Music Action Zone.
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Falkirk Schools Mural Competition Open to secondary school pupils across the Falkirk Council area