Working with Artists

Championing artists as collaborators, innovators, and community builders.

Why Artists Are Central to Our Work

At Artlink Central, artists aren’t just deliverers of projects — they are creative partners in shaping how we work, who we reach, and the impact we make.
From the first spark of an idea to the final performance, exhibition, or publication, artists drive the vision, bring specialist skills, and help us reach into communities in meaningful, creative ways.

“Our mission is powered by the belief that artists thrive when given space, trust, and the right support.”

How We Work with Artists

1. Commissions and Residencies

We commission artists across disciplines — visual arts, performance, music, literature, digital media — to create new work with and for communities. Many residencies are embedded in schools, hospitals, prisons, and neighbourhoods, allowing artists to develop projects over time and respond to local needs.

2. Co-design with Communities

Our approach is collaborative. Artists co-design projects with participants, ensuring work is inclusive, relevant, and rooted in lived experience. This includes dementia-inclusive heritage projects, trauma-informed youth arts, and place-making events like Culture Night Stirling.

3. Professional Development and Mentoring

We offer mentoring, training, and peer exchange opportunities so artists can grow their practice — whether that’s learning to work in healthcare environments, developing co-creative skills, or exploring new artforms.

4. Fair Pay and Support

We commit to fair pay for artists, following recognised industry standards. Our administrative and production teams provide logistical and safeguarding support, freeing artists to focus on creativity.

Who We Work With

We work with a diverse network of local, national, and international artists. Many return year after year, building long-term relationships with Artlink Central and the communities we serve.
Our artists include:

• Emerging creatives developing their first large-scale projects.

• Established practitioners bringing expertise in visual arts, theatre, music, film, and literature.

• Specialist facilitators trained in areas such as disability arts, mental health, and heritage interpretation.

“The relationships we build with artists are partnerships — grounded in trust, experimentation, and a shared commitment to social impact.”

A Track Record of Artist-Led Impact

From Julia Donaldson curating exhibitions and performing for families, to new commissions that transform unused spaces into vibrant cultural hubs, our history is full of projects where artists have been catalysts for change.
Recent highlights include:

• Our Connected Heritage — bringing visual artists and storytellers into dementia-inclusive community heritage work.

• Culture Night Stirling — artist-led commissions animating streets, squares, and public buildings.

• Create and Converge — co-designed with young people and led by a team of artists skilled in trauma-informed practice.

📷 Image suggestion: Collage of specific project moments with captions naming the artist(s).

Join Our Artist Network

We’re always looking for artists who share our vision for inclusive, community-rooted creativity.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or just starting your socially engaged practice, we want to hear from you.

📩 Call to Action Button: Join Our Artist Mailing List