Forth Valley Creative Network: Creative Flow #5

Event Date: Friday 2nd May
Event Time: 9:30-11:30am
Event Location: West Moss-side Farm, Thornhill, Stirling, FK8 3QJ

Join the Forth Valley Creative Network on Friday 2nd May for our next Creative Flow gathering where we bring together creatives from across the Forth Valley region to connect and share news or opportunities. There will be free coffee, tea, and cake available for attendees. This month we're delighted to be collaborating with Kate Sankey at West Moss-side Organic Farm. This event is also an opportunity for FORTH2o local partner organisations to meet creatives and network with others involved with the project. FORTH2o is a £5m UKRI Investment led by the University of Stirling. It is a ground breaking new partnership in the region of Scotland covering the Forth River Basin, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh and the Lothians. It is one of four £5m ‘local policy innovation partnerships’ in the UK, and the only one in Scotland, led by University of Stirling’s Faculty of Social Science. We are delighted to be hosted by Moss-Side Farm for this Creative Flow event, as an ideal location for discussion themes across climate change, the natural environment and creativity, heritage and culture.

What to expect?
Creative Flow is a casual monthly gathering of creatives who practice, work, and/or live in the Forth Valley region. A creative peer network to support, share news and opportunities with each other. When you arrive, help yourself to a cuppa and settle in, we will have a short introduction from Kate Sankey, who will introduce us to the activities of West Moss-side Farm, followed by community shoutouts where you can highlight an opportunity or creative project you are working on. The rest of the morning will be blethering and connecting.

Who will be there?
Creatives of any stage, age, creative discipline, or practice. This is a safe and welcoming event for creatives alike to connect, extend their professional networks, and find out about upcoming opportunities in the Forth Valley region. Creatives can be hard to define: all are welcome, but as a guide we're expecting artists, writers, performers, designers, musicians, digital creators, studio providers, support orgs, craft makers, producers, curators, filmmakers, animators, game designers, art directors, educators, participatory creatives, workshop providers, architects, fashion, and many more.

About West Moss-side Farm:
West Moss-side Organic farm is a very special place set in the stunning landscape of the Carse of Stirling and Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve yet close to cities of Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh. It has evolved over 25 years from a small organic farm growing hay and rearing Shetland cattle into a place which invites you in for a visit.

It is also the home for The West Moss-side Art Collective: a group of artists and makers who each year participate in Open Studios events such as Forth Valley Art Beat and Open Studios Stirlingshire.

The venue has accessible toilets and partial access. The upstairs area (Hayloft Studio) does not have wheelchair access. You may wish to bring strong shoes and suitable clothing to appreciate the willow sculptures and labyrinth in the grounds of West Moss-side.

About FORTH2o Project:
The FORTH2O Partnership is a dynamic and forward-thinking network, dedicated to reshaping the way we engage with water. At once a policy network, a learning community, and a direct actor in the water system, we bring together diverse voices and perspectives to explore creative ‘what if’ questions.

As an open and generative space, we strive to optimise outcomes for places, businesses, communities, and individuals by viewing water through a holistic lens – understanding its complexities and interconnections.

Our mission is to foster a series of connected actions and activities that will help us ‘understand water better and be better with water’ – inspiring innovative ways to live and work with it. By harnessing our convening power, we create collaborative spaces where diverse interests align, policy is influenced, and systemic innovation flourishes on a scale that benefits everyone.

Parking and Venue Info:
For this event, there are a limited number of places available, as well as a limited number of parking spaces at the farm. Because of this, we strongly encourage participants to carshare where possible. If you have any issues getting to the event, please reach out to us and we can assist in arranging transport for you.