SCAN Summit 2025: The Grid

Presented by Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN), the annual SCAN Summit explores how contemporary art practice relates to the world we live in today, by bringing artists, curators and art workers together with writers, thinkers and experts from wider fields for mutual learning. For our first summit in the Highlands, we present The Grid, an all-day programme interrogating the systems that distribute power, energy and communications in literal and metaphorical ways. Drawing inspiration from the Highland economy, currently at the forefront of new forms of energy generation, and longstanding challenges about the distribution of power, SCAN Summit 2025: The Grid will examine alternative energy, land and language, and the culture and politics of societies and systems in transition.

FREE for SCAN members / £10 for non-members (all tickets inclusive of vegan lunch). To join our membership, click here.


PROGRAMME

Talks

• Writer and researcher Harvey Dimond on climate and colonialism, the entangled histories and trajectories of the climate crisis, the Highland Clearances, and the Atlantic slave trade.
• Artist Les Bicknell on new work emerging from his current placement as artist-in-residence at Sizewell C Nuclear Power Plant.
• Environmental journalist Marianne Brown on her book The Shetland Way, which explores the nuances of conflicting community sentiment towards windfarm development.

Breakout Sessions

• Explore artist-led activity in the Highlands with Circus Artspace Associates.
• Take part in an interactive birding session with the Inverness chapter of the Feminist Bird Club.
• Create a co-designed zine with The Highland Zine Bothy.

Films

• This Map of Affections by Maria de Lima, documenting a knowledge exchange on the Isle of Skye between Scottish community activists and Indigenous and Traditional Peoples from Pará, north Brazil.
• Offshore by Hazel Falck, bringing together workers’ perspectives on offshore oil and gas and renewable energy, and exploring the impact of energy transition.

In-conversation

A panel on learning from indigenous knowledge and galvanising communities around community power (both literally and metaphorically), with artist-filmmaker Maria de Lima, public energy campaigner Flick Monk, and Timespan Curator/Director Giulia Gregnanin.

Evening fringe event: Master Rock

A deep listening event in Eden Court’s granite chapel space to mark 10 years of Maria Fusco's seminal audio work Master Rock. Space is limited and separate booking is essential: book tickets here.


TRAVEL BURSARIES

We are able to offer a small number of travel bursaries. To apply, please send an email to programme@sca-net.org with a note of your travel costs and circumstances by 5 May. Priority will be given to SCAN members. In line with our net zero commitments, bursaries will only be issued for travel by public transport unless travel by car is required for access reasons, e.g. disability.


ACCESS

The venue is located a 13-minute walk from Inverness Train Station. Venue access information can be found here. Though doors will be closed to prevent noise ingress, attendees are welcome to leave the room and return at any point.

Each presentation session will be live captioned and all films presented with descriptive closed captions.

We will have an identified access coordinator on-hand to greet guests and facilitate access on the day. Please contact Lydia Honeybone via programme@sca-net.org if you have any queries.

SCAN is supported by Creative Scotland. SCAN Summit 2025 is supported by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.

Image description: A yellow background with black grids and diagrams of landscapes and abstract shapes in a grid formation. The text reads: 'Scottish Comtemporary Art Network', top middle and 'SUMMIT 2025: THE GRID' bottom left.