THE GUIDE TO SCOTLAND’S FESTIVALS 2022
PHOTO: ALAN MCATEER
SEEDS OF HOPE As Scotland’s major contribution to the UNBOXED programme of creativity and innovation across the UK in 2022, Ailsa Sheldon explores Dandelion, a project aiming to flower as a celebration of culture, arts, community and food
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dandelion is a symbol of resilience. A hardy wildflower which can flourish and grow anywhere: in depleted soil, in cracked pavements, in gardens that nobody thought to plant. In 2022, we can expect to find Dandelion in bloom all over Scotland as an expansive arts and growing project that spans cultures and generations, hoping to bring the joy of growing, community and music to as many people as possible. Among other aims, Dandelion will reimagine the cultural traditions of Harvest and include the largest citizen science experiment in Scottish history. Following one growing season from April to September, Dandelion will bring together musicians, scientists, technologists, artists, performers, school children and growers of all levels of experience and none. From remote islands and rural villages to city centres, Dandelion aims to be ‘a gift for Scotland’. The project plans to engage thousands of people in traditional and cutting-edge food-growing techniques, and inspire new music and art, culminating in hundreds of
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community harvest events across Scotland, as well as two large free festivals of food and music in Glasgow and Inverness. At the core of Dandelion is community; people coming together to grow and share food, ideas, music and new experiences. There’s a lot to learn: how will we feed ourselves in the future, will vertical gardening be the answer, can anywhere be a growing space, and who is going to do the growing? Part celebration, part experiment, Dandelion is a six-month long conversation about food in Scotland and everyone’s invited to get their hands dirty. Dandelion is in part inspired by the different approaches to community that blossomed during the pandemic, as well as a desire to forge deeper connections. For some, lockdowns were a chance to get more involved in local communities, focus on our immediate environs and perhaps meet our neighbours. For others, it was a time of deep isolation. During lockdown, Angus Farquhar, creative director of Dandelion, and former director of Public Art Collective NVA, LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVALS
