Victorian Market Project

by Sarah Grant, 4 Jul 2008

I have been back in Inverness a couple of weeks now and have been able to, since my return, discover some of the new projects undergo with the Inverness Old Town Project. Meeting with Susan Christie, Project Director, two weeks ago I was updated on the Victorian Market commission and the Ramada Jarvis project and the impressive selection of high calibre artists from around the world applying for the posts!

Susan invited me later that week to meet the first of three groups who were devising proposals for the Victorian Market commission. So last Wednesday I met artists Nicola Atkinson, Karen Vaughan and Hanna Tuulilu [Group One] alongside project co-ordinator Louise Mor [and fellow blogger] and Susan for an informal chat about the project over some Thai Soup in the Old Towns Hootenanny’s restaurant.

The trio had arrived in Inverness that morning, and for Nicola this was her first time in the city [she presently lives in Sweden]. All had worked independently and collaboratively on a wide range of projects prior stating that they would, if successful, take on the Victorian Market project like a Rock Band with a lead person supported by strong band members! I agreed to meet with the team at the end of the week [Friday] to be updated with there few days in the city discovering the Old Town and the Victorian Market.

Over some coffee at the Old Towns Rendezvous café I met the trio Friday lunchtime and asked them what their impressions of the market were and their feelings on the task at hand [redesigning three out of the four entrances to the Victorian Market]

They seemed excited and enthusiastic about the project, and as Nicola showed me photos of them looking around the market Hannah and Karen were busy jotting ideas on paper for their proposal. Realising they had a blogger present [me] the doodles were promptly hidden from my view with Nicola stating their ideas were presently top secret. I should inform that the trio are competing for the project with two other groups, so did not want to let any ideas be known just yet.

What they did disclose however, was their proposal would aim to reflect the different personalities of the market, its uniqueness and at the same time compliment the current markets architecture. Hannah said the project should be a celebration of its uniqueness and all agreed that the project would be the beginning of the markets transformation foreseeing that the project, which specifically focuses on the exterior entrances, would encourage future interior design/renovation to take place……

Gordon Brown and Sam Barlow are the second group developing a proposal for the market, and artist Ekkhard Altenburger working independently on the third and final proposal.

I am excited to find out which group will be selected and most eager to see the proposals come to fruition when work begins later this year!