JUPITER + is our new off-site commissioning programme, which sees world-class artworks and creative learning opportunities brought to locations and communities across Scotland. The programme is powered by the belief that everyone should have access to the best of international art at their doorstep and our mission to inspire the next generation of artists in Scotland.
To pilot this new approach to contemporary art & education, JUPITER+ staged a takeover of a formerly vacant high street shop on Perth’s historic high street and created an immersive installation Don’t Buy Mi by Scottish award-winning artist Rachel Maclean. Above this installation, JUPITER+ offered 3 storeys of flexible learning spaces including a green screen studio and pilot art school. Against the backdrop of UCAS report of 17% decline in students choosing creative subjects, we supported teenagers (15 to 18 years) at a vital moment in their lives, offering mentorship, pathways to roles in creative industries, portfolio and skills building and, most importantly, confidence in their own voice, creative potential and decision-making abilities.
Rachel Maclean’s artwork Don’t Buy Mi was visited by 8,049 members of public, with weekend visitor numbers averaging 453, which is unprecedented for an artwork of this nature and evidences the ability of compelling cultural offers to draw locals back to the high street post pandemic. We exceeded our target for engaging high school students with two-thirds of the entire secondary school population in our target age range of Perthshire & Kinross participating in arts, digital media and green screen training. In addition to Perthshire & Kinross, schools from 7 council areas travelled to attend free learning programmes- Angus, Stirling, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife and Glasgow- with most FE colleges returning for multiple visits.
As a pilot project in Perth, critical reflection will enable us to make the next JUPITER+ city takeover benefit an even greater number of young people. The following pages summarises our successes in Perth, as well as identifying areas where we could do better and how we can enrich the impact of our work in the following areas: participation, advocacy, communications, project delivery, sustainability and environmental goals, impact on sector and legacy.
Total number of visits: 8049
Total number of schools: 22
Total number of students: 425
Local Perth visitor
Great to see more interesting things happening in the high street. Great example of what high streets could and should look like. Fantastic comment on late capitalism/body image/gender. More of this on the high street, please!
Student feedback
… The installation was such a different way of looking at art and was very inspirational to me …
Teacher’s feedback
… very accessible to young people and to this adult with little contact with contemporary and conceptual art…it’s broadened my own thinking and response …
