Meet the 2019 Professional Development Programme participants

Scotland + Venice 2019 Professional Development Programme participants

17 Scottish-based individuals are taking part in the 2019 Professional Development Programme as part of the Scotland + Venice 2019 presentation of a new video work by Charlotte Prodger during the Venice Biennale of Art.

Courtney Barr, Exhibition Assistant, Gray’s School of Art
“It is such an amazing opportunity to not only be a part of the Biennale but to meet other young people who are interested in pursuing the same field as myself from all over the world. It will be an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can’t wait to get started with it!”

Lauren Ferguson, Exhibition Assistant, Gray’s School of Art
“I am really looking forward to working alongside a team of creative people in representing Scotland, whilst experiencing renowned international contemporary art.”

Courtney Barr and Lauren Ferguson

Eleanor Beale, Exhibition Assistant, Edinburgh College of Art 
“I feel extremely excited and privileged to be awarded a position amongst the Professional Development team. Working with Scotland + Venice will not only introduce me to a whole new realm of experience within the multi-faceted art world but will encourage and inform my own studies in History of Art and my art practice.”

Maria Oliver Smith, Exhibition Assistant, Edinburgh College of Art
“I am excited to be part of the team supporting Charlotte as she navigates the geographies and fluid relationships of environment and identity especially in Venice – ‘the floating city’”.

Frances Driscoll, Exhibition Assistant, Edinburgh College of Art
“As a young Scottish woman artist, not only is Prodger’s success inspiring, so too is the nature of her work, and I am thrilled to have been selected to be part of such an exciting opportunity.”

Aisling Ward, Senior Exhibition Assistant, Edinburgh College of Art
“I am really excited to work alongside Charlotte’s new commission, particularly at this significant moment in her artistic career. Having the opportunity to present her work at such a prestigious biennale, as well as working with a team of creative individuals will be a valuable experience.”

Eleanor Beale, Maria Oliver Smith, Frances Driscoll and Aisling Ward

Soorin Shin, Exhibition Assistant, Glasgow School of Art
“Being part of the Professional Development Programme is a great opportunity for me to learn more about art which is my pure passion. I am very excited to work with everyone who I am going to meet on this journey.”

Harvey Dimond, Senior Exhibition Assistant, Glasgow School of Art
“I’m really excited to be involved with Scotland + Venice this year, especially given the timely and important commissioning of Charlotte Prodger to represent Scotland.”

Aki Hassan, Exhibition Assistant, Glasgow School of Art
“I am truly excited to be given this opportunity. It is a rare encounter, especially for an undergraduate student, to be working abroad and closely with a professional team.”

Soorin Shin, Harvey Dimond and Aki Hassan

Jenny Sprenger, Exhibition Assistant, University of Highlands and Islands, Orkney College
“I am both thrilled and honoured to have been selected to be part of this opportunity and I am looking forward to the chance to connect with other artists and see world-class contemporary art in the flesh.”

Jenny Sprenger

Katheryne Morrison, Exhibition Assistant, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with an extremely talented group of people while exploring new art and learning all about the efforts involved in the Venice Biennale. Every time I think about it, I’m blown away by what this experience has to offer.”

Kaya Fraser, Exhibition Assistant, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
“This is a surreal opportunity. I am beyond excited to see to Charlotte’s and the team’s exhibition in Venice, as well as experiencing the standard of art the Biennale airs and network with an international array of artists; it’s something I didn’t expect at a student level.”

Katheryne Morrison and Kaya Fraser

Emma Blackhall, Exhibition Assistant, City of Glasgow College
“I am incredibly excited to be part of the Scotland + Venice team, it’s a real privilege be representing Charlotte Prodger’s new film and I can’t wait to work alongside the new work, swap skills with the rest team and pick up new ones!”

Emma Blackhall

Isaac Stanesby, Exhibition Assistant, Templar Arts and Leisure Centre (talc.)
“This is a really exciting opportunity to develop my skills in communicating with people about art while becoming acquainted with the work of some of the world’s leading contemporary artists in the monumental setting of the Venice Biennale.”

Grace Carroll, Exhibition Assistant, Templar Arts and Leisure Centre (talc.)
“I am delighted to be a part of such a prestigious event and value the opportunity to explore contemporary art and culture in a different country greatly. Through talking about and surrounding myself with the work of successful Scottish artists, I am in no doubt this experience will bring clarity to me about my own relationship to art and design and my personal place in the creative industries.”

Isaac Stanesby and Grace Carroll

Thomas Abercromby, Senior Exhibition Assistant, Scottish Contemporary Arts Network (SCAN)
“I’m very excited to be part of the professional development Programme; it’s a fantastic opportunity to develop skills with so many talented and creative people from across Scotland, which will ultimately allow us to promote Scotland as a country of excellence for producing new and experimental work in contemporary art.”

Foxy, Exhibition Assistant, Scottish Contemporary Arts Network (SCAN) 
“I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in the experience and welcome the fresh approach in my own practice it will nurture.”

Foxy and Thomas Abercromby

Read more about the 2019 Professional Development Programme.

All photos by Alan Dimmick.