ONLINE CULTURAL MAP LAUNCHED FOR DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY REGION

Put yourself on the map

A new interactive online map has been developed by Dumfries and Galloway Council to help people find out who’s who and what’s where in one of Scotland’s most creative regions.
People can now log on the cultural map to find galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres, clubs, societies and venues across Dumfries and Galloway. They can also connect with hundreds of artists, craft makers, performers, musicians and all kinds of other creative organisations and businesses in this vibrant area of southwest Scotland.
People who are professionally involved with arts and culture in the region, or have a club or society they would like people to know about, can get themselves listed for free by using the online form on the cultural map website.
While there are already hundreds of entries, the idea is that as many people as possible will add their own details so that the cultural map lives and grows.
The project has been developed by the Council in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts (now DGU) with funding support from Creative Scotland as part of their Place Partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council. The initial data-gathering was carried out by the Fresh Start for Arts Project funded by the Council, Creative Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway LEADER.
The cultural map will be an important tool in the development of a refreshed Cultural Strategy for Dumfries and Galloway that the Council is currently facilitating. To find out more look out for the online cultural survey that will shortly be available on the Council’s and DGU’s websites.

Tom McAughtrie, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community and Customer Services Committee said;
“The Council is delighted to have supported the development of the cultural map. There are over 1,000 entries across the four categories of ‘creative people’, ‘creative businesses and organisations’, ‘do, see and browse’ and ‘media and whats-on websites’. This demonstrates the huge range of creative and cultural assets that the region has to offer and we hope that as new people add their details this number will grow and grow. As far as we know there are no other maps like this available in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK, so it’s a great first for our region.”
Amanda Herries, Chair of DGU (Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts) said:
“DG Unlimited are pleased to have been involved in the development of the Cultural Map and believe it to be a unique and valuable resource for our sector. We would urge everyone locally and nationally to use it as an insight into; the astonishing breadth of talent, the amazing places and the creative communities we have in our region.”
Philip Deverell, Director, Strategy at Creative Scotland said:

“We are really pleased to see the launch of the Cultural Map, which highlights the huge amount of creative and cultural activity and the artists and organisations living and working across Dumfries and Galloway. This is both a practical and inspiring development, and we look forward to seeing the map grow in the future.”
The map can be found at https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/culturalmap

Photographs attached shows representatives of Dumfries and Galloway Council, DG Unlimited and Creative Scotland

Origins of the map

The cultural map concept was developed as part of the Fresh Start for the Arts project delivered by the team ‘Culture Matters’, which was commissioned and funded by the Council, Creative Scotland and LEADER Dumfries and Galloway.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Business Technology Solutions team created the website and the mapping took place under the overall management of Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts (DGU) the independent member-led charity which took shape as a result of Fresh Start.

Funding for the map development was provided by the Council, DG Unlimited and Creative Scotland. Access to the historic Blaeu maps is courtesy of the National Library of Scotland Map Library.

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com.