The Imaginarium

09/06/2026

📚 On International Archives Day, we’re delighted to finally begin sharing news of our brand new Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway project… ✨

Building on our work on StoryTrails, Dr Flora Murray, The Story of a Fairy Family, Creative Caerlaverock, and The Missing Museum we’re incredibly excited to announce ‘Out of the Archives’ - our new community heritage initiative supported through the Dumfries Town Board’s Pride in Place programme.

Led by us at The Imaginarium / The Gallovidian Way in partnership with our long time collaborators at Arts D&G and Dumfries and Galloway Heritage Service, with strands to be delivered alongside our other favourite collaborators at The Crichton + Dumfries Museum and the people of Dumfries, the project will explore overlooked, hidden, underrepresented, and erased stories connected to Dumfries (providing A Fuller History of Dumfries) bringing more diverse local histories, voices and lived experiences to the fore through creative community engagement, interdisciplinary storytelling, immersive experiences and archival exploration.

We are soooo excited to finally get this project up and running!

As part of this early soft launch, we’ll be joining the upcoming Pride in Place Drop-In Sessions hosted by Dumfries Town Board, where local people can come meet us, hear more about the project, ask questions and find out how to get involved.

These informal sessions are a chance to:
✨ Meet the project team
✨ Hear more about the vision behind ‘Out of the Archives’
✨ Learn what kinds of stories and histories we’ll be exploring
✨ Find out how local people can participate
✨ Share your own memories, ideas and perspectives about Dumfries and its history

Whether you’re passionate about local heritage, interested in archives, curious about hidden stories, or simply want to hear more about what’s emerging through Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway - we’d love to chat with you…

📅 Dumfries Town Board Drop In Session dates we’ll be attending:
• Thursday 18 June 2026, 10am–2pm
• Friday 19 June 2026, 10am–2pm
• Thursday 25 June 2026, 5pm–7pm

📍 Venue:
Dumfries Town Board Office
The Hub, 24–26 Friars Vennel, Dumfries, DG1 2RL

Alongside “Out of the Archives”, you’ll also be able to hear more about Dumfries Town Board’s wider Pride in Place programme, it’s other Year One projects, and the long-term ambitions helping shape the future of Dumfries.

This project is rooted in the belief that archives belong to everyone - and that the stories shaping Dumfries should reflect the richness of diversity and lived experiences of the people who call this place home.

07/06/2026

It’s been a struggle keeping this one under wraps, but the Kirkcudbright Fringe programme is now live, so I can finally announce that we’ve planned an incredible evening with the fierce and fabulous “quarrelsome dames” Witches of Scotland ✨

“Witch! The Women They Tried to Erase” will bring together dark histories, remembrance and storytelling to consider one of Scotland’s darkest legacies – the persecution of those accused of witchcraft.

Alongside Ros Ollin, I’ll be introducing a new initiative developed through Kirkcudbright Fringe, CatStrand + The Imaginarium to honour the life and last journey of Elspeth MacKewan, executed as a witch in Kirkcudbright in 1698.

The evening then moves into a powerful discussion with Claire Mitchell KC + Zoe Venditozzi, co-authors of How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy, exploring how misogyny, fear and systems of power shaped Scotland’s witch persecutions, and how we reckon with these histories today.

Part remembrance. Part reckoning. Part call to action.

“Fierce, funny, devastating and utterly unforgettable live.”

“Two of the most compelling voices in Scotland today.”

“A force of nature live - equal parts righteous fury, razor-sharp wit and profound humanity.”

“The Witches of Scotland transform history into collective remembrance.”

This promises to be one unforgettable evening… get it in your dairies + get your tickets now, this will sell out! ✨

Check out the rest of KBT Fringe programme too… another wonderfully eclectic lineup!

The closing event of this year’s Fringe brings together dark histories, remembrance and storytelling to consider one of Scotland’s darkest legacies – the persecution of those accused of witchcraft. Ros Ollin and DJ McDowall will begin by introducing a new initiative developed through Kirkcudbr...

22/05/2026

Another chance to work with us and help us share the stories of our local under-represented histories / herstories…

📣 CALL OUT: SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR

Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway is looking for a creative Social Media Content Creator to help document and share an ambitious, community-led heritage project uncovering under-represented stories across Dumfries & Galloway.

Working to create engaging social content, short-form video, and digital storytelling that brings communities into the spotlight.

💰 £4,000 per year
📍 Flexible working / Dumfries & Galloway-based
📅 2-year freelance contract (year 3 TBC)
⏰ Deadline: Friday 29th May
📩 Apply with examples of your work + a short statement to [email protected]

For more information visit the opportunities page on our PoP partner Arts D&G website:

https://artsdg.org.uk/opportunities/call-out-social-media-content-creator/

19/05/2026

We are so lucky to have the incredible The Holywood Trust making so much possible within Dumfries & Galloway.

Without their unwavering support and encouragement The Story of a Fairy Family (and so so much else) would not have become a reality.

Infinite gratitude and appreciation out to the team ✨🙏🏽✨

Imagining Possibilities. Creating New Realities.

17/05/2026

FINAL REMINDER - Deadline tomorrow❣️

All the necessary info (including interview dates for successful applicants) can be found here:

https://artsdg.org.uk/opportunities/call-out-videographer-story-documentation-lead/

Want to work with us and help us share the stories of our local under-represented histories / herstories?

🎥 CALL OUT: VIDEOGRAPHER / STORY DOCUMENTATION LEAD

Our Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway initiative is looking for a videographer to help document our ambitious, community-led heritage project uncovering under-represented stories across Dumfries & Galloway.

Working alongside ourselves, Arts D&G, and Dumfries and Galloway Heritage Service you’ll capture workshops, events and real stories as they unfold. Creating both short-form social content and documentary pieces to build a lasting visual archive.

We’re looking for someone with a strong documentary eye, confident editing skills, and a sensitive approach to working with communities.

💰 £6,000 fee (24 flexible days across the year)
📅 Deadline: Monday 18 May
📩 Apply with examples of your work + a short statement

11/05/2026

Overwhelmed, and taking a moment to pause and say Thank You for an unexpected delight that landed in our inbox last week… ✨

We’re incredibly honoured that our The Story of a Fairy Family exhibition, developed in collaboration with Kirkcudbright Galleries alongside our team of local young folx and community members, and Dumfries and Galloway Heritage Service, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Creative Arts category at the Proud Scotland Awards 2026.

It means even more when nominations come from members of the public, we cannot thank you enough 🙏🏽

This recognition reflects a collective effort rooted in care, curiosity, and a commitment to bringing forward stories that have too often been overlooked, erased, or softened into silence.

Huge thanks to everyone who contributed through research, creativity, conversation, trust, and courage: especially the families of Dodo + Jack, and the young folx whose passion, insight and enthusiasm helped create such powerful intergenerational impact.

This project has always been about more than an exhibition. It’s about bringing hidden histories into the light, honouring our local q***r ancestors, creating a space for dialogue and ensuring they take their rightful Pride of Place within the story of Dumfries & Galloway.

My role has been to present the story locally, help hold and guide the process, bringing together people, archives, creativity, funding and ideas, but the richness of what’s been created belongs to the wider collective.

Recognition and representation matter, but what matters most is that these stories are no longer hidden.

Deep sincere thanks to everyone who has supported and believed in this work, especially our fabulous funders The Holywood Trust + the ever generous Wendy Moore who’s immaculate research brought their story to the world 💫

Here’s to our beloved Fairy Family: Vera “Jack” Holme, Dorothy “Dodo” Johnstone, Anne “Spook” Finlay, and Cecile Walton - and to their fabulous families whose trust made all of this possible.

06/05/2026

Want to work with us and help us share the stories of our local under-represented histories / herstories?

🎥 CALL OUT: VIDEOGRAPHER / STORY DOCUMENTATION LEAD

Our Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway initiative is looking for a videographer to help document our ambitious, community-led heritage project uncovering under-represented stories across Dumfries & Galloway.

Working alongside ourselves, Arts D&G, and Dumfries and Galloway Heritage Service you’ll capture workshops, events and real stories as they unfold. Creating both short-form social content and documentary pieces to build a lasting visual archive.

We’re looking for someone with a strong documentary eye, confident editing skills, and a sensitive approach to working with communities.

💰 £6,000 fee (24 flexible days across the year)
📅 Deadline: Monday 18 May
📩 Apply with examples of your work + a short statement

25/04/2026

🔍 Seeking out those and forging a new collaboration for a new strand of

A beautiful day, gorgeous cake, an idyllic location for a gathering of good people, deep conversation, imagining possibilities and the quiet beginnings of something truly meaningful.

Spring has well and truly sprung! ✨

27/01/2026

Never EVER a dull day with Ali B + the brilliant team @ Dumfries and Galloway Heritage Service in the Ewart Library… sooo good to be back in the archives working with them, imagineering and laying the foundations for some new projects