Community COVID memorials unveiled across East Dunbartonshire

Residents and groups in East Dunbartonshire commemorated the opening of the region’s COVID-19 community memorials.

Article Source: Remembering Together East Dunbartonshire
Last Updated: 14 July 2024 13:49

Image credit: @CherryManMedia

Specially designed arbours have been unveiled in 12 areas, including Auchinairn, Baldernock, Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lennoxtown, Lenzie, Milngavie, Milton of Campsie, Torrance, Twechar and Waterside.

These 12 memorials form part of Remembering Together, a national project that seeks to give each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities the chance to reflect their unique experience of the Covid-19 pandemic with the help of commissioned artists and creative organisations.

This project is delivered with funding from the Scottish Government, working in collaboration with Greenspace Scotland, East Dunbartonshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust (EDLCT).

During phase one of the project, Elena Mary Harris – lead participatory artist and facilitator – worked alongside East Dunbartonshire communities to help shape ideas for a creative output that would best reflect the diversity of pandemic experiences. Elena hosted engagement sessions and attended events such as Twechar Beach Day, Milngavie Week and Kirkintilloch Gala Day – using a variety of different mediums (including print, video and spoken word) to empower participants to communicate through creativity.

From these consultations, three design options were produced for the covered seating areas that were then shared with the wider community via an online vote, where all residents were able to help choose a favourite. The project has now been realised with 12 memorial seating areas installed in towns and villages across the region; showing the wealth of different experiences and impacts from across East Dunbartonshire.

Each area has three elements: a covered seated area designed for communal reflection; a guided walk meant to represent how residents found new routes and paths through the pandemic; and different soundscapes for each bench that bring together stories of local groups and individuals as well as music performances from local musicians.

The ultimate aim of the project is to bring together communities and artists in a spirit of reflection, hope and healing – commemorating local residents who lost their lives, the many who experienced profound change and loss, and the ways in which people came together during unprecedented times.

Each bench tells it’s own story. To find the locations of the other benches you can go to our website www.rememberingtogethered.com

Remembering Together has commissioned artists in all of Scotland's 32 local authority areas to co-create with communities and find ways of honouring the people we have lost and acknowledging all the ways that COVID is still affecting us.

Remembering Together East Dunbartonshire is commissioned by greenspace scotland with funding from the Scottish Government.

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