Aberdeen artists unite to save gardens

A GROUP of Aberdeen artists have joined forces to create an exhibition they hope will safeguard the future of the city’s Union Terrace Gardens.

Called Insert, it features work by 15 people and has been organised to raise awareness of the proposed changes to the gardens.

The city council is examining plans to create a civic square on the site of the Denburn Valley and Union Terrace Gardens.

Peacock Visual Arts wants to redevelop the gardens and build an arts centre on the site, but the plans were thrown into doubt when Wood Group chairman Sir Ian Wood pledged £50million to the cost of raising Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley to street level.

If Sir Ian’s plans are approved, it would be impossible to build the visual arts centre as the building was designed to work with the existing landscape. Gray’s School of Art graduate Katie Guthrie, 24, created an online petition to try to help save the gardens and the proposed centre. It has attracted more than 1,000 signatures.

Miss Guthrie, of Spa Street, Aberdeen, who also organised the exhibition, said: “We felt an exhibition of local artists was the perfect way to kick off our series of events. It is our belief that art is created to engage thought and debate.

“This show is a really great example of artists working together in a totally positive and creative way to try and show their support for a campaign that aims to give them a reason to stay in the city.”

The exhibition was launched last night at Project Slogan, on Langstane Place.