Details of a major new art project on the banks of the River Ness are to be unveiled this week.
The public are being invited to give their views on the £756,000 scheme to install public art exhibitions in Inverness city centre.
The project is being led by the Inverness City Arts (ICArts) working group and has been designed to complement Highland Council’s River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, which is due for completion in the coming weeks.
Members of the public are invited to view a presentation and exhibition on the development of the project at Trinity Church, Huntly Place, Inverness on Thursday from 10.30am till 3pm.
ICArts chairman Councillor Ken Gowans said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to put Inverness on the destination map for art and cultural tourism.
“The proposed River Connections projects are not just an end in themselves, they are part of the beginning of a new city vision for Inverness.
“We are creating art of the people for the people and this is your chance meet some of the artists, hear what they have to say and most importantly make your views known on what you would like to see developed in your city, and where you would like this to happen along the River Ness.”
The project includes the Rest Spaces scheme, which will provide five areas where people can linger at the river.
This was won by Glasgow-based Dress for the Weather.
The biggest part of the project is The Gathering Place, valued at £300,000, which challenges the winning artist to “provide a focal point and an overview of the River Ness” .
Sculptural Destination, which is worth £60,000, including a £15,000 artist’s fee, requires the artist to create a work that “encourages people to explore the length of the river and contribute to the regeneration of an underused or underdeveloped area”.
The first phase, River Connections, worth £60,000, was awarded to Aberfeldy artist Mary Bourne.
The final element will be the creation of a riverside trail.
The bulk of the funding came from Creative Scotland who supplied £305,000.
Other support has come from Inverness Common Good Fund (£250,000), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (£66,000), Highland Council (£66,000) and Inverness Common Good Fund (£30,750).