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Earlier this year the Forge team were delighted to be invited to work with S2 pupils at Banff Academy on an ambitious creative project. Working in partnership with Palestinian street artist Taqi Spateen and The Forge Team, pupils explored themes of home, identity, change and cultural heritage to create a collaborative exhibition of work.

It was a beautiful spring day when we visited pupils at Banff Academy, daffodils were blooming, birds chirping and all felt at peace, a world away from the daily reality of Palestinian street artist Taqi Spateen. As I walked through the school gates, I wondered how and if pupils would be able to grasp and articulate the complex global issues inherent in this project’s themes through their work. 

We were made to feel very welcome by pupils and staff during our visit, and I have to admit I was blown away by the maturity and intelligence with which pupils tackled the project. The Forge team had helped provide a structure for the exhibition; a collection of boards featuring work by pupils as a collaboration, rather like a patchwork, reflective of the varying themes and individual interpretations and experiences of pupils coming together as a community. In the classroom, pupils were working on their individual pieces with varying themes; climate change, identity, home and conflict, their enthusiasm and comprehension was apparent from the outset. We had a number of interesting conversations around the nature of identity, home and climate change and I was impressed with the intelligence and thought pupils had brought to the project. 

Over the half term break we returned to school to fix the boards together and I was delighted to be confronted by a large collection of artwork in different styles and media; painting, drawing, collage, all reflecting linked themes - it was truly fabulous to see them all together as if the voices of pupils were singing for all to hear! We spent a couple of days organising and collating the boards to create patchwork displays themed around climate change, home, conflict and pattern. I have to say the pattern patchwork display is my personal favourite; a collection of celtic and arabic patterns demonstrating clear cultural links between Banff and Palestine. 

The exhibition was opened by local artist and Forge Director Bryan Angus on the 17th April at The Smiddy in Banff. Displays can also be seen at local businesses Holistically Happy, Retro Carmelite and The Living Room. Pupils' work has also been displayed by Taqi on the West Bank Wall in Palestine - creating a true powerful and physical link between Banff and Bathlehem.

It was truly a delight to be involved in this project that in its very nature fosters understanding and tolerance whilst building community links. As Karen Adams MSP wrote in her Social Media post about the project ‘This is how we build bridges, not walls’.

We've kicked off the season in fine style with our first spring EcoForge markets our "Freecycle @ The Forge" event, and our first WordForge event of the year on-site. The site has passed the winter in fine style, thanks to all the efforts from our wonderful directors and angels who worked so hard last year to get everything up and running.

Attendance has been wonderful too, with an equal share of familiar faces and newcomers coming through our gate. We continue now, and forever to welcome all good people from all communities and walks of life. You're all safe with us :)

Wordforge, our monthly spoken word event, has swiftly become a highlight in the Forge’s calendar; a relaxed, fun affair with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. 

The idea first occurred early last year, one of a flurry in the early days of excited planning and scheming. I personally was keen for this event to thrive, not only because I had been swept into a state of awe by my visit to the poetry tent at Belladrum in 2023, but because it was something new; something different to do and experience in the local area. Little did I know the impact it would have.

My first task was to find local poets, wordsmiths, writers and performers; anyone keen to get up and ‘do their thing’. Before long a number of people pointed me in the direction of the absolute legend that is Fin Hall, the International beat poet laureate who just happens to live in New Pitsligo. His encouragement and support have been key to this event's success, indeed, at our first event in July he turned up with another poet and a whole crowd of supporters. Since then we have hosted wordforge on a monthly basis, using The Vinery cafe area over the winter months (big thanks to the vinery), we’ve listened to poems, songs, and short stories galore and it has been glorious!

In this way Wordforge is indeed a successful monthly event, but it is also much more than this. I have yet to tell you of the nuances, the small but significant happenings that lie therein, and of the wider impact wordforge has had on my own life.

When we launched the event it came as no surprise to those that know me (English graduate, ex-librarian, creative) that poetry was right up my street, but what they didn't know was that, whilst I knew I could write, I just never had motivation, encouragement, confidence, ‘je ne sais quas’ to pick up a pen and do it. Since my degree, life had happened (as is its tendency), and writing had become a ghost attached to a former self. 

For that first event in July I wrote a poem because I needed to make sure we had enough performers - I decided to try and make it funny, focusing on the subject ‘pole dancing whilst growing older’. When I read my poem something happened; people laughed at the funny bits and, although I was nervous, I felt somehow comfortable performing at the same time. I wrote more poems, and I read them, and the audience laughed and cried with me. Real tears were shed. Real moments were shared. I felt connections with people I have never felt. 

These are the nuances; when someone reads a line that tears at your soul, makes you feel seen and exposed in the most unexpected way. Whether it’s hilarity or despair, fear or strength when the words relate it’s overwhelming and yet wonderfully cathartic. In this way wordforge is building relationships and forging connections in a manner I have never before experienced. It is wonderful and special, something to be cherished.

Our next Wordforge is at the lovely Vinery Cafe in Banff on the 22nd of February from 6pm. All are welcome.

We were delighted to be joined by the very wonderful Pauline Cordiner for an (early) evening of storytelling on Friday. She told us a variety of weird and wonderful ghostly Halloween stories, with assistance from some truly spectacular puppets!

The weather held good for this month's Ecoforge! We continue to be delighted by the local support and attendance at these events.

All our EcoForge stallholders are local craftspeople making a variety of wonderful sustainable jewellery, art, toiletries, and all sorts of other wonderful creations :)