E m e r g e D is a not-for-profit association and are currently in the process of registering as a Company Limited by Guarantee.

E m e r g e D was founded in Glasgow in April 2002 as an artist-led initiative. They provide a platform and support structure for artists by commissioning and delivering temporary site-responsive works and interventions.

E me r g e D promotes and enables emerging artists across abroad range of disciplines with a fresh focus on site and context. They create innovative contemporary art projects in orphaned spaces out-with the conventional gallery system which engage new and diverse audiences in dialogue with contemporary art and artists.

E m e r g e D offer something very different to the Scottish visual arts landscape and generate new levels of opportunity and support for emerging artists. Since its inception in 2002 they have showcased the work of over 300 artists, working in places as diverse as vacant shop fronts, churches, derelict cafes, youth hostels and shopping centres. Local residents and visitors are often given a unique opportunity to see artist’s work develop over the duration of an event, discuss the work with the artist on-site or even become part of the artwork themselves.

E m e r g e D directly addresses concerns that the gallery is removed from cultures and contexts and attempt to re-place contemporary art at the heart of communities and the experiences of individuals. They maintain a strong critical approach, commissioning work which genuinely converses with its environment and audience. They are also committed to developing interpretive strategies appropriate to each project which give audiences a deeper understanding of the issues explored and the artist’s motivations thereby demystifying the art-making process. By working to remove both physical and psychological barriers E m e r g e D aim to generate interest in contemporary art as well as bringing artists closer to their audience.

They are currently building upon their experiences and expanding their activity to cover three cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds. They aim to work towards a stronger artistic intervention within each of the cities, using a focussed and developmental approach to identify the interests of local artists and communities as well as to increase the diversity and quality of visual arts activity. They will also continue enable cultural exchange by developing cross-city and international initiatives.

A key strand of their activity is a commitment to providing creative and critical development opportunities tailored to the needs of emerging artists. Designed to generate sustained interest in working out-with the gallery these events aim to provide a forum for artists to interrogate their practice in the context of their peers.

The website is the nucleus of the organisation allowing them to operate effectively on both a local and international level. The website is used as a networking tool, information portal and archive resource.