Artwork
Artwork can be seen throughout the Holyrood Building and adds another dimension to the building, in line with the original intention that the building should embody the unique spirit and character of the Scottish nation and its people.
Art Strategy | Artwork on display | Exhibitions | Canongate Wall | Quotations |
Art strategy
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18 wall mounted textile panels Hinterland, 2004 by Norma Starszakowna |
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) endorsed the principle that there should be an art strategy for the new building. Public art consultants, Art in Partnership, were chosen to advise the SPCB on the development of the strategy. The SPCB
established an Art Steering Group to work with the consultants and to take detailed decisions about expenditure. Over 80 artworks were chosen by the Art Steering Group. The collection continues to be developed through new acquisitions and loans. An art advisory group of MSP and external members was formed to advise the SPCB on new acquisitions.
Art Advisory Group Membership:
Robin Harper MSP (Chair)
Ted Brocklebank MSP
Patricia Ferguson MSP
Ian McKee MSP
Jeremy Purvis MSP
Liz Lochhead
Artwork on display
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"Honours of Scotland" Sculpture |
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Three Works from the Opus Series (IV, V, VIII), 1992, by Kenny Hunter |
The key ideas and themes behind the art are around identity, the importance of our relationship to the sea and to the land and about who we are as the people of Scotland. See a list of the artworks on display.
As well as paintings, photography and sculptures, furniture was also commissioned as part of the art strategy. The Visitor Information Desk, found in the Main Hall was designed by David Colwell of Trannon, following a design competition. The bespoke desks in the Debating Chamber and the tables in the Committee Rooms were designed by the architects (EMBT/RMJM).
A number of official gifts and gifts from artists have also found homes at Holyrood. One gift received is the "Honours of Scotland" sculpture presented to the Scottish Parliament by Her Majesty The Queen to mark the opening of the Scottish Parliament Building. Find out more about the "Honours of Scotland" sculpture.
Exhibitions
In addition to the permanent and loaned artworks, the Scottish Parliament plays host to temporary exhibitions. The free exhibition entitled ‘Cridhe na Gaidhealtachd – Craft in the Highlands’ will run from Thursday until Sunday 6 January and showcase highland crafts that have been developed as part of the programme to celebrate Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.
Further information on this exhibition, as well as previous exhibitions can be found in the Visiting Holyrood section of the website.
The Parliament has also hosted the prestigious World Press Photo Exhibition and displayed the Declaration of Arbroath as well as a book from Robert Burns’s own collection.
Visitors to the Parliament can also view a newly installed permanent artwork celebrating women's contribution to furthering democracy.
Travelling the Distance features 100 handwritten sentences from women around Scotland, on their female role models. Additional information on this artwork can be found in the list of the artwork on display in the "Your Questions Answered" section.
Canongate Wall
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Canongate Wall |
Under the façade of the Canongate Building
is the Canongate Wall. The overall design of the Canongate Wall was
by Sora Smithson and contains a representative range of Scottish
stones carved by Gillian Forbes and Martin Reilly. The stones
are set in large pre-cast concrete panels. At the lower end
of the wall is a townscape based around a sketch by Enric Miralles
of Edinburgh's Old Town as viewed from his room in the Balmoral Hotel
on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Find out more about the Canongate Wall, including a list of the stones used.
Quotations
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Quotation at the Queensberry House entrance |
A range of quotation can be found engraved into the stone work both in and around the Parliament building.
The Canongate Wall contains 24 carved panels, each containing a quotation, chosen from a selection made available to the Art Steering Group. See the full text of the Caongate Wall quotations.
In front of the Canongate Wall a quotation can be seen engraved into the dolerite kerbstone. The installation was created under the banner of the ‘Naming Stones’ event, part of the 'Rock On' festival in 2003.
A quotation, designed by Gary Breeze, taken from 1 Corinthians 13.1 has been cut into the whinstone pavement at the entrance to Queensberry House. Find out more about the quotation .
Two poems, 1 English 1 Gaelic, have been engraved into the Caithness flagstones outside the Scottish Parliament's public entrance. They were the winning entries in a schools competition as part of the Scottish Geology Festival 2005. Find out more about the poems .
The threshold of the Donald Dewar Room carries a quote made famous by one of Donald Dewar's former parliamentary colleagues and strongest proponents of devolution. The letters were cut into the threshold by Gillian Forbes, based in Perthshire. Find out more about the Dewar Room quotation.
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