contemporary art edinburgh

hubCAP Gallery Presents: ‘FIRMAMENT’ an exhibition by Edward Cawood.

Firmament: Exploring the Industrial Echoes of Prestongrange.

SETT Studios will soon host Firmament, a striking new exhibition by artist Edward Cawood presented by HubCAP Gallery.

Textured blue background with bold white text "FIRMAMENT" in the center. Below: "Edward Cawood," "Sett Studios," and dates "16-20 Oct. 2025."

Opening at SETT Studios on Thursday, 16th October 2025 Cawood’s latest presentation draws on several years of research and creative experimentation to produce work that delves into the layered industrial history of Prestongrange — once one of Scotland’s most significant brick and tile works, and home to early coal mining operations dating back to the 12th century.

The exhibition takes its title from the Latin firmamentum, meaning “a firm object” or “celestial barrier.” This dual sense of strength and mystery resonates through Cawood’s practice, which merges meticulous, archival study with deeply material processes. His works — ranging from “textual objects” to experimental photographic pieces on tile — embody a physical and conceptual dialogue with the site’s past. Each piece is the result of labour-intensive techniques that mirror the endurance and transformation embedded in the landscape itself.

Firmament represents the culmination of Cawood’s investigations into site, value, and industrial heritage, revealing a body of work that is both contemplative and tactile. Visitors will encounter a collection of pieces that evoke the textures of history, reimagined through the lens of contemporary art. Notably, the exhibition also introduces new, never-before-seen works, offering a first glimpse into the artist’s latest explorations.

The opening event takes place on Thursday, 16th October, with two sessions: a bookable Quiet Opening from 3pm to 5.30pm, designed to provide a relaxed, accessible experience, and the Main Opening from 6pm to 8pm.

Following the launch, the exhibition will be open for public viewing on:

  • 17th October: 3pm – 8pm
  • 18th – 20th October: 12pm – 5pm

A special event on 19th October (2.30pm – 4pm) will feature a bookable Writing Workshop with Beth Cockerline, inviting participants to creatively respond to the themes and atmosphere of Firmament.

Through Firmament, Edward Cawood transforms the remnants of Scotland’s industrial past into meditative reflections on endurance, decay, and the stories embedded in place — bridging history, art, and material memory in one evocative exhibition.

hubCAP Gallery is an Artist Run Exhibitions and Events organisation run by a rotating committee of participants of the HND Contemporary Art Practice (CAP) course at Edinburgh College Granton Campus. ‘Frimament’ is the first off campus exhibition by hubCAP.

SETT Studios is an artist-run studio with dedicated gallery space in Leith, Edinburgh.

Further information including accessibility information is available via the hubCAP Gallery website:

https://hubcapgallery.com/2025/09/11/hubcap-presents-firmament/

AiRetc: Artists in Residence call out for Session 2023 – 24

Applications are invited for the 2023 – 24 academic session.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5pm Thursday 22nd June 2023 (Successful Applicants will be notified week beginning the 15th August)

The Artist in Residence programme (AIRetc…) at Edinburgh College is an innovative scheme which provides recently graduated / professional artists who has previously studied at Edinburgh College with the opportunity to develop their creative practice in a dedicated studio space and gain knowledge, skills and experience in Art education.

Now in our 13th successful year AIRetc… are currently looking for 2 artists to participate in the 2023-24 academic programme.

Please download the information and application form below.

air-information-for-applicants-2023-24Download
air-application-form-2023-24Download

Please note all communication should be via email provided.

Please request a delivery and read receipt when sending your application.

Made in North Edinburgh: New Film by CAP Alumni Jenny Souter.

Congratulations to Edinburgh College CAP Alumni Jenny Souter on the film she made in partnership with the Guardian, Screen Education Edinburgh (formely Video in Pilton) and the people of North Edinburgh.

Click on the image to watch the film on the Guardian Website.

Jenny’s connection to the area dates back to 2010 when she started studying at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus. During her final year on CAP Jenny participated in “Local” a project we developed with the North Edinburgh History Group and North Edinburgh Arts Centre. The project began with meetings between our CAP 2 artist and the members of the history group who showed films, shared stories about the social history and activism of North Edinburgh and gave the students a guided tour of the area. In response the students made a range of creative responses which you can see in the post below from 2012.

LOCAL: New art / community project launched in North Edinburgh

The project came about through a chance encounter with legendary North Edinburgh activist Willie Black and a conversation about my own connections with North Edinburgh through my Granny Holligan and Uncle Charlie who remianed in the area until the start of the redevelopment in 2008/9. Willie played a key role in the entire project and it is great to see him feature in this new film.

Jenny’s response to the project 10yrs ago was aslo a very successful moving image work titled “Sysiphus” , below, which was developed in reaponse to archive footage of local women featured about the seemingly futile battle with the damp in their houses.

Jenny Souter: “Sysiphus” 2012

It is wonderful to see that 10yrs later Jenny has returned to the community and made this fantastic new film. We cant wait to see whats next!

ContemporaryArtETC… Graduates to Curate New Gallery Space.

ContemporaryArtETC… Graduates Peter Amoore & Jade Noble are seeking submissions for the soon to be launced A5 Gallery.

This innovatuive 2-D gallery space is to be launched later this month within the pages of the  re-launched Edinburgh College of Art student magazine the Wee Red Herring.

The Gallery will show contemporary artwork within the specifics of a one sided, A5, page within the college magazine which has a print run of 600 copies.

The artwork will be printed in black and white.  It is a visual gallery space directly showing work produced specially for the magazine context.

The artist or artist’s may use this space however they intend – the gallery space is as flexible as you make it. Submissions should be sent as word documents or jpeg images with instructions if necessary.

Please send artwork, proposals and questions with the subject as (A5 gallery) to weeredherring@gmail.com

The deadline for submissions is Thursday 15th October.

From Jade Noble and Peter Amoore, curators of the A5 gallery.

Private View of XX – Collective at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop Tonight

ContemporaryArtETC.com in association with Edinburgh’s Telford College are delighted to announce the opening of XX – Collective at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop this evening.

XX – Collective is the first ever HND Contemporary Art Practice Grad Show anywhere in the world and is the culmination of the collective efforts of the qualification development team, teaching staff and most importantly students over the past 4 years.

The exhibition features , painting, video, sculpture, drawing and performance by 9 artists each of whom present their unique view of the world.

Opening at 6pm this evening the exhibition will run daily from 10 – 6 until Wednesday the 3rd June