Wasps leads visual arts consultation for Inverness and Highlands City of Culture bid

Wasps has led the consultation and development of the visual arts strand for the Inverness and Highlands UK City of Culture 2030 bid, bringing together cultural organisations from across the region to shape a shared vision for the sector.

Working with Atlas Arts, Timespan and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Wasps developed the proposed Gathering programme and its “Trunk and Roots” model, which combines strategic cultural infrastructure with locally led artistic activity across the Highlands.

The work reflects Wasps’ growing role as a strategic consultant and advocate for the visual arts, helping to shape cultural policy, build partnerships and champion long-term investment in artists, organisations and creative communities.

Inverness-Highland is longlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029, with the final winner to be announced in late 2026. Other cities nominated are Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.