ArtRoots: Community Art on the National Cycle Network

Art is a powerful tool for community engagement but until 2017 had not been used as a way of encouraging active travel through community participation

In 2017 a new way of engaging with communities was developed by Sustrans Scotland and the ArtRoots project was born. Too often a new cycle route was just a strip of black top passing the door, leading cyclists in and out of the neighbourhood but not encouraging them to stop, look, interact with and enjoy their surroundings. This brings little benefit to the local community who live alongside the route, and offers less than it could to the cyclist too. ArtRoots was created to make the cycle route more attractive, more fun, a destination not a thoroughfare, whilst giving added value to the community too.

ArtRoots puts the community at the heart of the project: they decide what they want and how to make it happen. Sustrans funds the project and the ArtRoots officer offers advise and help, but the key point is that the community manage the project and shape the outcome. Engaging with the local community is the key to a successful project. Art can be contentious, especially public art. The ArtRoots programme has demonstrated that by involving the community in every step and giving them the decision making, art is not only welcomed but positively encouraged. It can bring the community together and unleash skills that that they didn't realise they had. It empowers the community and reinforces a sense of place, and developes a sense of pride in the neighbourhood.

Communities situated along a traffic free section of the NCN can apply to Sustrans for funding. Initially they complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) which is used to determine their eligibility. Key criteria are the location of the proposed project and the existence of a community group who will manage the project. ArtRoots funding can be used to pay for artists or a designer and to fund all the costs involved in creating the artwork (materials, workshops etc) but it cannot be used to pay the community group for their time - hence the group must be willing to manage the project voluntarily. A maximum of £5000 is available to each project per year however, to receive the maximum award the project must demonstrate how it will result in increased usage of the NCN and show how it will raise awareness of the active travel network. Projects that don't demonstrate how they will achieve this are restricted to a maximum award of £2500. After successfully completing the EOI the group is then invited to make a full application via the Sustrans Portal. The ArtRoots officer works with the group to assist as necessary as many community groups do not have experience of applying for grants electronically. Applications are assessed throughout the year, with application deadlines published in the guidance supplied to the group. If successful, once the contracts are signed, the group is able to claim the award upfront with no requirement for match funding. This enables groups who might have few resources to be able to fund a project as they do not have to find the money first and then claim it back later.

ArtRoots can be used for a wide variety of art projects: everything from traditional sculptures, paintings, carvings and murals to seating, community gardens, or temporary installations and performances. By exploring the ArtRoots map you can see examples of different projects and read more about their stories.