Budding young artists fly high at House of Dun

The exhibition will include visual work depicting the pupils’ take on what local birds could look like, based on a combination of the information gained through the workshops and visual inspiration from historic interiors at the House of Dun. It will also include stories from the pupils as they tell the tales of the local birdlife and their interpretations, collated by visual artist Sarah Diver Lang.

Inspiration for the artwork also stems from the poem ‘The Wild Geese’ by previous House of Dun inhabitant, Violet Jacob, who wrote about the sight of thousands of birds in flight journeying home to Angus.

Flock to House of Dun will be available to view free of charge in the courtyard at House of Dun during opening hours (10.30am to 4.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday) from Saturday 22 April until Sunday 21 May 2023.

Sarah Cowie, Senior Heritage Learning Advisor, said: ‘We are thrilled to be launching our Flock to House of Dun exhibition and sharing the incredible art produced by pupils from across Angus. With unparalleled views across the Montrose Basin, which is home to over 100,000 migratory birds, and a wealth of related assets in our collection, we knew our project at House of Dun needed to focus on birdlife and we are delighted to see the creative interpretations the school children have produced. Most pupils, although they lived locally, had not been inside the House of Dun before. Seeing their faces as they got to explore our amazing objects and find spectacular creatures in our collections was a special moment.

‘As part of our 10-year strategy, Nature, Beauty and Heritage for Everyone, we set out our ambition to make these accessible to everyone. Through projects such as Flock to House of Dun we not only achieve this but we are also able to engage the younger generation with our built heritage, the natural landscape and wildlife we’re so fortunate to be surrounded by.’

The Flock to House of Dun project was conceived by Sarah Cowie, Senior Heritage Learning Advisor at the National Trust for Scotland, and Scott Byrne, Operations Manager for the National Trust for Scotland’s Angus Cluster, and supported by visual artist Sarah Diver Lang. Funding was secured through Museums Galleries Scotland as part of UK-wide initiative, The Wild Escape, uniting museums and schools in a celebration of wildlife and creativity. The Angus National Trust for Scotland Members’ Centre also supported the project, donating £850 towards coach travel for the participating schools.

Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, said: ‘514 museums all around the UK have come together to deliver The Wild Escape and show the power museums have to inspire children and young people to co-create an artwork to help animals, birds and insects escape the museums and return to their natural habitat. The young people develop their creative skills and their understanding of the importance of our wildlife and the future biodiversity of our Wild Isles.’

Flock to House of Dun will be available to view free of charge in the courtyard at House of Dun during opening hours (10.30am to 4.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday) from Saturday 22 April until Sunday 21 May 2023. The courtyard at House of Dun is also home to the Angus Folk Collection which visitors can enjoy at no cost. Access to House of Dun and guided tours of the historic house are available to non-members from as little as £11.50 and free of charge to Trust members.

Plan your visit to House of Dun

The Wild Escape is made possible by lead support from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, with additional support from Art Fund and a group of generous individuals and trusts. The £3,000 funding award will help House of Dun to cover all the costs of the project for schools and will contribute to the National Trust for Scotland’s engagement objectives, including to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.