Join the TRANSECTS project team and artist Kirsty Russell to explore community energy stories for Fittie and Aberdeen Harbour at storylines workshops next Friday and Saturday.
Whaling and whale oil was a key early industry for Aberdeen and is now almost invisible. There were several whale arches in Fittie similar to the one that survives in Stewart Park. The oil boom led to extensive redevelopments of the harbour and greatly impacted the city. The shift to renewables brings new infrastructure, service industries and wind farms visible offshore.
What benefits and challenges have these energies brought to the area? What changes have you seen? What does the future hold?
Friday, June 19: Talks. 7.30pm (Fittie Community Hall). Evening of talks with Associate Professor Jen Harland and Dr Sofie Illemann Jaeger about the project, the history of whaling and its socio-cultural impacts.
Saturday, June 20: Story and collective fabric workshop. 1-4pm (Fittie Community Hall). Creative textile workshop with Aberdeen artist Kirsty Russell. We invite you to bring a piece of fabric that means something to you and share your energy stories.
TRANSECTS is exploring the impact of marine energy transitions (whale oil, oil & gas and renewables) past and present for coastal communities in three case study areas (Orkney, NE Scotland and The Humber). Our team is taking a creative cultural heritage approach to marine energy transitions working with artist Kirsty Russell. In North East Scotland, we will be focusing place-based activities in Aberdeen and Peterhead.
Our project team is based at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and University of Hull. TRANSECTS is a research project funded by UKRI and DEFRA. You can find out more about the TRANSECTS project and the UHI team’s approach here.
