Scottish island welcomes Australian collective to talk about filmmaking

Atlas Arts invited the Karrabing Film Collective to discuss their perspectives on creative filmmaking in November. 

The Australian group aims to integrate the traditions and lifestyles of their ancestors, including those of their parents and grandparents, to better educate future generations.

Meanwhile, Atlas Arts, based on the Isle of Skye, explores themes related to the climate crisis and its connections to social justice, such as tradition, overtourism, housing, land ownership, the Gaelic language, crofting, culture, and community.

During their time on Skye, five members of the Karrabing Film Collective met local historians, activists, artists, musicians, and crofters.

Two of their films were also showcased at Portree Gathering Hall in November on Skye.

READ MORE: The island-based arts initiative linking environment to creativity

Ainslie Roddick, the artistic director (stiùiriche ealain) of Atlas Arts has since spoken to The National about the meeting.

She said that the goal was to “talk about shared experiences” and to share different perspectives on diverse subjects.

“The idea was really for both groups to spend time together and talk about arts and how to make art in order to understand history," she said. 

The Karrabing Film Collective has approximately 50 members, and Ainslie mentioned that they have become a significant presence in the art world over the past 10 years.

They use film and art as a form of indigenous grassroots resistance. 

“Some things might be personal to them that we may not understand because it is their culture," said Ainslie.

Portree Gathering Hall, Karrabing Film Collective screening (Image: Heather Fulton / Atlas Arts)

“There are also things for external audiences that are about questioning what happened in Australia and the violence that was inflicted on indigenous people and the legacies of that today.”

Ainslie first watched their films around eight years ago and said they lead to all sorts of emotion, from crying and smiling to happiness.

“We thought it would be a really good connection with Skye to talk about Scottish history and rural places," she said.

“It’s important for everyone to speak about what’s happening in the world to make it better and also to learn more about colonial histories that may not be talked about as much.”

Scottish Budget – hopes for the survival of the culture industry

Ainslie shared that one of the most inspiring aspects of meeting the Karrabing group was their ability to create films without a budget.

“It was just very inspiring to hear them talk about how they make art," she said.

Ainslie explained that many of the questions they receive focus on their filmmaking process, including: "How do you make your films and who is responsible for what?"

She added: “They do not wait around for funding, they just get on with it. I think our group found that really inspiring for Atlas Arts."

It inspired Atlas Arts to not wait for funding anymore, either.

Indeed, Karrabing Film Collective often uses phones for filming. Ainslie said their films are “imaginative, dreamlike and show different ways of telling stories”.

“It was a real focus on how to make work in a way that really challenges the mainstream and how to work into your communities in ways that make a difference,” she said – adding that this week’s Budget announcement is eagerly awaited as the culture industry has been lacking funding. 

“About 120 organisations across Scotland are struggling to keep their doors open,” declared Ainslie.

She also emphasised the importance of arts communities for making the arts accessible to young people throughout Scotland.

Ainslie said: “They don't get to access this, and we don't get to do this without public funding."