How National Collective shaped the cultural movement for Scottish independence

This included the likes of Alasdair Gray, comedian Frankie Boyle, Makar Liz Lochhead and folk musician Karine Polwart.

For co-founder Ross Colquhoun, the journey to creating National Collective all started when the referendum was first called in 2011.

READ MORE: Six of the funniest moments from the 2014 Yes campaign

Reflecting on the vote 10 years later, he spoke with The National on what it meant to be a part of the movement, his proudest moment with National Collective and whether there’s room for it to return.

How did National Collective start?

Colquhoun, a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art started to think about how he could contribute to the Yes campaign.

As well as working with National Collective, Colquhoun has also spent eight years as the SNP’s head of digital.

He explained: “I ended up putting together a plan to engage predominantly artists, musicians, writers and younger voters through creativity by imagining a better Scotland.

Ross Colquhoun, co-founder of National Collective, and his grandfather (Image: Documenting Yes)

“I’d noticed at many political events I’d attended that artists were treated as entertainment whilst politicians did the talking, but I believed that artists themselves could communicate in a way that was more engaging, accessible and relatable for voters.

“And that we reach disengaged younger voters and mobilise them.”

Following a meeting with his friends, Euan Campbell and Andrew Redmond Barr and the launch of National Collective’s website, the campaign started to gain traction.

According to research by Heriot Watt University, 30.8% of pro-independence campaigners were active in National Collective’s campaign in the run-up to September 18.

What was your proudest moment?

When asked for a stand out moment during the campaign, Colquhoun understandably points to a few given the volume of work he helped to organise.

“At the time we did something relatively new, which was combining real world events led by artists with online campaigning that held the No campaign’s feet to the fire,” Colquhoun said.

“We ultimately helped to normalise and give platforms to the many diverse voices that back independence and this is a legacy that still lasts until this day.”

Artists from across Scotland showed their support for National Collective (Image: Documenting Yes) Highlights include organising a 30-day national grassroots pro-independence Yestival tour to showcase the grassroots cultural movement for Scottish independence in communities across the country.

These were documented through photography and video to be shared online.

The group also put on its first Fringe show in 2014 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and published the book Inspired by Independence with contributions from the campaign’s supporters.

“We also organised #YesBecause day, a social media event designed to encourage people to explain why they are voting Yes.

“It reached over 10,000,000 people across the planet with 101,238 tweets and broke down attempts by our opponents to portray Yes voters as something more sinister and parochial.”

The campaign was even named in second place in The List magazine’s "Hot 100". Number one that year?

The newly announced Doctor Who Peter Capaldi, who has himself since shown support for independence.

READ MORE: Blair Jenkins reflects on 10-year anniversary of Scottish independence referendum

Colquhoun added: “Culture is extremely important, it’s about who we are and that helps to define what nation we are and what we want to be.

“Cultural figures have an extremely important role in shaping our nation and I hope that they will use their collective voices to encourage voters to back independence for Scotland.”

Will National Collective ever return?

The future of Scottish independence remains uncertain with no date yet confirmed for a second referendum.

Despite a difficult General Election campaign for the SNP, support for independence has remained steady.

As such, does Colquhoun believe there’s space for National Collective to make a return?

The campaign helped to send out a positive message for Yes (Image: Documenting Yes) “In all honesty, some of the fondest political memories of my life were campaigning alongside my colleagues in National Collective,” he says.

“But I think it belonged in a time and place and this time has passed. I think we all need to become more future focused and get past the nostalgia if we are to secure independence for Scotland.”

He added that while he believes Scotland has still suffered by remaining a part of the United Kingdom, many people have benefitted from Scottish Government policies.

​READ MORE: See the Scottish celebrities who campaigned for independence in 2014

“I think it’s worth pointing out that the Yes campaign of 2014 won’t win a future referendum as the political and communications landscape has changed significantly and campaign techniques have evolved dramatically in terms of digital and ground campaigning.”

And while the time for National Collective has perhaps passed, that’s not to say the support isn’t there amongst Scottish creatives.

He said: “I still believe that it is the SNP who are the largest vehicle that will deliver independence and during my time here I’ve worked with cultural figures by directing films with the likes of Brian Cox, Elaine C Smith, Alan Cumming and Val McDermid.

“To this day there is still overwhelming support among artists and writers for independence.”

Looking back, Colquhoun says if he could bring back one element of 2014, it would be unity.

“The Yes movement was at its most formidable when it was many headed and we all worked towards the same goal,” he says.

(Image: NQ)

“I have no time for factions or petty personal agendas, our nation’s future is too important for that.

“It remains a truism that divided political parties and movements do not succeed.”