Earth Matters - Open Call

Earth Matters celebrates the tercentenary of the birth of the Edinburgh-born geologist, writer, farmer and chemist, James Hutton (1726-1797). Often described as the ‘father of modern geology’, he is known for his ground-breaking exploration of rock formations, but Hutton also gave much attention to the earth beneath our feet – soil.

Earth Matters is inspired by Hutton and subsequent trailblazers who have helped challenge and change our understanding of soil. Through art, craft and design dating from the 18th century to the present-day, Earth Matters will illuminate the vital beauty and brilliance of earth.

RBGE and DES invite expressions of interest from artists, makers, craftspeople and designers based in Scotland whose work will invite visitors to Earth Matters to connect and delight in the earth, dirt, ground, soil beneath our feet; inspiring deeper ways of seeing and understanding its vital importance to our lives.

You may wish to explore the use of soil as pigment or as a material; propose a work in clay or wild clay or a sculpture, artwork, text or textile that is inspired by or is a response to our ever-changing soil landscape both urban and rural. You may wish to suggest a work that explores sustainable building techniques such as earth buildings or clay plasters.

You are welcome to propose existing or new work.

Each selected practitioner will be given a fee of £750.00.

Please submit the following:

- Name, address and contact details (essential)
- Links to website / Instagram (optional)
- Up to 400 words on your practice, briefly outlining why you are interested in exhibiting in Earth Matters (essential)
- If you are proposing new work, please submit a brief outline of the work and a rough production budget (essential)
- If you are proposing an existing work, please submit an image, its dimensions and a brief description (essential)
- 5 images of recent work (optional)
- CV (optional)

It is appreciated that ideas might evolve and change, at this stage we are just expecting expressions of interest!

Please send your submission via email to susanna@designexhibitionscotland.co.uk

Voice messagesare welcome if this is preferable to writing.

Proposals will be selected by Amy Porteous, producer Creative Programmes / Public Engagement, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh & Susanna Beaumont, curator Design Exhibition Scotland. It is planned to communicate with successful applicants w/c Monday 9 June.

For further information, please contact susanna@designexhibitonscotland.co.uk (Susanna Beaumont ), or visit https://www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk/earth-matters/

The deadline is Friday 23 May 2025 at 09:00.