Mirrie Dancers

Mirrie Dancers was a cross-generational project that fused traditional crafts with new technologies conceived in collaboration with Nayan Kulkarni in response to a commission from Shetland Arts Development Agency. The project comprised multiple elements divided primarily into two parts, Mirrie Light and Mirrie Lace. Mirrie Light invited members of the public to participate in site selection for ten temporary light installations located throughout Shetland during Winter 2009-10. Light Labs enabled members of the public to attend one of 24 workshops where they filmed and edited local subjects that became part of the light installations. Additionally pupils from schools in each of the locations of the light installations prepared films with the help of Lead Artist, Roxane Permar, that also became part of the final installation in their locale. Mirrie Lace formed the second main part of the project. The artists worked with 21 of Shetland's finest Lace knitters to critically explore hand knit lace in relation to light projection, resulting in permanent installations at Mareel, Shetland's new music, cinema and education venue. A permanent installation on the exterior of Mareel, drawn from over 350 films produced members of the local community, forms a legacy for the project. The project received an Inspire Fund Award of (£265,000), an Esmée Fairbairn Trust award (£65,000) and a Leader Grant (£42,000).