ISLE OF ARRAN · AUGUST 2025 – MARCH 2026
Clyde Bioregion Residency
An eight-month research residency exploring the deep time past, present and future of Arran — through the lens of embodied bioregionalism.
THE PROJECT
Deep time, through the moving body.
A part-time research residency on the Isle of Arran, running from August 2025 to March 2026. A collaboration between Saffy Setohy, dance artist Claire Pençak, Archaeology Scotland, Drumadoon Estate and the local community.
Together, the project explored the deep time past, present and future of Arran through the lens of embodied bioregionalism — moving with the archaeology, ecology and people of one place across a turning of the seasons.
DRUMADOON, HISTORICAL SURVEY · IMAGE, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND
What is this place asking of us now? — explored through the lens of air, animal, stone, soil and water.
A QUESTION CARRIED THROUGH THE RESIDENCY
WHAT HAPPENED
Ways of working with a place and its people.
A creative field trip for three primary schools
Children from Shiskine, Pirnmill and Kilmory primary schools came to learn about the archaeology and rewilding at Drumadoon. A collaborative performance was made together, inspired by the trip.
i
Creative workshops at Montrose House care home
Working with objects and materials from Drumadoon to inspire gesture and conversation with residents.
ii
Workshops with local artists
Sharing practices and perceptions of the island's environments.
iii
A public shoreline workshop with COAST and Eco Savvy
Exploring the shoreline ecology and the ecotones between human and more-than-human life.
iv
Research into the island's intangible cultural heritage
Leading to the co-creation of a new ceilidh dance, The Drumadoon Get Doon, inspired by the archaeology and ecology of Arran.
vi
A disco in tribute to the Shiski Diski
A celebration echoing the night that ran in the Shiskine Valley for two decades.
v
Supporting emerging artist Rose McCormack
To carry out her own research under the umbrella of the project.
vii
THE ARCHIVE
Images, video and more from the residency.
Snapshots of the creative research, in collaboration with the communities and environments of Arran.
A CELEBRATION IN DANCE
The Drumadoon Get Doon.
A new ceilidh dance made by Claire and Saffy with local communities, inspired by the archaeology and ecology of Drumadoon — premiered on 28 March 2026.
SET TO THE DRUMADOON REEL COMPOSED BY JOHN MASON (SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA) AND PLAYED ON THE EVENING BY GILLIAN FRAME, FINDLAY NAPIER AND LUCY NAPIER FROM THE FÈIS ARAINN TRAD BAND.
COMMISSIONED AND SUPPORTED
Commissioned through Creative Scotland's Culture Collective and North Ayrshire Council. In collaboration with Archaeology Scotland, Drumadoon Estate, COAST, Eco Savvy, Fèis Arainn and the communities of Arran.
Image credits — Ed O'Donnelly, Claire Pençak, Saffy Setohy, Eoghann MacColl, and the National Library of Scotland.