The View From Here

A former observatory on Edinburghs Calton Hill is the new home of Collective, the contemporary visual arts organisation. Five artists taking part in an innovative project there share their ideas.

- Catherine Coyle

People buy souvenirs in the hope of capturing the essence of a time and place. In a city like Edinburgh, however, the average tourist memento is a piece of ephemeral that. Now, though, a new design project, Collective Matter x Panel, is aiming to provide an alternative.

In collaboration with curators Panel, contemporary visual arts organisation Collective is marking the launch of its new home on Calton Hill with a range of artist-designed limited-edition products that celebrate local manufacturing. Forming the basis of a new exhibition in the capital this winter, it’s a more personal approach to the gallery shop retail experience, and it uses this landmark location in the centre of Edinburgh to offer new ways through which to remember the past.