The Merchant City Festival was established in 2002 and presents the leading edge of Scottish Art and entertainment, an exciting, urban, multi-artform event with international vision and a quality programme that is diverse and accessible. In 2004 the aim was to re-position the festival and provide a foundation for growth with a succinct, quality event proving a flavour of the long-term aspirations for the festival in 2005 and 2006.

[occupied] was a dynamic programme of artistic activity in the public
domain, curated by Amy Sales. It offered visitors to the Merchant City Festival a varied and cutting-edge visual experience. [occupied] offered a programme of cross-disciplinary artistic practice based on research, development and mapping in its broadest sense. It succeeded in developing a greater awareness of the value of artists and artist-led initiatives by exposing the creative process behind making art and by making it available through active engagement in the public domain.

Artists illuminated Glasgow's rawness; identity and impact through amplifying the site and context in which they are working. By working in the public domain residents of Glasgow and visitors had the unique opportunity to see the work of artists' develop, including the research and development stages.

Artists that were involved: aileen CAMPBELL, juliana CAPES, christine COLLINS, iestyn DAY, alison DUNLOP, will FOSTER, danny HOLCROFT, alan KEAN, ruth LEGG, niall MACDONALD, laura MARSHALL, joe REEVES, FIRE BIRDS, THE THIRD PERSON and whatsthebigmistry

For further information please contact:

Amy Sales

Independent Curator
Director of E m e r g e D
Curator and Project Manager of [occupied]

Flat 1/1
35 Montague Street
Glasgow
G4 9HU

+44 (0) 794 7749 818
amy@emerged.net