IT is a project aimed at harnessing the power of art in a bid to rescue Scotland’s coronavirus-battered travel industry.
The Riverside Museum in Glasgow, one of the city’s best known landmarks, has been included in a new online series which the national tourism organisation hopes will boost visitor numbers once Covid-related restrictions are lifted.
Called Sketching Scotland, the series of 20 short videos will teach virtual visitors how to draw landmarks and locations.
It is hoped that, while limits on travel remain in place due to the pandemic, the videos will help draw attention to the country’s most iconic sights and see them transformed into works of art.
Other attractions which will feature alongside the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside include the V&A Museum, Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Forth Bridge, the Calanais Standing Stones, the Kelpies/Falkirk Wheel, Caerlaverock Castle, the Scottish Crannog Centre and the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory.
Each tutorial is accompanied by a voiceover giving advice and tips on how to create a drawing, as well as facts about each destination.
It is hoped the creative campaign will inspire those who have sketched at home to visit the landmarks once travelling is possible.
Sketching Scotland is just one of several initiatives the national tourism organisation has created to bring Scotland to visitors.
Other online offerings include videos, blogs, a rundown of the best virtual experiences currently on offer, a dark skies-inspired series and ideas to entertain children during lockdown.
There are also advice pages on the latest Scottish Government guidelines. As the sector gears up for a potential reopening on July 15, VisitScotland said it wanted to use its online resources to help keep Scotland at the forefront of visitors’ minds.
Jim Clarkson, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism industry.
“We want to make sure that new and returning visitors are still dreaming about Glasgow, even if they can’t physically explore just yet.
“Sketching Scotland is a fun take on sightseeing and a way to learn about some of our best-loved attractions, such as the Riverside Museum, in a completely new way.
“We were also conscious that people are looking for ways to use their time creatively and learn a new skill.
“We loved the thought that people all over the world could be taking 15 minutes to relax, draw and think of Scotland, and of course hopefully visit in ‘real life’ when that is possible.
“As restrictions are eased further, we look forward to helping encourage Scots to rediscover the own country, while at the same time supporting businesses as they prepare for the inevitable operational changes and ensuring that communities feel comfortable and capable of welcoming visitors in a safe way.”
Duncan Dornan, head of Glasgow Museums, has welcomed the new project. He said: “During lockdown it was vital that we found a creative way to continue engaging with our audience.
“Sketching Scotland is a wonderful way to do just that and reconnect with the million plus people who visit Riverside every year.
“We also hope it will entice those who’ve not been yet to come when they can.
“These step by step tutorials on how to draw famous landmarks and locations provide an opportunity to try something new and perhaps even discover a talent people didn’t know they had.”
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