The School of Plural Futures is an ongoing project which began in February 2021 and runs throughout the year. Each year, along with artist Emmie McLuskey, a group of contributors across Skye and Lochalsh build this alternative school to speak about the reality and potential of life in Skye and Lochalsh.
The school takes the form of a series of gatherings – a space to think and create responses to local and global challenges facing young people. We’ll be asking questions and learning together about social justice, the climate crisis and about what it means to live and work here today.
What does Plural Futures mean?
‘Plural Futures’ is a thread across a lot of ATLAS projects, exploring ways of keeping things complex. It’s about exploring more than one way of thinking, being and questioning the world, and more than one way of answering.
We are interested in creating different spaces for addressing the future, creating conversations and spaces to expand understandings of identity, legacy, justice, history, the world and the future – as inhabitants of Skye and the Highlands.
What is an alternative school?
The school is a series of gatherings spread over 8 months. It’s a place to share concerns, to create a new community of people who might not otherwise be able to connect, to have fun and talk about different ways of doing things. The school is co-led by an artist who helps to shape and organise sessions.
About Emmie McLuskey
Emmie McLuskey is an artist and producer who lives in Glasgow. Recent presentations have taken place at Glasgow International 2024, Govan Project Space, Talbot Rice Gallery, The Travelling Gallery, Collective, Sissi Club Marseille, Dogo Residenz für Neue Kunst, Switzerland, nadine, Brussels and KW, Berlin. Since 2021 Emmie has led The School of Plural Futures with ATLAS Arts and in 2022, she was the Associate Artist for Edinburgh Art Festival. Emmie is currently working towards a new children’s book titled The A – Z of Movement with choreographer Janice Parker.
If you having any questions or want to talk about the school, please feel free to email Emmie directly emmie@atlasarts.org.uk. If you’re under 35 and would like to get involved – get in touch!