About

Dandelion was a six-month creative celebration of growing, music and community – rooted in Scotland but with an international outlook, and with sustainability at its heart. Dandelion’s first programme followed the arc of the growing season, from April to September 2022 – culminating with hundreds of Harvest events across Scotland.

Driven by the concept of ‘Sow, Grow, Share’ – not just food but ideas, music, knowledge and community, Dandelion took a unique approach to community growing, bringing together artists, makers, scientists, performers and technologists to present events and programmes across Scotland – from remote islands to towns and the centre of cities, as well as online for everyone everywhere to enjoy.

The ambitious opening programme was experienced by over 589,000 people. Dandelion partnered with 468 schools enabling 89,000 children to grow their own tatties in sustainably produced growing medium and develop their own harvest events and festivals. Our specially designed growing cubes enabled secondary pupils to experiment with new assisted growing technologies.

Dandelion supported partner organisations to create 12 Unexpected Gardens – and 1 unique Floating Garden - on unusual sites in rural and urban Scotland from Stranraer to Inverclyde and Levenmouth to Uist. Each had a creative producer and musician in residence and hosted a range of local events and workshops throughout the growing season. Many of them now hope to continue as permanent productive spaces.

Two large-scale free music festivals centered around the Pavilion of Perpetual Light a vast stage comprised of 60 growing cubes took place in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow and Northern Meeting Park Inverness. They brought together a stellar line-up of Scottish and international musicians, with workshops and a lively talks programme. The cubes also toured as unique sound/light installations, with 13 specially commissioned pieces of music. 4 of the cubes visited 17 urban and rural locations touring on the back of specially-built cargo bicycles.

Sown throughout Dandelion is a commitment to empowering young people, inspiring the artists, activists, scientists and creative producers of the future – and an ambition to re-establish Harvest as a significant annual cultural celebration for us all. The culmination of Dandelion’s first season was over 500 Harvest events, centered around a simple act of sharing.

Commissioned by EventScotland, funded by Scottish Government as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK