Undaunted by the coronavirus, Perthshire Creates has replaced its popular annual summer design market with a virtual online event this year.

In response to the current lockdown, the creative platform has collaborated with 50 talented artists and makers from across Perthshire to bring their first-ever Digital Design Market to life.

The online event will go live from 6pm on Thursday 2 July until 6pm on Sunday 5 July across Perthshire Creates social platforms and a dedicated Facebook event page.

This new concept has enabled participating artists to make a short #MadeOnAMobile film with support from Jon Gill of Playful Communications, and allows people the opportunity to virtually meet talented artists and makers from the comfort of their sofa, kitchen table or garden chair. The artists will be showcasing original artwork including gifts and homewares, with many offering new products and exclusive event offers.

Caron Ironside, Project Officer for Perthshire Creates, said:

“Each year hundreds of visitors over the weekend would normally visit and buy handmade artworks at our Summer Design Market. The Digital Design Market opens a window for local artists and makers, many of whom have lost their traditional route to market since the pandemic began.

“By adapting and taking it online, we’ve created an exciting online option so that neither the artists nor the audience will miss out. It is a first for all of us involved and it has been exciting to see how many creatives have embraced a new way to reach their audience.  This new format will hopefully open up audiences from far afield and provide a fun way for anyone loving handmade original artwork to engage directly with the artists.”

Perthshire Creates, run by the charitable trust Culture Perth and Kinross is a network and online platform which showcases the region’s contemporary creative activities.

More information about the Perthshire Creates Digital Design Market in association with #MadeOnAMobile, and participating artists can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/274711620370289/

Perthshire Creates can be found on Instagram at @perthshirecreates

Image: Lichen Earrings by Roberta Pederzoli at Qunita Essenza