N55 was set up in 1996 and is named after both a street address and the latitude of Copenhagen. N55 is a non commercial collective of artists who live and work together, and believe that material objects ought to be shared and saved from the constraints of private ownership. For One Mile, N55 created N55 SERVICES, a series of dispensers that were placed in public spaces and within local communities. They were intended for public use and were available for the exchange of information and goods. Previously, when they have been sited, these dispensers have been filled with not only a variety of books and leaflets, but various random items including potatoes and clothes.
N55 SERVICES was in situ for twenty eight days outside Collective, Edinburgh College of Art, Central Library, McDonald Road Library, St. James' Shopping Centre, the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool and the Meadows, and for one night outside the Scottish Parliament. To enable N55’s dispensing systems be integrated into everyday life in Edinburgh, public workshops hosted by N55 were held at Central Library and Edinburgh College of Art.
One Mile was a three-year programme of nine projects that facilitated groups and individuals who live or work within a one mile radius of Collective, but are disadvantaged or feel excluded from the cultural life of the city centre, to collaborate with contemporary artists. The program will support the development of artworks that address the concerns, interests and needs of the groups including: Muslim women (DOSTI women’s groups and women’s circle at Edinburgh’s Central Mosque); school refusers (Working Together); young offenders (Sacro); young homeless (The Ark Trust and Moving On); and autistic students (Stevenson College).
This is an archived programme entry.