IAP Newsletter, 25 June 2026
Hello again…
It’s been a wee while… thanks for waiting. IAP has been growing, shifting, & changing. We’ve been welcoming three new members to our team and are about to recruit 3 or 4 more.
I’ll be honest, I’ve had a bit of a bumpy time with an accumulation of too much work, grief, change & advocating for one of my nearest and dearest. I’ve had to “reprioritise my wellbeing” (and work out what that looks like). I’ve been trying to balance the needs of IAP with my own need for space to rest, grieve and recover. Acknowledging that recovery is never a straight line from ‘bad’ to ‘better’ but roundabout – twisting and complex.
I have a theory that 2026 is the new 2016 (remember the year when David Bowie died and then everything seemed to go very wrong). It’s been a difficult time for lots of different people for multiple reasons. Perhaps most disturbing, is the increase in hate. Hate-filled rhetoric and marginalisation, leading inevitably to intimidation and violence.
No one person is more entitled to safety, justice or belonging than another. Every human being has intrinsic value and no one person is better than any other, no matter how dismal their actions.
Whilst a small hateful group target people who look or behave slightly differently to them, we see thousands of people celebrating love and Pride as well as folk standing up for anti-racism and community. There are heartening and hopeful acts of solidarity all around.
For every terrible action we see, we must remember that there are tens if not hundreds of people responding, providing help and hope. And we can join them.
It is easy to feel powerless during such dark times but even one small action can make a difference to someone. Showing up makes a difference. I know it is meaningful to me.
I’ll be in touch again soon with information about what we’ve been up to and to introduce you to our growing team.
Thanks for supporting IAP.
Take care,
Mhari & Team IAP (Biff, Chloe, Eilidh, Noémie, Saffy, Sara & Ketchup)
Thank you, Nina
Before we introduce you to our new team members, we want to take a moment to thank Nina Doherty who worked with IAP from November 2021 until April 2026.
Nina was a key collaborator for projects led by Kirstin Abraham, Max Alexander, Sonia Allori, Jack Hunter, Aya Kobayashi, K Biff Nicolson, Ellen Renton, Saffy Setohy, Niroshini Thambar, Joanna Young. She presented work across schools, community spaces, care settings, theatres, woodlands and arts spaces.
She was also a core member of staff across huge periods of uncertainty, growth & change. We’re so grateful for all that Nina has contributed to IAP in this time and wish her the very best in her new role with Vanishing Point in Glasgow.
Photo credits: Kat Gollock
Independent Arts Projects gratefully acknowledges support from Creative Scotland.