icecream architecture

14/10/2026

Brilliant news for Buckhaven! The five year Buckhaven Heritage project has been awarded £1.2m funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. In 2024-5, icecream architecture researched and co-developed a programme of creative interpretation, community heritage activities and hands-on traditional skills training and engagement with the community which this funding will help to deliver.

These heritage interpretation, engagement and skills programmes will complement the wider regeneration project organised by the Buckhaven Heritage Partnership Board of local community organisations, Fife Council and Fife Historic Buildings Trust. Capital works proposals will restore key historic buildings, improve public spaces and support building repairs. Together, the project will connect heritage activity with investment in the town, offering a framework for Buckhaven’s heritage to be shared, understood and shaped by local people. You can learn more about the project on our website.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Fife Council, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, CLEAR, Community Trade Hub Limited

24/09/2026

07/08/2026

📣𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆!📣
We are seeking an Artist in Residence to contribute creative research exploring heritage materials in the River Park in Levenmouth, Fife.

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies
𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘: Responses should be sent to 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀@𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.𝗰𝗼𝗺 by 9am on Tues 18th August.

The residency is an opportunity for a locally-connected creative to spend dedicated time within the River Park, exploring its landscape, ecologies, communities, past industries and stories through material research and community engagement.
Artists working across visual arts, socially engaged practice, environmental arts, craft, interdisciplinary practice and other relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply.

The residency will be delivered between August - November 2026.

The Leven Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland Fife Council Historic Environment Scotland

04/08/2026

Open call: River Park Artist Residency!

We are seeking an Artist in Residence to contribute creative research exploring heritage materials in the River Park in Levenmouth, Fife.

The residency is an opportunity for a locally-based or locally-connected creative to spend dedicated time within the River Park, exploring its landscape, ecologies, communities, past industries and stories through material research and community engagement.

During the residency, the artist will produce a body of research and ideas considering potential material uses, patterns, textures, shapes, forms or processes that could be incorporated into interpretation and public art for the River Park.
Artists working across visual arts, socially engaged practice, environmental arts, craft, interdisciplinary practice and other relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply.

The residency will be delivered between August - November 2026.

For further information on the residency and how to apply visit: https://www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies/

Questions and responses should be sent to [email protected] by 9am on Tues 18th August.

10/07/2026

Recently we've had the privilege of working with communities across County Kildare, delivering the Turning the Sod programme in partnership with County Kildare Leader Partnership CLG., . Through a series of 10 facilitated training sessions, the programme supports local people to explore what makes their place unique, identify shared ambitions, visit inspirational communities and shape their own practical projects for the future.

It was fantastic to Launch the Next Chapter of the programme this week, bringing communities together to reflect on what's been achieved so far and to look ahead to what's next.

At the event, we also launched 3 SMART Community Strategies for Johnstown Bridge–Tirmoghan, Carbury–Derrinturn and Rathangan. Each strategy has been developed through months of community training, discussions, local research and collaboration, and will help guide community-led action in the years ahead.

The journey now continues with a new round of Turning the Sod training running from August 2026 – February 2027. We can’t wait to get started!

Find out more and explore the new strategies at www.turningthesod.ie

Turning the Sod is a strategic community training and capacity building initiative that is fully funded by the 2023 - 2027 LEADER Programme in Kildare. The training is being delivered in seven rural communities across Kildare.
Government of Ireland Kildare County Council

30/04/2026

From the Levenmouth area? Get involved in telling local stories along the River Park!

🌊✨ Be part of something special along the River Leven!

We’re inviting everyone to join a series of hands-on workshops celebrating the stories, heritage, and voices of the River Leven and the villages that line its banks.

These relaxed, creative sessions will take place in local community venues and are open to all, whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are just discovering the area. Together, we’ll explore memories, history, and ideas, bringing them to life through shared creativity.

No experience is needed just curiosity and a willingness to get involved!

Come along, meet others, and help shape a living story of the river and its communities. 🌿

Keep an eye on here for dates in May and June.

NatureScot Net Zero Scotland Historic Environment Scotland The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland Archaeology Scotland Moving House Films icecream architecture

03/04/2026

Join our team!

We’re hiring an Interpretation & Graphic Designer!

Are you a creative, people‑focused designer with a passion for placemaking, heritage and storytelling? We are looking for a creative, dynamic, innovative and experienced Interpretation Designer who is genuinely passionate about engaging communities from a variety of backgrounds in design, interpretation and heritage projects.

➡ www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies/34-vacancy-interpretation-graphic-designer

What you’ll be doing:

Manage and deliver interpretation, public engagement and place‑based projects with a strong focus on visual storytelling.

Curate and co‑write narratives with communities to highlight local identity across social, environmental and built heritage.

Design and implement interpretation tools — from mapboards and wayfinding to websites, apps, video, VR/AR and comms materials.

Oversee design, specification, procurement and installation of physical and digital interpretation or public‑art elements.

Lead research, engagement and creative workshops, turning insights into design recommendations and actionable project plans.

Manage clients, stakeholders, budgets and risks while driving projects to completion and securing future work through leads and tenders.

Working hours of between 22.5 - 30 hours per week.
Located in Glasgow, with a flexible working policy to accommodate a mixture of in-office and some remote working.
Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 9th April

Learn more about the role and how to apply here:

https://www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies/34-vacancy-interpretation-graphic-designer

27/03/2026

We’re hiring an Interpretation & Graphic Designer!

Are you a creative, people‑focused designer with a passion for placemaking, heritage and storytelling? We are looking for a creative, dynamic, innovative and experienced Interpretation Designer who is genuinely passionate about engaging communities from a variety of backgrounds in design, interpretation and heritage projects.

➡ www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies/34-vacancy-interpretation-graphic-designer

What you’ll be doing:

Manage and deliver interpretation, public engagement and place‑based projects with a strong focus on visual storytelling.

Curate and co‑write narratives with communities to highlight local identity across social, environmental and built heritage.

Design and implement interpretation tools — from mapboards and wayfinding to websites, apps, video, VR/AR and comms materials.

Oversee design, specification, procurement and installation of physical and digital interpretation or public‑art elements.

Lead research, engagement and creative workshops, turning insights into design recommendations and actionable project plans.

Manage clients, stakeholders, budgets and risks while driving projects to completion and securing future work through leads and tenders.

Working hours of between 22.5 - 30 hours per week.
Located in Glasgow, with a flexible working policy to accommodate a mixture of in-office and some remote working.
Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 9th April

Learn more about the role and how to apply here:

https://www.icecreamarchitecture.com/vacancies/34-vacancy-interpretation-graphic-designer

25/03/2026

Reviving traditional skills for the future.

In Girvan and Buckhaven, we’ve been working alongside local craftspeople, heritage professionals, specialist contractors, schools and youth groups to shape Traditional Skills Training Plans for the local areas, rooted in repair, regeneration, learning and opportunity.

Together with these communities, we explored which heritage skills could have the greatest local impact to address the repairs needs for our ageing historic buildings, urgent skills gaps and local barriers to employment in traditional skills. We tested ideas through pilot activities, collaborating closely with wider heritage and regeneration teams. Insights from this work are now informing ambitious five-year programmes designed to open pathways into training, employment and long-term skills development.

From early introductions for school pupils and heritage careers activities, to multi-trade learning, work placements, pre-apprenticeship pathways and hands-on CPD linked to capital projects, these programmes aim to remove barriers and create meaningful access to traditional skills at every stage of life.
Pilot sessions have already brought stonemasonry, blacksmithing, stained glass, traditional roofing, painting and decorating, building surveying techniques and architectural model-making into the hands of local participants, celebrating craft and community knowledge.

Because caring for historic places also means investing in the people who will shape their futures.

11/03/2026

Playful interpretation and public art shaped with communities.

Across Scotland, we’ve been collaborating with local communities to co-design new approaches to public art and interpretation embedding shared decision-making and creativity at every stage.

Working closely with communities, we uncover the threads that connect stories of people and place, weaving them into outcomes that range from bold centrepiece artworks to sculpture and poetry trails, digital experiences, paper maps, wayfinding and welcoming rest points. Multi-sensory, playful and interactive elements help bring these stories to life for diverse audiences.

We identify opportunities for local artists and makers to lead delivery, celebrating home-grown skills whilst ensuring each artwork and interpretive experience feels truly rooted in place and local knowledge. The results are interpretation and public art that is engaging, joyful and rich with narrative, inviting curiosity, play and fresh perspectives on familiar landscapes for visitors and locals alike.

All of this is shaped with care and sensitivity to natural, built and social heritage - amplifying what makes each place distinctive whilst inviting new ways to explore, reflect and belong.