This exhibition saw us bring together artists and makers across disciplines to explore the enduring nature of attention. Works in the exhibition might’ve traced a long-held preoccupation with a place, material, or idea; revealing the repeated gesture of a hand in craft; or unravel a personal or collective narrative that refused to be forgotten. We want to begin by thanking every artist who took part and presented their work to us for exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building this winter and to everyone who came along to see it. The Thread That Pulls was a very special exhibition, and one which has kickstarted our next chapter as a SCIO.

Secondly to our President, Tavienne Bridgwater, for her skilful curation of the exhibition and to the entire Visual Arts Scotland team for working so tirelessly to bring it to fruition: Kam Chan, Hannah Knechtli, Charles Young, Alexandra Bell, Scott Smith, Alison Laing, Anna Gormezano Marks, Vincent Deighan, Toni Harrower, Niamh Hughes, and Gabriella Carboni, as well as our Development & Partnerships Manager Amanda Airey and our Programme Administration Coordinator Felicity Darwent. With additional thanks to Jade Stout, Oli Turner, Sandra Vick, Jan McCormack, Richard Goldsworthy, Nick Packer and Paddy Knechtli. To our hang team McIntosh Art Exhibition Contractors, as well as Robin Mair for photography and Alasdair Dimmick for poster design.

We were also lucky to have such a dedicated team of volunteers: Michael Clarence, Mary Henderson, Zuzanna Salomon, Louise Dick Main, Katherine Sola, Sian Landau, Jaya Cauchy, Ros Main, Orla Deighan, Sandra Collins, Isabeau Joubert, Thomas Arnold, Rose Kelly and Sheila Paige who invigilated and took care of the exhibition over its month-long run.

And of course to our supporters: Creative Scotland, The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust, The Miller Trust, The Hugh Fraser Foundation & The Russell Trust for whom we could not have done this without.

5 December 2025 – 2 January 2026