Perth's young people are invited to explore an intriguing space in Perth High Street where they can encounter all manner of creative arts.
Opening on Friday, October 28 is what appears to be an abandoned toy shop. Pink writing above the door announces visitors are about to enter Mimi Store. Upside-down and backwards written signage has passersby scratching their heads. This place is about contradictions and shifted perspective.
This is artist Rachel Maclean’s concept installation, a refreshing experience brought to Perth by Jupiter + Perth.
The Fair City is the first location to get the Jupiter + programme’s ‘takeover’ experience. Other locations are set to see similar developments popping up in vacant stores.
The name comes from a cartoon princess called Mimi, a fairy-tale character that has appeared in Maclean’s work since 2021.
With an exhibition space on the ground floor, Mimi Store will offer three storeys of artist studio and education spaces including green screens, media labs and creative workshop spaces which will be used by students from around the region.
Horsecross Arts has partnering with the Glasgow art park Jupiter Artland in a brand-new arts and education initiative that will put dynamic new life into the unused store until January and create an exciting learning environment.
The programme, spearheaded by Jupiter Artland founder Nicky Wilson, is motivated by the marked decline in students taking up the creative arts from school level onward – and seeks to connect young people in Scotland with internationally acclaimed artists and educators in the creative industries.