icecream architecture

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.

26/02/2026

A glimpse into some of our recent and ongoing community heritage work.

Across South Ayrshire, Fife and Moray, we’ve been collaborating with local organisations, community groups and schools to shape Community Heritage Activity Plans rooted in place, people and shared stories.

Through creative activities, walking tours, community mapping and co-design, we’re uncovering meaningful local narratives and exploring new ways to connect both new and existing audiences with heritage. Along the way, we’ve had the joy of working with storytellers, graffiti artists, teachers, archivists and craftspeople, and bringing together nature lovers, history buffs, change-makers, performers and anyone with a story to tell.

Together, we’re helping communities craft their own collective visions for how shared heritage can be cared for, celebrated and evolved, so future generations can understand and value what makes their places truly special.

20/02/2026

We’re delighted that the Girvan’s Story project has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.

This major programme will see an exciting 5-year programme of local activities and training for the community alongside four key buildings, conserved and re-energised as part of wider placemaking support for Girvan’s historic centre.

Our contribution focused on developing the Traditional Skills Training and Community Heritage Activities Plans with South Ayrshire Council. We worked with local groups and organisations to identify exciting opportunities to engage Girvan’s residents with all aspects of the project, maximising its benefits for the local community. The proposals include a craft tool library, new heritage interpretation and murals trail and community textiles projects, as well as traditional skills training initiatives, repairs and maintenance advice for heritage properties and lots more.

These plans build on the hands-on pilot activities and workshops we delivered across Girvan in 2025, including taster sessions in stonemasonry, blacksmithing, slate and lead roofing, stained glass and mural design in partnership with local contractors and craftspeople.

Congratulations to the Girvan’s Story project team, and with thanks to National Lottery Players for making this possible for the community!

https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/projects/investing-ayrshires-heritage-supporting-coastal-community

17/02/2026

Make Your Way Strathaven, Chapelton, Gilmourton/Drumclog

🌿Fancy becoming a Guided Walk Leader? 🚶‍♂️🧭

Keep Scotland Beautiful are hosting FREE Guided Walk Training sessions in Strathaven!

📅 Tuesday 24th February
📅 Tuesday 24th March
⏰ 10am – 3pm
📍64 Kirk St, Strathaven ML10 6LB
🥪 Lunch will be provided

Perfect for anyone who wants to build confidence, learn new skills, and help others enjoy the outdoors. 🌳✨

Please contact [email protected] to register your interest.

Keep Scotland Beautiful
www.makeyourwaylanarkshire.com

13/02/2026

A day out turning over fresh ideas with brilliant community groups! We had a great time on the Turning the Sod Field Trip last week 🌱🌟

Turning the Sod groups from across Kildare in Ireland joined together for an inspiring day out visiting community-led projects. We visited Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Abbeyleix Bog Project and Abbeyleix Community Garden. The visits were all a great reminder of the creativity behind community-led projects and the local pride that they can foster!

The trip sparked many thoughtful conversations and plenty of new ideas. A huge thank you to everyone who attended for their enthusiasm, insight and energy throughout the day. There’s lots of food for thought as we continue developing projects through our Turning the Sod sessions!

The Turning the Sod initiative is delivered by icecream architecture on behalf of County Kildare LEADER Partnership. You can find out more about the project at www.turningthesod.ie

Many thanks to Cloughjordan EcoVillage, Abbeyleix Bog Project, Abbeyleix Community Garden and Abbeyleix Tidy Towns for guiding us around and sharing your insights into building community-led projects.

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.
Maoinítear an Tionscadal Oiliúna Sráidbhailte SMART (Forbairt SMARTer (níos cliste) faoi stiúir an phobail á cumhachtú ) go hiomlán tríd an gClár LEADER 2023-2027. Leis seo, is féidir oiliúint shaincheaptha a chur ar fáil i seacht n-ionad i gContae Chill Dara do ghrúpaí éagsúla rannpháirtithe. Sainaithníodh go raibh gá leis an tionscadal seo mar chuid de Ghníomhaíocht Straitéiseach 7.1 de Straitéis Forbartha Áitiúil Chill Dara 2023 - 2027.

20/01/2026

🗺️Make Your Way Digital Mapping Training - Tuesday 27th January 1:45pm - 3pm

🌿 Curious about learning how to record and map your local trails?

✨Join us for a Make Your Way Digital Trail Mapping workshop, where you’ll learn how to add your favourite local walking and cycling trails, local heritage, and points of interest to the online map – helping others explore Lanarkshire through shared heritage, stories and routes! 🌿

Open to individuals, community groups, and anyone interested in local heritage, culture, and landscapes.

In Person session:
📍Strathaven Library Active IT learning centre,
Avondale Community Wing,
📆Tuesday 27th January
⏱️1.45pm-3pm

Online session dates will be announced soon, sign up now to make sure you're notified!

Sign up for the training here! linktr.ee/MakeYourWayLanarkshire
icecream architecture