Agile City Member Spotlight – LUX Scotland

For this month’s spotlight, we caught up with the brilliant team at LUX Scotland. They’ve been long-time residents at the fixed desks at Civic House, and we were thrilled to interview them. Read on to discover more about their latest projects, what inspires them, and their experience being a core part of our coworking community!

Give a brief description of LUX Scotland: Who are your team members and what are their roles?

LUX Scotland is a non-profit agency dedicated to supporting, developing and promoting artists’ moving image practices in Scotland. Our work focuses on the wide range of artists, programmers, curators, writers and art workers that constitute the artists’ moving image sector in Scotland, ensuring that they have the support they need to develop their varied practices with integrity and confidence, while connecting them, and their work with new audiences across Scotland and beyond.

Our team of five are all based at Civic House: Aqsa Arif delivers our Learning Programme, which includes artist-led workshops, advice sessions, an annual weekend residential and a series of online resources. David Upton delivers our Public Programme which includes online screenings, collaborative screenings and commissions. Edward Jones and Annie Crabtree are our Project Managers, Edward is responsible for LUX Scotland’s communications and coordinates our evaluation and feedback; and Annie is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of LUX Scotland’s programme and operations, including financial administration. Our Interim Director Eve Smith is working closely with LUX Director Ali Roche on a period of organisational review and also manages LUX Scotland’s work.

How long have you been a tenant at Civic House & what attracted you to the building?

We’ve been at Civic House for just over a year and a half. Civic House is a warm, inviting and lively space, and we’re very happy to share it with a range of creative organisations and freelance workers with diverse social, environmental and cultural practices.

How did you settle on your current method of working (fixed desks, and why at Civic House?)

We enjoy the flexibility of the space at Civic House and we’re regular users of Civic House’s brilliant events space, where we’ve hosted screenings, discussions, and workshops.

What is artists’ moving image, and how do you support moving image artists in Scotland?

Artists’ moving image encompasses the work made by artists for a visual arts context using a range of cinematic techniques – including analogue film, animation, video, digital media and mixed media installations. Artists working with the moving image approach film and video with an experimental spirit that often challenges or disrupts conventional, traditional and mainstream filmmaking practices. Artists’ moving image is presented in many varied contexts including in cinemas, exhibitions and online.

We support artists in Scotland working with the moving image through our public and learning programmes; production and commissioning opportunities; education and research activity; and our advocacy and consultancy work. We nurture artistic vision and encourage expansive thinking through exposure to diverse practices and perspectives, contributing to a cultural landscape that is rich in diversity of talent, sustainable in every aspect of activity, and has the necessary ambition to project Scotland’s artistic voice beyond its borders.

With core principles of equality and equity, we develop talent across the country and across demographics, providing both practical advice and curatorial guidance for the sector. From peer support and production guidance to technical information and funding advice, we provide artists with guidance throughout their careers.

Do you have any words of advice for those hoping to pursue a career in your field?

Exploring our website is a great place to start to learn more about what LUX Scotland does! On our website we have a range of written Learning Resources for artists, regular commissioned texts responding to artists’ work, and present regular online screenings and discussions.

Our monthly newsletter too includes recommendations for artists’ moving image opportunities, exhibitions, events and an ever-growing list of resources of artists across Scotland.

How did you discover this is what you wanted to pursue as a career/passion?

The team at LUX Scotland share a passion for artists’ moving image practice and we’re committed to supporting the unique set of challenges and opportunities that the medium presents. We see artists’ moving image as a collaborative, democratic, accessible and radical medium with a strong and vibrant history in Scotland.

Do you have any upcoming projects you want to highlight?

We are extremely excited to be hosting a festival this summer… MAXIMUM TILT is a new three-day festival of artists’ moving image programmed by artists Andrew Black and Anne-Marie Copestake, taking place during Midsummer 2026. Join LUX Scotland and the University of St Andrews Department of Film Studies and Centre for Screen Cultures at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews between 23 and 25 June.

Prioritising slowness, conversation and being together across three days, Andrew and Anne-Marie have programmed a series of screenings, discussions and group meals. We’re really excited that we are also able to invite attendees to stay in discounted accommodation in St Andrews for the festival’s duration.

Where can we find out more about LUX Scotland

Over on our website at luxscotland.org.uk or on our Instagram page @luxscot

Photography by Magnus Graham for Intentional Pauses (and Unforeseen Gaps) Season 3, Ardvaser Community Hall, Isle of Skye, March 2025.

Participants at the 70th Flaherty Film Seminar Gathering, The Hunterian, Glasgow, October 2025. Photography by Erika Stevenson.

Photography by Erika Stevenson. ‘That The Sunset Is A Lie’, a workshop at Dundee Contemporary Arts as part of Intentional Pauses (and Unforeseen Gaps) Season 1, programmed by Miriam Mallalieu and Hannan Jones, October 2024.

We want to thank LUX Scotland for participating in this months member spotlight!

To find out more about memberships, and how to join Civic House, visit our coworking page.