Why Ulva?

Ulva is a very special place. The island has a remarkable ecological and cultural heritage. In 2018 the island became a community owned island and subsequently the North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC), in a partnership with the island’s residents, have acted to protect and enhance the island’s unique character. Blackshed Projects hopes to work in partnership with the NWMCWC and the community on a sustainable project that aligns with their aims.

What is the idea?

The idea is to create an artist in residence bothy on the island.  The bothy would provide accommodation for visiting artists (writers, poets, artists, sculptures etc.), allowing them to spend a  specified time living and working on Ulva. As part of the selection process artists would be asked to describe how they would engage with the island during their stay and to set out what they intend as outputs, which would have to include an event for the community and artefacts for an archive.

This programme would compliment the artist in residence programme that is run by the KNOCKvologan Studio on Mull (see: https://knockvologan.net/residencies). 

How would the bothy be funded?

In the medium to long term the aim is for the artists in residence bothy to be a self-sustaining asset run by the NWMCWC.

In the short term the artists bothy would be paid for and used exclusively by Blackshed Projects. We have backgrounds in architecture, education, community and social work, and in recent years have gained considerable experience from time living and working on the Isle of Skye including; 

• Writing on ecology, philosophy and architecture,
• Retrieving Galic Placenames through map making, 
• Local settlement history,
• Conservation work including tree planting, beach cleaning and path maintenance,
• Maintenance of a Mountain Bothy Association bothy,
• Coastguard Technician.

During extended stays on the island we would like to collaborate with the NWMCWC and the community to enhance the island’s landscape, ecology and culture.

In the longer term Blackshed Projects would gift the bothy to the NWMCWC, together with a business and operational plan to ensure that the artist in residence programme would be self-sustaining. 

What would the artists bothy look like?

Blackshed Projects hopes to work on the design of the bothy with Ian MacLeod of Studio IMA, Edinburgh. Ian has previously designed the Bothy Stores kit, the trading wing of the Bothy Project, and is keen to adapt the design for a specific site on Ulva. Further information about his bothy designs can be found at: https://studioima.co.uk/bothies.

The bothy on Ulva would have a very small footprint (30m2 or less – a bit bigger than a shepherds hut) and would be designed to have a minimal impact on the landscape. The bothy would be built in Edinburgh and then brought to site as a whole, in sections, or flat packed and erected on site. The bothy could be linked to mains water and electricity but it would also be possible to design an off grid bothy employing solar panels, a wind turbine, a private water supply and septic tank.

A site has not yet been identified for the bothy and in this respect input from the community would be very welcome. Blackshed Projects would lease the site from the NWMCWC. 

What is the timeline for the bothy?

• February 2026 Submission of an Expression of Interest Form to NWMCWC.

• April 2026 Meeting with representatives from NWMCWC.

• July 2026 Meeting with the community.

If the meeting with the community goes well then the next step would be to identify a site, to carry out a feasibility study and then to prepare a detailed proposal for the NWMCWC. 

The bothy could be up and running by late summer 2027.

How can I find out more?

Please feel free to contact us on blackshedshul@gmail.com