Holdfast: Exploring hope beneath the waves of Argyll's coast

Kilmartin Museum presents Holdfast, an immersive group exhibition by six artists whose shared passion for the sea began during the 2024 Argyll Hope Spot artist residency. Spanning two galleries of the museum’s special exhibition space, the artists invite audiences to journey beneath the waves through suspended artworks, soundscapes, projection, mosaics, and illustration. The participating artists, Emma Baker, Rosemary Cunningham, Liz Willoughby, Viola Madau, Tamsin Cunningham, and Jamie Wardrop first met during a unique marine focused residency on Scotland’s west coast, supported by Hope Spot Argyll. This rare opportunity combined snorkelling, underwater drawing, and one-to-one sessions with local marine experts, offering first hand insight into the region’s rich biodiversity. The exhibition title refers to the holdfast, the root-like structure that anchors seaweed to the seabed. Beyond its biological role, the holdfast is a powerful symbol of resilience and connection, reminding us that both people and the natural world must hold fast together through the storms ahead, both real and existential. Drawn together by a shared passion for the sea, the six artists have transformed their underwater experiences into a collaborative body of work born from the deep bond they formed in the water. Reflecting on the diversity and fragility of Argyll’s marine habitats, and working across suspended sculpture, illustration, mosaic, animation, projection, and sound, they have created an exhibition that invites visitors to step beneath the waves, discover the interconnected life of these underwater worlds, and consider what it will take to protect them. The Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot is part of an international network of special marine areas recognised by Mission Blue, which includes the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. This designation celebrates and supports the life above and below the waves, creating a global wave of community led ocean conservation. Entry to the exhibition is through purchase of a standard museum ticket. All 2025 tickets are valid for unlimited visits for one year from the purchase date for both the museum and exhibitions. Opening times vary with the seasonal opening times of the museum.