Rowanbank Environmental Arts & Education CIC is a not for profit Social Enterprise incorporated as a community interest company. Initially a creative partnership between Lucy Power and Arran Sheppard, Rowanbank was founded in 2006. Having worked as environmental consultants, they felt that there must be a more effective way to engage people in important environmental issues such as climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Lucy and Arran created Rowanbank to combine their passion for performing with their academic backgrounds in environmental science and engineering. We now have a core team of extremely talented performers, workshop facilitators, environmental consultants and education experts that work with us on a regular basis. We are based in Edinburgh and work throughout Scotland and beyond.
Rowanbank’s Artistic Directors Arran Sheppard & Lucy Power
The People
Lucy Power (Director) BSc. Hons
Lucy has a First Class degree in Ecological Science (with Honours in Environmental Science) from the University of Edinburgh, is a Climate Ambassador with Climate Outreach, and has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship in creative climate communication and education. Lucy is a qualified Forest School Leader (Level 3) and an EcoHomes and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Assessor. Lucy is also an aerial performer and teacher for All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre and Dance Base, Scotland’s national centre for dance. Lucy has worked successfully with schools, community organisations, government agencies and the private sector. Her previous experience includes working as an environmental consultant for Whitbybird Ltd. (now Ramboll UK) and Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd (now ManagEnergy); and as a performer and project manager for te POOKa, an Edinburgh based performing arts charity.
Arran Sheppard (Director) BSc, MSc
Arran has a BSc (Hons) in Engineering with Appropriate Technology from Warwick University and an MSc in Architecture with Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies from the Centre for Alternative Technology. Arran has extensive experience running environmental and community music workshops and performances throughout Scotland, and has been a workshop leader and performer for Orkestra del Sol, the Edinburgh Samba School, The Bristol Branch, te POOKa, Historic Environment Scotland and Woodland Learning Adventures. Arran also provides consultancy on ecological building techniques, and has worked successfully with schools, community organisations, government agencies and the private sector.
The Place
Our Edinburgh studio is in ‘Meanwhile on Leith Walk’, which is part of Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust. Meanwhile Studios and Community Space were created in 2018 in the disused tram depot site.
Testimonials
“Lucy and Arran’s unique blend of environmental knowledge, participatory workshop & performance skills and sheer charm made them the ideal partners to help develop our project. The environmental lessons stimulated the imaginations of the children and their teachers in equal measures. They loved them and now love the forest!
”
“Whilst working with Lucy and Arran to develop an environmental show in an urban woodland, I was impressed by their professional conduct, depth of environmental understanding and creative flair. The show was a huge success, bringing hundreds of people of all ages into the woodland, many for the first time, and inspiring them with a sense of wonder.
”
Whenever possible, we use public transport or bicycles to travel to our projects. Our electric cargo bike has replaced our van for our Edinburgh based projects. Positive Imaginings is 99% pedal powered! (Occasionally we get the bus or train!) We are members of the Enterprise Car Club who have a strict low-emissions policy on their fleet of cars. If we need a car we try to use their electric and hybrid vehicles whenever possible. However, the Rowanbank van is currently a much needed travelling dressing room for some of our outdoor events. We are all looking forward to the day when we can replace it with an electric van powered by our own solar panels!