{"id":63827,"date":"2025-11-30T13:53:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T13:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/?p=63827"},"modified":"2025-12-22T14:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:55:18","slug":"ross-poole-on-the-michael-harding-secret-coast-prize-for-fine-art-and-shifting-power-back-to-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/insights\/ross-poole-on-the-michael-harding-secret-coast-prize-for-fine-art-and-shifting-power-back-to-artists\/","title":{"rendered":"Ross Poole on the Michael Harding Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art and Shifting Power Back to Artists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c385debf wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p><strong>This interview covers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#About-Ross\" title=\"\">About Ross Poole and founding Tighnabruaich Gallery<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Ross'-Role-And-Routine\" title=\"\">About Ross&#8217; role and routine<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Tighnabruaich-Gallery-Values\" title=\"\">Tighnabruaich Gallery Values<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#About-Using-Zealous\" title=\"\">Using Zealous to launch the Inaugural Michael Harding Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<p>It takes time to build the kind of conviction Ross Poole carries. The founder of Tighnabruaich Gallery and the Scottish Contemporary Collective arrived at his role through years of survival, then eventually rediscovery through afternoon garden sketches, an evening class, and a sense of stability created with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That rediscovery led Ross to Tighnabruaich, where he bought the gallery and created the Scottish Contemporary Collective &#8211; a residency and mentorship programme built around what emerging artists actually need: business skills, technical support, and a transparent pathway into sustainable careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The inaugural &#8216;Michael Harding&#8217; Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art is the next evolution of that vision: a celebration of honest, handmade work where Academicians hang beside students, where transparent commission models fund emerging talent, and where every element reflects Ross&#8217;s uncompromising values of fairness, access, and integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ross talked to us about returning to the child who drew endlessly, building something that didn&#8217;t exist when he needed it, and why shifting power back to artists rattles the cages of people who&#8217;ve held the keys for too long.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"secret-coast-prize\" class=\"wp-block-group has-base-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6f3bf868 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Visit The Michael Harding Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">The exhibition brings together shortlisted artists working in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">30th November &#8211; 21st December 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/tiggallery.co.uk\/exhibitions\/11-the-michael-harding-secret-coast-prize-for-fine\/works\/?utm_source=zealous.co&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=interview\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn More About The Exhibition<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"About-Ross\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A \u201cgentle artist\u201d didn\u2019t fit the character I thought I needed to survive.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m a working-class guy from Clydebank, an industrial, shipbuilding town on the outskirts of Glasgow. I was a prolific drawer as a child and absolutely convinced I\u2019d be an artist one day. Then life happened. I lost my mum at ten, and when I look back, that\u2019s when I stopped doing the things that brought me joy. The love of art never left, but when you grow up in a tough environment you learn to build armour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My early life \u2014 right into my twenties \u2014 was heavy, complex, and shaped by trauma. The thread running through it all is that I wasn\u2019t living as my authentic self. That disconnection was at the heart of a lot of my difficulty navigating the world as a young adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things began to shift when I met my wife Shumela, and we had our children. That was the start of the road out. We moved from Glasgow to rural Stirlingshire when my youngest son Jacob was a few months old. I started a business in a completely different field while studying at Stirling University. That period gave me stability, space, and, for the first time, room to heal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63829 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ross-Headshots-1-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ross-Headshots-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ross-Headshots-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ross-Headshots-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ross Poole, founder of Tighnabruaich Gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I felt, for the first time in adulthood, that I wasn\u2019t living in survival mode.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020 I had serious health issues, then lockdown arrived. The business couldn\u2019t trade, my wife continued working in her social enterprise, and I home-schooled Jacob in the mornings. The afternoons were spent in the garden sketching in the sunlight. Those garden sketches changed everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My wife, Shumela, bought me an evening class at Glasgow University. A simple gift, but it cracked something open that couldn\u2019t be closed again. After that I hunted for more classes, eventually finding an academic drawing school in Glasgow\u2019s East End. My tutor there was involved in an art prize in October 2023. I was so energised by the conversations we had that I offered to sponsor the main prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the night of the preview, I felt something I hadn\u2019t felt in decades \u2014 like I\u2019d come home. Like the child who drew endlessly had finally made it back. That night planted the seed for the Scottish Contemporary Collective. I spoke with the mother of an emerging artist \u2014 a young talent who is now part of our first cohort \u2014 and she expressed the fear every parent of an art graduate feels: \u201cHow will my daughter survive without the business skills to build a career?\u201d I realised I could help. I knew I could build something that didn\u2019t exist when I needed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The morning after this, I was in Tighnabruaich on holiday. I fell in love with the place instantly \u2014 the landscape, the stillness, the sense of possibility. I wasn\u2019t well at the time, and it felt like I was literally healing there. I spotted a house for sale, viewed it, and we eventually bought it. During the Easter holidays with Jacob, I noticed the gallery was for sale. That was the bridge between the idea and the reality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63831 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Under-the-Grey-Sky-Photos-37-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Under-the-Grey-Sky-Photos-37-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Under-the-Grey-Sky-Photos-37-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Under-the-Grey-Sky-Photos-37-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Under-the-Grey-Sky-Photos-37-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Outside Tighnabruaich Gallery, located on the Scottish coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">This is the work I was meant to do. And everything that came before &#8211; even the hard parts &#8211; led me here.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I bought the Tighnabruaich Gallery and piloted the first phase of what is now becoming the Scottish Contemporary Collective \u2014 a residency, mentorship, and development programme shaped entirely around the needs of emerging artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u2018Michael Harding\u2019 Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art is an extension of that idea: opening our doors wider, welcoming artists at every stage, and using our commission model to fund the talent who need support most. It\u2019s our chance to build something national and inclusive \u2014 a prize where Academicians hang beside students, where local artists share the walls with international names, and where every sale helps build a more equitable future for the arts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"Ross'-Role-And-Routine\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My role right now is everything<\/strong> \u2014 I\u2019m wearing every hat you can imagine.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Including curating, hanging, scheduling, admin, sales, accounting, marketing, social media, operations, community building. That\u2019s partly because this has been entirely self-funded so far, and partly because I want to understand every inch of what we\u2019re creating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also still run my other business, so life is full and intense. But the aim is for this work \u2014 the gallery, the Collective, the prize \u2014 to become my full career. Over time we\u2019ll transition into a structured not-for-profit where capacity grows across the Collective itself. Artists developing artists. Skills passed forward. A circular model where responsibility, learning, and leadership are shared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>If I\u2019m being fully honest, there\u2019s no morning yoga, journaling, or green juice in my morning routine. <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My mornings aren\u2019t glamorous or structured. They\u2019re real. I wake early, have coffee while my wife has tea, and I listen to her \u2014 she\u2019s the ballast in my life. One of us takes Jacob to school depending on who\u2019s less frantic that day. It\u2019s coffee and cigarettes before diving into whatever the day demands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63839 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Ade-Exhibition-Cont-20-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Ade-Exhibition-Cont-20-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Ade-Exhibition-Cont-20-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/Ade-Exhibition-Cont-20-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ade Adesina and his solo exhibition at Tighnabruaich Gallery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"Tighnabruaich-Gallery-Values\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Everything we do, from our commission model to our mentorship to our open call \u2014 comes back to these principles.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>My core values are simple but uncompromising:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fairness<\/strong> &#8211; Artists should be treated with dignity, transparency, and respect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access<\/strong> &#8211; Talent exists everywhere; opportunity doesn\u2019t. Our work exists to close that gap.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrity<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; No exploitation, no gatekeeping, no smoke and mirrors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Community over hierarchy<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; We build upward by building outward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reinvestment<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Artists\u2019 success should feed back into supporting emerging artists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Courage<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Be bold enough to do things differently, even if it challenges the status quo.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Humanity<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; We deal with people, not products. Stories, not commodities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63838 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-20-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-20-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-20-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-20-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Scottish Contemporary Collective during Lewis Mackenzie&#8217;s Alla Prima Masterclass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When you\u2019re shifting power back to artists, it rattles the cages of the people who\u2019ve held the keys for too long.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing I\u2019ve learned is that some people in the industry pretend not to understand what we\u2019re doing \u2014 not because it\u2019s complex, but because the current system benefits them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re creating an equitable model that gives early-career artists stability, business training, technical support, and a pathway into a sustainable career. Universities aren\u2019t teaching these skills anymore. Artists are graduating into a void. Our commission model is transparent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>33% for early-career artists.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>44% for established artists.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>11% reinvested directly into emerging talent.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No hidden margins. No smoke and mirrors. Just a circular system: artists supporting artists. The arts matter as much to wellbeing as health, education, and community. Creativity shouldn\u2019t be a luxury. Our work is about pulling down barriers and giving people back their creative freedom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nothing compares to curating and standing inside a workshop with the Collective.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The room changes. The energy shifts. Artists are pushed, mentors are stretched, and ideas begin to move in ways you could never script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You watch people break through something \u2014 sometimes quietly, sometimes all at once \u2014 and the whole space feels charged with possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of my personal life, this is the place where I feel most alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing artists develop in real time, witnessing those moments where everything clicks \u2014 curating that environment, holding that space \u2014 it\u2019s the greatest privilege of the work I do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63834 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ade-WS-Photos-22-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ade-WS-Photos-22-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ade-WS-Photos-22-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-Ade-WS-Photos-22-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scottish Contemporary Collective Printmaking Masterclass and residency launch with Ade Adesina at Peacock &amp; The Worm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When I\u2019m making art, nothing else exists except the next line, the next shadow, the next soft edge.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Switching off doesn\u2019t come naturally to me \u2014 I\u2019m always switched on where work is concerned. So my grounding comes from time with my family: my wife, and my sons Patrick and Jacob. My happiest moments outside the gallery are watching Jacob play rugby (and years back, watching Patrick play football).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travel helps too \u2014 Spain especially. The pace, the warmth, the light. And when my health allows, drawing and painting are the only things that make time disappear completely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-63837 lazyload\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-37-scaled.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-37-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-37-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/11\/SCC-WS-Photos-37-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Scottish Contemporary Collective during Lewis Mackenzie&#8217;s Alla Prima Masterclass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"About-Using-Zealous\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For an organisation built on fairness and opportunity, that alignment was everything.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For someone who isn\u2019t particularly tech-savvy, Zealous was easy to use and integrated into our open call process almost seamlessly. I looked at a number of platforms, but Zealous stood out from the outset. A few things made the decision easy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Speed &amp; clarity<\/strong> &#8211; we could build and publish an opportunity quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fair, transparent fees<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; essential for keeping submissions accessible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Values<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; This was the biggest factor. Zealous felt aligned to our mission of widening access, reducing barriers, and treating artists with dignity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Their team has been unbelievable. They genuinely&nbsp;<em>care<\/em>. They\u2019re trying to build a healthier ecosystem for artists, not an exploitative one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve learned a lot from this first open call \u2014 lessons I\u2019ll take forward to make the next one even smoother and more accessible. But the platform itself? It\u2019s been brilliant. And I\u2019m excited for what comes next: the online exhibition, the growth of the Prize, and where this partnership could take us in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The set-up was straightforward, the support was outstanding, and it allowed us to launch something ambitious at short notice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group mid_post_cta has-base-2-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-83858da6ced582519ce63fcfd9662766 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-34d7f7af wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background:linear-gradient(103deg,rgba(242,145,160,0.7) 0%,rgba(187,215,242,0.73) 70%);margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div id=\"mid-cta-a\" class=\"wp-block-group has-contrast-color has-base-2-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f0a12e20b216dfc8dc951a5929df682a has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e4a18999 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-contrast-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-decc535b6327c1f7126198669a05008a\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2rem\"><span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"envelope-open-text\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-envelope-open-text \" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 576 512\" style=\"font-size:1.4em\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M288 33.9L96.4 175.8 254.5 293c5.3 3.9 11.2 6.9 17.5 8.7L272 464c0 5.5 .5 10.8 1.3 16L96 480c-35.3 0-64-28.7-64-64l0-239.9c0-20.3 9.6-39.4 25.9-51.4L254.5-21c9.7-7.2 21.4-11 33.5-11s23.8 3.9 33.5 11L518.1 124.7c7.2 5.3 13.1 12 17.4 19.6-2.5-.2-5-.3-7.5-.3L436.6 144 288 33.9zM320 240c0-26.5 21.5-48 48-48l160 0c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48l0 224c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48l-160 0c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48l0-224zm80 16c-13.3 0-24 10.7-24 24s10.7 24 24 24l96 0c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24s-10.7-24-24-24l-96 0zm0 96c-13.3 0-24 10.7-24 24s10.7 24 24 24l56 0c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24s-10.7-24-24-24l-56 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center cta_text content_mid_cta has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-8a0ce27d23f7e9cc6f0d594f1d06f2d9\">Insights like these straight to your inbox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Receive weekly tips from our founder to grow your program\u2019s impact; regardless of what tools you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button primary-cta\" id=\"host-weekly-tips-mid-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/insights\/weekly-awards-and-competitions-insights\/\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.156), 1rem);\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><\/span> <span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"envelope\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-envelope \" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M48 64c-26.5 0-48 21.5-48 48 0 15.1 7.1 29.3 19.2 38.4l208 156c17.1 12.8 40.5 12.8 57.6 0l208-156c12.1-9.1 19.2-23.3 19.2-38.4 0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48L48 64zM0 196L0 384c0 35.3 28.7 64 64 64l384 0c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64l0-188-198.4 148.8c-34.1 25.6-81.1 25.6-115.2 0L0 196z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span> Subscribe to Insights<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mid-cta-b\" class=\"wp-block-group hide has-contrast-color has-base-2-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-ca05ccdaab1def85577cb2a6d6db569d has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e4a18999 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-contrast-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c35947b2679f7e019645ffbfe224e3d2\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2rem\"><span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"chart-line\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-line \" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" style=\"font-size:1.4em\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M64 64c0-17.7-14.3-32-32-32S0 46.3 0 64L0 400c0 44.2 35.8 80 80 80l400 0c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32s-14.3-32-32-32L80 416c-8.8 0-16-7.2-16-16L64 64zm406.6 86.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L320 210.7 262.6 153.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0l-96 96c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3s32.8 12.5 45.3 0l73.4-73.4 57.4 57.4c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l128-128z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center cta_text content_mid_cta has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-77a2863cd996b074853fbd2c95c9a19c\">Calculate when submissions will arrive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Ever wondered if your award will hit its submission targets? Or how your program compares to industry standards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button primary-cta\" id=\"host-submissions-projection-mid-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/insights\/submission-projection-calculator\/\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.156), 1rem);\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><\/span><span class=\"wp-rich-text-font-awesome-icon wp-font-awesome-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"fas\" data-icon=\"calculator\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-calculator \" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M64 0C28.7 0 0 28.7 0 64L0 448c0 35.3 28.7 64 64 64l256 0c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64l0-384c0-35.3-28.7-64-64-64L64 0zM96 64l192 0c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32l0 32c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32L96 160c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32l0-32c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32zm16 168a24 24 0 1 1 -48 0 24 24 0 1 1 48 0zm80 24a24 24 0 1 1 0-48 24 24 0 1 1 0 48zm128-24a24 24 0 1 1 -48 0 24 24 0 1 1 48 0zM88 352a24 24 0 1 1 0-48 24 24 0 1 1 0 48zm128-24a24 24 0 1 1 -48 0 24 24 0 1 1 48 0zm80 24a24 24 0 1 1 0-48 24 24 0 1 1 0 48zM64 424c0-13.3 10.7-24 24-24l112 0c13.3 0 24 10.7 24 24s-10.7 24-24 24L88 448c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24zm232-24c13.3 0 24 10.7 24 24s-10.7 24-24 24-24-10.7-24-24 10.7-24 24-24z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span> Calculate submissions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"opportunity-makers\"><strong>The Opportunity Makers Series<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the second feature in our Opportunity Makers series, following <a href=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/insights\/putting-money-in-sculptors-pockets-inside-the-london-sculpture-prize-with-isabel-h-langtry\/\" title=\"\">Isabel H Langtry&#8217;s feature on the London Sculpture Prize<\/a>. This series celebrates the people who create opportunities for artists, but it goes deeper than that. We want to understand what drives them, what they&#8217;ve learned, and how they&#8217;re quietly reshaping what&#8217;s possible for creatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ross&#8217;s journey building the Scottish Contemporary Collective, Tighnabruaich Gallery and the Secret Coast Prize shows what happens when someone decides to build the ladder they wish had existed for them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:0\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Want us to write more content like this? 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21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label screen-reader-text\">\n\t\t\tShare on X\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group au_row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-527f440d wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border au_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"956\" height=\"1158\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65447 lazyload\" style=\"border-radius:30px;aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:60px\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-13-at-08.49.02.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-13-at-08.49.02.png 956w, https:\/\/zealous.co\/wpadmin2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-13-at-08.49.02-768x930.png 768w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group au_txt_block wp-container-content-6610010d has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9ec41e88 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading au_name has-medium-font-size\">Carmela Vienna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"au_pos has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/creative-submission-platform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Social Marketing Manager<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\"><strong>When is the Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art Exhibition?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art exhibition runs from 30th November to 21st December 2025 at Tighnabruaich Gallery. The preview and awards ceremony took place on Saturday 29th November from 3pm-6pm, where winners were  announced across three prize categories: The &#8216;Michael Harding&#8217; Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art, The Argyll &amp; Bute Prize, and The Early Career Prize.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\"><strong>Who is Ross Poole?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Ross Poole is a working-class artist from Clydebank, founder of Tighnabruaich Gallery and the Scottish Contemporary Collective (SCCOCO)\u2014a residency, mentorship, and development programme for emerging artists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After sponsoring an art prize in 2023, Ross realised he could build the support system that didn&#8217;t exist when he needed it. He bought Tighnabruaich Gallery in 2024 and is reshaping how artists are supported in Scotland through transparent commission models and genuine skill-building opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\"><strong>What is the Scottish Contemporary Collective?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The Scottish Contemporary Collective (SCCOCO) is a residency, mentorship, and development programme built entirely around what emerging artists actually need. Founded by Ross Poole, it addresses the gap left by universities that no longer teach business skills, providing early-career artists with stability, technical support, business training, and a pathway into sustainable careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a circular system where artists support artists, built on values of fairness, access, integrity, and community over hierarchy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\"><strong>What is the purpose of the &#8216;Michael Harding&#8217; Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The Secret Coast Prize exists to widen access, reduce barriers, and treat artists with dignity while putting real money and materials in their pockets. The prize welcomes all subjects and mediums, allowing established artists and students to exhibit side by side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With three award categories totalling over \u00a33,000 in cash and materials, it&#8217;s designed to champion artists who work with integrity, curiosity, and craft, regardless of their background or career stage. The prize extends the mission of the Scottish Contemporary Collective: building a fairer, more sustainable art world through transparency and reinvestment in emerging talent.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\"><strong>Who is Zealous?<\/strong><\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Zealous is an award management platform that helps organisations run creative competitions and open calls. For the Secret Coast Prize, Zealous provided speed, clarity, fair submission fees, and values aligned with widening access and reducing barriers for artists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform enabled Ross to launch something ambitious at short notice with the support he needed, and he&#8217;s excited about the online exhibition and where this partnership could take the prize in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet Ross Poole, the founder of Tighnabruaich Gallery who&#8217;s on a mission to shift power back to artists. Through launching the inaugural Secret Coast Prize for Fine Art, he&#8217;s building transparency, sustainable career pathways and opportunities for emerging artists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":63854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"wp-custom-template-post-org-insight","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[499],"tags":[910],"class_list":["post-63827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","tag-managing-awards"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63827"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65523,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63827\/revisions\/65523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}