The starting point for The Nation//Live – Faith will be St Columba’s conversion of the Picts on Skye in the late-sixth century and the coming of Christianity to Scotland. William Hole’s mural depiction of St Columba Addressing the Picts, 597 AD (1895-1901), on the Ambulatory of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, depicts such an event, and serves as the inspiration for the project. Young people on Skye will investigate sites on the island associated with the saint’s mission and assess whether a fundamental shift in belief could be possible in Scotland today. The power of miracles in changing hearts and minds, as well as issues of migration and origin will be addressed, as the people of Skye are invited to collaborate with an artist to imaginatively recreate this decisive moment in Scottish history.
