Here at Fine Day, we have one goal: make the world a nicer place. Part of how we accomplish that goal is by working alongside charities, social enterprises and schools to support the communities and causes we care about. We collaborate with these organisations to create enriching brands and playful experiences to support their work. Since November is the month of giving and gratitude, we thought we would take this opportunity to highlight some of the charity and community projects that are near and dear to our hearts.

‘At Fine Day, we know first–hand that our creativity and energy makes a difference. Our work supporting charities and communities brings us immense satisfaction, and it’s rewarding to see our creative skills help enrich the world around us.’ Colin Leonard, Founder

Thinking back to the last few years of working with JAZZ SCOTLAND , Grampian Hospitals Art Trust, Aberdeen Bon Accord Rotary, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and many other organisations, we know that working to support the communities and causes we care about is a huge part of what makes Fine Day a company that we can be proud of, so read on to learn more about a few of the charity projects we’ve had the pleasure to work on.

Jazz Scotland

 

Jazz Scotland is the leading promoter of jazz music in Scotland. They offer varied and innovative musical experiences to diverse audiences and communities, notably through their flagship Aberdeen, Dundee, and Islay festivals.

Our work with Jazz Scotland began when we were approached to help bring the Aberdeen Jazz Festival and its live performances online at a time when lockdown restrictions meant audiences couldn’t attend in-person events. As proud Aberdonians and artists ourselves, our team was keen to immerse themselves into the project. We loved attending the Jazz Festival and experiencing the creative spirit the festival brings to the city. We knew we wanted to be part of bringing these exciting and innovative events to life.

Since then, we’ve become a partner of not only the Aberdeen Jazz Festival but of Jazz Scotland as a whole, helping them promote their full programme of events and festivals year-round and even helping to stage the Aberdeen Festival each spring!

During our time with Jazz Scotland, we have refreshed the festival’s visual identity and developed a comprehensive visual language that captures the event’s energy whilst allowing flexibility to expand its look each year. We’ve also taken that visual identity and created a cohesive experience across their digital platforms and promotional materials for Jazz Scotland and each of their individual festivals and events.

Do you want to get involved with Jazz Scotland? Learn more on their website https://jazzscotland.com/

Helping Aberdeen Bon Accord Rotary bring a wheelchair swing to Duthie Park.

One of our newest community projects is the All-Play Appeal with The Aberdeen Bon Accord Rotary Club, who are working to raise funds to purchase a wheelchair swing for the Children’s play area in Duthie Park. Rotary International tackles poverty and enhances health and wellbeing by improving communities. We are thrilled to be helping with the All-Play Appeal, because helping to build a wheelchair swing will make the play area more welcoming and enjoyable for everyone by ensuring all children can play and connect in Duthie Park. We know this project will not only make our part of the world a nicer place, but it will also make a meaningful difference to the lives of the children and young people in our local community.

The project began with a Charity Bike Ride on the 14th of September, and the fundraising campaign continues on JustGiving.com with the hopes of raising £24,000 to create a safe and fun swing that’s inclusive for all. As of this week, they have raised £2,905; if you would like to contribute to the cause and support the All-Play appeal, you can find their JustGiving Page here: www.justgiving.com/page/bon-accord-rotary-1723631339601

Creating an Interactive Gallery to Support Art in Local Hospitals

In 2020, Friends of Grampian Hospitals Art Trust commissioned us to create the Postcards from Home awareness and fundraising campaign. It was a new project where artists of all levels designed postcard-sized artwork, and each piece was then sold for the same price. The artist names were anonymous until after the purchase was complete. However, pandemic restrictions forced this in-person project to pivot in a new direction, and that is when they reached out to Fine Day. Together, we created an immersive virtual home where visitors could walk through various rooms to explore the collection of artworks available for purchase.

A few years later, we once again collaborated with GHAT. This time, creating a revised version of the website to accompany the physical hospital display, showcase the artwork, and raise additional vital funds.

 

 

GHAT has been improving the experience of everyone who spends time in an NHS Grampian hospital for more than 30 years. Their simple idea of displaying artwork in a hospital environment and highlighting art and culture as a central component of wellbeing has won them multiple awards, and we are unbelievably proud to be a part of that work with Postcards from Home.

Access to a Locked World – a digital experience for everyone with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company

Many of our most innovative projects in recent years have grown from our work on community projects. One of those projects grew from our collaboration with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. Together with the Glasgow-based charity, we created Locked World, an accessible digital platform that showcases art by disabled artists.

Through Locked World, Fine Day has helped broaden engagement with a diverse international audience. The project emphasises inclusivity and focus on reimagining accessibility in digital art while creating a safe space that centres on disabled experiences. The platform highlights work that challenges perceptions of disability and neurodiversity, aiming to make accessibility integral to the experience rather than an afterthought.

In October of this year, the latest instalment of Locked World incorporated an artwork commission in partnership with the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) as part of British Council Hong Kong’s 2024 festival SPARK III: Healthy Futures.

 

 

Working with Birds of Paradise is such a joy because their passion for art, inclusivity and accessibility allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of accessibility and inclusivity. It also challenges us to create new, interesting and unexpected solutions.

Learn more about the Locked World project and Birds of Paradise Theatre group here: https://locked-world.boptheatre.co.uk/

Giving Back Beyond Fine Day

Our work in communities and creative side projects keep our creative reservoirs overflowing with new ideas, enrich our lives, and allow us to create powerful, interesting, and exciting designs. Our passion for giving back extends beyond our studio projects, and into our individual lives as well. Fine Day team members bring their talents to community projects throughout Scotland, including our ongoing educational support for design students at Kemnay Academy and Robert Gordon’s University.

Getting Involved

Fine Day was founded on the idea that we want our work to do good in the world and collaborate on fun projects that bring a bit of sunshine to our clients and their audiences. This idea permeates everything we do, from our work with communities and organisations like the examples above through to our work with collectives such as the Big Belmont Bash and even into the projects we deliver with our commercial clients.

‘Seeing the positive change our partners make within our communities is always inspiring. Their commitment is infectious – whether they’re hosting cultural events, raising funds for local causes, or thinking differently to help educate the next generation. Getting stuck-in and providing our support not only helps their long term goals, but it really strengthens our practice.’ Madeleine Edwards , Fine Day Design Lead

Our projects begin with collaborators who are looking for big ideas and strong concepts, no matter the product or audience.

Do you work with a charity or creative organisation that might want to collaborate with us?

Are you a private company with a charity or trust that wants to maximise the good you do in the world?

Please send us a message, and let’s work together to make the world that little bit brighter!