Saving Wildcats
08/01/2026

Saving Wildcats and the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust commission a mural celebrating native Scottish biodiversity

Saving Wildcats and the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust (AGCT) are looking for a Scottish-based experienced artist to design and deliver a large-scale mural for the Glenmore Visitor Centre, located in Glenmore Forest Park, PH22 1QU.

About Saving Wildcats

Saving Wildcats is a European partnership project dedicated to Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery, aiming to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild.

Saving Wildcats is led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (registered charity number SC004064) in collaboration with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), The Cairngorms National Park Authority, Nordens Ark, Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul de la Junta de Andalucía, Cats Protection and with releases being conducted with the support of Cairngorms Connect.

Saving Wildcats is as much about people as it is about wildcats, helping to boost local economies through wildlife tourism.

To increase the visitors’ experience of Glenmore Forest Park, Saving Wildcats and the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust want to bring an increased awareness of the native species that recently released wildcats (Felis silvestris) share their home with, by working with an artist to create an inspiring mural.

You can find out more about Saving Wildcats on this website.

About the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust

Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust (AGCT) is a community led development company that operates solely for the benefit of its community.

In March 2024, AGCT achieved a major milestone when Forestry and Land Scotland granted approval for their application to purchase the Glenmore Visitor Centre. This marks the start of an exciting new phase, as the Centre is reimagined to serve as a lively space for both residents and visitors.

You can find out more about the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust at www.aviemoreglenmoretrust.org/.

The mural

This proposed mural will be focussed on the diverse native biodiversity present in the Scottish Highlands. Following a third year of releases of wildcats into the Cairngorms National Park, the mural will celebrate the environment that the wildcats have been released into, and the diverse array of species that it now shares a home with.

The mural will be on the outside of Glenmore Visitor Centre, visible to everyone who enters the Centre to visit the café and to users of busy car park that many visitors use to start their journey of exploration into Glenmore Forest Park. The wall mural will be on a publicly facing wall, approximately 2.3m wide by 2.5m high. The area for the mural is outlined by the red lines on the photo below. The wooden sign currently on this wall will be removed. The mural will hopefully inspire the local community and visitors to the area and convey the importance of responsible species restoration projects in Scotland.

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Timeline

Artists are invited to submit an expression of interest by 18 February 2026 with a contract awarded by 13 March 2026.

Applications will be reviewed by Helena Parsons (Outreach and Engagement Manager, Saving Wildcats), Phil Mumby (Senior Interpretation Officer, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland), Kirsty Bruce (Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust) and Judy Burke (Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust). These individuals will serve as the main contacts for the artist during the completion of the mural.

Following an award of the contract, an online meeting with Saving Wildcats, AGCT and the artist will be organised at a mutually convenient time, within two weeks of the contract being awarded.

In this meeting a start date for the project will be agreed with the artist, Saving Wildcats and AGCT. A payment schedule for the artist will also be agreed in this meeting.

The artist will then produce a draft for the mural and a workplan by 3 April 2026 or sooner. This draft and workplan will be approved by Saving Wildcats and AGCT by 10 April 2026 or sooner.

We expect the mural to be completed by the end of June 2026, but the overall time spent working on the project is at the discretion of the artist.

During the process, two meetings between Saving Wildcats and AGCT will be held with the artist at pre-determined time during the initial meeting.

Application

Please use this online form to submit your application:  Saving Wildcats mural – expression of interest form – Fill in form

Alongside completion of this form, please also submit a cost schedule, using this template. Please email this cost schedule to wildcats@rzss.org.uk once you have submitted your application via the online form.

The applicant must outline their interest in the concept for the commission and demonstrate relevant experience and expertise in the online form.

The applicant must also provide a link to an online portfolio in the online form or email examples of previous relevant commissions to wildcats@rzss.org.uk. 

The successful applicant must:

  • Have a strong proven track record in their art form.
  • Have experience of working in the public realm.
  • Have experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Be able to work and deliver to timescales.
  • Be willing to engage with Saving Wildcats and AGCT during concept development, final artwork development, and installation.

Please note that:

  • The successful applicant must hold public liability insurance.
  • Design right and all intellectual property rights in relation to the commission shall vest with the applicant. However, the applicant undertakes not to create any replicas of the work (of any size, colour, or material) other than as necessary to assist in the creation of the commission.
  • The applicant will need to undertake all management responsibilities for the delivery of the mural, including securing necessary permissions (e.g. for scaffolding), risk management and install hire requirements.
  • The applicant must undertake any wall surface preparation works required to ensure good paint adhesion for the mural.
  • A payment schedule will be agreed with the successful applicant following being awarded the contract. Saving Wildcats are prepared to provide an initial payment to support the artist starting the work and can be flexible in agreeing to a payment plan. Payment can only be made after the submission of a correctly prepared invoice.

Further information about the terms and conditions of the application can be found here.

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