Upcoming Events › Projects ›

Fife Contemporary and Fife African and Caribbean Network invite you to join us by taking a seat on this newly commissioned bench, titled Vessel.

Vessel has been created in a collaborative process spanning half a year by designer and artist Simon Whatley mentoring and collaborating with musician and new maker Mike Delaitre. The project is an ongoing collaboration between Fife Contemporary and Fife African and Caribbean Network.

Vessel will launch as part of Curious Conversations #2 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries
Saturday 13 June 2026
11am – 3pm
Family friendly
Free, but booking essential (tickets via Humanitix)

Book Here

Curious Conversations #2. This event is all about holding a space to be courageously, compassionately, curious  about who we are, where we are from and our place in the community. It is an event open to all and will be so much more interesting with a diversity of ideas and voices so we do hope you can come, and do bring others.

Vessel has been designed so that people from different cultural backgrounds can sit beside each other and converse freely. It is a space created for people to feel empowered to have open discussions about their lives and experiences: to share, to build understanding and trust, and to breakdown barriers. The title Vessel implies a boat or a way to make journeys between places, a vessel is also a container; those who are seated are also held and supported.

What To Expect

Come for the day to meet the makers, Mike Delaitre and Simon Whatley and hear more about the bench:

A Curious Conversation launching Vessel.
Live musical performance.
Children’s activities.
Creative workshop with Phoenix Archer.
Lunch by Nemel’s Kitchen.

You can drop in on the day but please register to guarantee a free lunch!

Further Information

Getting there by Train: Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries is a 13 minute walk from Dunfermline City Train Station – find timetables, routes, and journey options here.

Getting there by Bus: Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries is a 3 minute walk from Dunfermline Bus Station. Stagecoach Buses run frequently between Kirkcaldy Bus Station and destinations around Scotland – plan your journey here.