TALES of life in Inverclyde will be transformed into pieces of public art in an exciting new initiative. 

The team at RIG Arts wants people who are connected to Inverclyde to share their recollections of the area in a storytelling project. 

Stories will be gathered from a wide range of people - some who have lived in the area for many years, and some who have recently settled on our shores - and a selection will be turned into pieces of art for the community. 

RIG Arts engagement officer Laurie Duffy said the stories can be of any size and about anything at all, as long as they're rooted to the area. 

She said: "This is a really beautiful opportunity to celebrate the people of Inverclyde. 

"Stories don't have to be deeply historical, they can be very current, and they don't have to be huge stories. 

"They can take the form of tiny experiences which tell some of the story of what it's like to live in Inverclyde."

The storytelling project is part of a bigger project funded through the Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund. 

Initial consultation workshops took place in libraries and community centres, and revealed that local people wanted to hear more about the stories of their area. 

Laurie said a group of nine workshops are now planned across Greenock, Gourock, and Port Glasgow, with dates and times still to be confirmed. 

Laurie Duffy, RIG Arts' engagement officer. (Image: George Munro) At these sessions, people will get the chance to tell their stories and speak to artists Rhia Laing and Rebecca Livesey-Wright about how they visualise them being presented. 

Laurie added: "Stories could take the form of a painting, a slab on the floor, a sculpture, a piece of metal - whatever fits with the story that's being told and helps to tell it. 

"Not every story will be displayed in the form of an artwork but they will all be documented, and they will all be anonymous. 

"We hope that submitting the stories anonymously will encourage people to be more open with what they share. 

"Our ultimate aim is to be able to construct a trail of all the stories on Google Maps and embed it on our website."

Laurie added: "We want to get as many people as possible involved, and gather as many stories as possible. 

"It's a very exciting project for us."

To submit your story or find out more email info@rigarts.org or visit www.rigarts.org.