Latest News

YOUNG NORTH COAST MUSICIANS AND SINGERS TUNE UP FOR PRACTICE-A-THON FUNDRAISER IN AID OF YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS.   Young performers from The Carol-Anne Mackay School of Music in Caithness and North Sutherland will be improving their music skills with a special 'Fortnight of Sponsored Practice' as part of CLIC Sargent's Practice-a-thon fundraising campaign.   ... [more]

Following a public meeting on the future artistic shape of John O'Groats, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is offering professional artists an early opportunity to transform the coast around the village.   Award-winning artists Dalziel + Scullion, who are the concept artists putting together a broader plan for the iconic site, held an open workshop with the local community earlier this month.   ... [more]

Crafts Council celebrates 40 years with online exhibition 40:40.   The Crafts Council celebrates 40 years of the Crafts Council Collection with a major online exhibition '40:40 - forty objects for forty years' was launched on 8 December 2011.   ... [more]

Lead Artist required for social engagement project in Ellon, Aberdeenshire This is an exciting opportunity to work with the communities of Formartine, Aberdeenshire, to explore and describe local barriers to social inclusion through photography and image making.   The Lead Artist will • Facilitate an arts-based community consultation outlining barriers experienced when engaging with the wider community • Support and advise participants in the use of their own cameras • Work with volunteers who will assist with the delivery of learning in photography skills to participants.   ... [more]

A Memorandum of Understanding on Culture between China and Scotland has been signed today, committing the governments in Beijing and Edinburgh to supporting greater exchange and collaboration across the arts, creative industries, heritage and national collections - one of three major cultural agreements sealing links between the two nations.   First Minister Alex Salmond signed the MoU along with China's Minister of Culture Mr Cai Wu at a ceremony in Beijing.   ... [more]

First Minister Alex Salmond has declared Scotland's cultural treasures as a magnificent bounty on the eve of the re-opening of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.   In a year when Stirling Castle Palace, the Burns Museum, the National Museum of Scotland and now the Portrait Gallery have all undergone considerable renovation, the FM has reflected on the renaissance in the nation's cultural wealth and the pride Scottish people are rediscovering in their heritage.   ... [more]

People around the world will collaborate this winter to produce a social media movie and celebrate Scotland's global reach.   Launched by Cabinet Secretary for Education Michael Russell, 'Scotland The World Over' invites everyone to take part and photograph a Saltire wherever they may be.   ... [more]

Mention 'glass,' and most folk think first of window panes, drinking vessels, or dinky ornaments - things to be handled gingerly.   For many, the word 'sculpture' still brings to mind half-clad alabaster statues staring into infinity.   ... [more]

Animated film and exhibition by Will Anderson and Tobias Feltus Inverness Museum & Art Gallery 19th November 2011- 4th February 2012 The Making of Longbird is apparently a documentary, unveiling archive footage of a Russian animated film from 1911 about a master animator, a work of art and a terrible fire...   Award-winning Highland film-maker Will Anderson takes up the challenge of reclaiming the lost legacy of the Longbird, blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction and making us believe the unbelievable.   ... [more]

A group of northern artists had a successful opening night on 5th November 2011 Axolotl Gallery in Dundas Street, Edinburgh.   The exhibition display works by 25 Caithness artists in oil, watercolour, acrylic, and mixed media paintings, etchings, 3Dim sculptures in glass, wood, slate, felt and cane and also photographic images of the county.   ... [more]

North Highland Connections Working with the community at Lybster In August and September NHC promoted two highly successful events which both involved the local community.   From 1st to 10th August fifteen postgraduate students and staff of The Prince's Drawing School were based at North Lands Creative Glass centre in Lybster.   ... [more]

HI~Arts in partnership with Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council HI~Arts have announced three new rounds of Awards for visual artists and makers based in the Highlands and Islands.   The deadlines for these awards are: December 2nd 2011(for projects starting no earlier than 9th January 2012) January 20th 2012 (for projects starting no earlier than 1st March 2012) March 2nd 2012 (for projects starting no earlier than 1st April 2012) Full guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from: http://hi-arts.co.uk/services/creative-development/award-schemes/ .   ... [more]

CINEMA IN CAITHNESS Picture House Cinema Bookings: info[AT]picturehousecinema.eu Sat 19th Nov, CARS 2 (U) Skinandi's, Thurso Sun 20th Nov, CARS 2 (U) Lybster Community Hall, Lybster Sat 17th Dec, Walt Disney's MARY POPPINS (U) THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE (15) Skinandi's, Thurso Sun 18th Dec, THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE (15) Wick (TBC) www.picturehousecinema.eu CINEMA IN SUTHERLAND Halladale Film Club Sat, 12th Nov - True Grit - Jeff Bridges Matt Damon- Halladale Hall Sat 10th Dec - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two- Halladale Hall .   ... [more]

To celebrate WWF-UK's 50th anniversary this year, the environmental charity has commissioned a new musical which will have its Scottish première in Aviemore on Saturday 19th November during a day featuring 300 young Highland musicians performing in three concerts.   Taking centre stage will be young musicians and singers from all over the Highlands who form the Highland Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir.   ... [more]

The 2011 Inverness Festivals Winter programme starts Friday 28th October with an event that is expected to see hundreds of children in costume heading to the banks of the River Ness in order to save their city.   "Alien Invasion - Close Encounters of the UFO" will be staged on Ness Islands from 6.30pm until 8.30pm for two nights (Friday 28th and Saturday 29th) and will feature the creative talents of Eden Court Theatre's Outreach Team, Arts in Motion and The Highland Council's Lighting Department and over 100 performers.   ... [more]

Fun and Fitness for Youngsters Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rush.dance.   ... [more]

THURSO FIRE STATION Presents HAUNTED HOUSE VENUE E&M WORKSHOP RIVERSIDE THURSO ON FRIDAY 28TH October AND SATURDAY 29TH October 7pm till Late!! "You had better bring a friend".   ... [more]

Book early for this Caithness literary day..   ... [more]

Wick Gala Isabel (mckay) Salmon.   Div ye ae Week o' long ago Or no 'at long id seems When ae Gala id took pleyce in style Doon on ae bleaching green Ae processiom aye geed through ae toon And up Kinnairdie Gran' We thocht id wiss ae finest sicht Ere seen in all ae lan' Wey had all ae herrin' lassies oot, An' ae owld box kert besides, Boot ae "Dennis"wis ae best o' a' She truly wis oor pride.   ... [more]

Jazz - Caithness Big Band & David Patrick's Beyond Borders Quintet, Sat.  15th Oct.   ... [more]