Have you ever wanted to get involved in community drama, set up a craft business, join a choir, or take a course in art and design? If you have, but weren’t sure how to go about it, then “Tullimentan 2005” is for you.
If you belong to an arts organisation that wants to recruit new volunteers, fundraise for a project, publicise your plans or let people know about your upcoming programme, then “Tullimentan 2005” is for you.
A great opportunity to celebrate and raise the profile of the arts in Orkney is about to take place. On 17th and 18th February, arts organisations, individuals and members of the public interested in the arts will gather together at the St. Magnus Centre for the first ever Orkney Arts Showcase event. A bit like a university “Freshers’ Fair”, a wide range of arts organisations including the Pier Arts Centre, St. Magnus Festival, Scottish Community Drama Association, Orkney Folk Festival, Orkney Traditional Dance Association, Soulisquoy Printers, Orkney College’s Art and Design Department and many, many more, will have displays about their work as well as staff and volunteers on hand to talk to members of the public and other groups about their work and how you can get involved. The event is being organised by the Orkney Arts Forum, with support from Orkney Islands Council’s Arts Development Officer, Clare Gee.
Alongside the arts showcase, HI~Arts – the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands, has been invited by Clare Gee to bring their roadshow event to the county – a format which has proved very successful in other areas such as the Isles of Lewis and Benbecula, and Shetland. Four HI~Arts staff including Director Robert Livingston, and staff with expertise in writing development, music development and festivals, arts and business sponsorship and the new online ticketing project thebooth will be heading to the county to offer specialist advice to those involved or interested in the arts, and to learn more about the richness and variety of the arts in Orkney, so that HI~Arts can further support and help artists and organisations in Orkney in the future.
Clare Gee, Arts Development Officer, said “I am delighted at how much interest there has been in the showcase event and HI~Arts Roadshow. I really hope that arts organisations and the public in Orkney will benefit from the experience. Everyone knows that there is a huge amount of arts activity in Orkney, and an astonishing level of quality. This event will give us all a chance to celebrate everyone’s achievements, and look to the future alongside some really practical support and advice from HI~Arts staff. I am also really pleased that Orkney Enterprise has offered support to the event, by hosting two seminars on promoting and creative business.”
If anyone wants to get involved or receive further information about the event, please contact Clare on 01856 873535, email clare.gee@orkney.gov.uk or visit the website, kindly developed for the Orkney Arts Forum to publicise “Tullimentan 2005” by Rik Hammond at www.orkneyarts.com – there is still time to take part.
