Popular enthusiasm for the first-ever arts showcase in Orkney (February 17 and 18) has been growing steadily over the past few weeks.  The organisers – Orkney Arts Forum, with the assistance of OIC Arts Development Officer Clare Gee – feel they may have struck a chord with the public, and hope that a visit to Tullimentan 2005 will be well worthwhile for anyone with an interest in the arts.

Arts groups and individuals have also been quick to grasp the opportunities available to them in the accompanying HI~Arts Roadshow. 

These two events will take place together on Thursday and Friday next week at the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall.  What’s on offer there open to the public and free of charge.

On Thursday 17th the hall will be home temporarily to a showcase of more than twenty local arts organisations – as far as possible representing every kind of activity from music and drama to storytelling and visual art. 

The showcase will be open from 1pm till 6pm, and then again from 7pm till 10pm when a public presentation will be made by HI~Arts Officers and others, entertainment will be widespread and there will be ample occasion for meeting, learning, joining, enjoying and comparing notes. 

Also during Thursday afternoon, one-to-one consultations are available with all the visitors from HI~Arts – these should be arranged through Clare Gee on 873535. 

The HI~Arts staff who will be on hand are Robert Livingston, Director; Peter Urpeth, Writing Development Officer; John Saich, Music Development and Festivals Officer; and Susan Chisholm, HI~Arts representative for Arts and Business and Training and sales Manager for the “Booth” online box office. 

On Friday 18th, two seminars hosted by Orkney Enterprise will take place at the Centre – one on Creative Business in the morning from 10am-noon and one on Promoting from 6-8pm that evening. 

These will be led respectively by Iain Hamilton, Creative Industries Manager at Highlands and Island Enterprise; and Duncan MacInnes, Administrator for PAN (Promoters’ Arts Network) and Chair of the Skye Festival. 

Again, inquiries should be directed to the OIC Arts Development Officer on 873535.

Since there has been so much interest, since Tullimentan means dancing, and since there’s nothing so much needed for that as a lively crowd and a band and a place to meet, the organisers have now arranged a Tullimentan Bop at Matchmakers on the Friday evening from 8pm till late. 

The Lone Star Swing Band is to be the main attraction there – further news to follow about showcase performances from other artists.  Tickets price £5.00 are available from The Longship in Kirkwall and The Quernstone in Stromness or through the organisers. 

For further details, please visit www.orkneyarts.com.