Cromarty Arts Trust will be enjoying a double-celebration on the weekend of the 15th March, starting with a Freedom Ceilidh at 7pm at The Stables. Margot Henderson, writer and performer, has been in Cromarty since October 2007 working with the community across all ages on the theme of Freedom. Sometimes a sombre subject, but also a positive one, Margot has provided the community with a feast of workshops, events and good, old-fashioned charisma and presence, as befits an artist with such a wealth of experience in creating writing for performance and communication.

Margot has worked with the Primary School, the Youth Club, the Football club, Fourways, The Writers’ Group and many more in Cromarty, enabling people to evolve their ideas about Freedom through educational workshops and the facilitative process. Part of the residency also requires the artist to produce her own work. We will be publishing a limited selection of Margot’s poems about “Freedom Come All Ye”, the title of the residency. There will also be a Spanglefish website dedicated to the Residency and the work created by members of the community and of groups.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event at The Stables for wine, biscuits, cheese, poems, songs, performance and music. 7pm start, entry is free. It’s a Freedom Hoolie!

Sunday 16th March will see the return of Geir Egil Bergjord to Cromarty for his book launch. Geir was one of 5 North Sea Artists in Residence, on the East coast of Scotland: an exchange programme with Stavanger 2008, Norway. A professional photographer, Geir spent his 2-month residency at The Stables capturing images and creating a daily diary as part of the residency. He has brought together some of those images under the title “Cromarty” and will be presenting his work starting 4pm. Join us with Geir for the launch, book-signing, projection music, drink and food. Angela Wrapson, North Seas Manager will introduce the Residency.

Freedom Come All Ye is funded by Awards for All, The Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery. The Stavanger 2008 residency in Cromarty was funded by HI-Arts, and the book by Highland Council and Cromarty Arts Trust. Our thanks go to the region of Stavanger in Norway, the City Council and Consulate for their support.

For further details on the events and the residencies please visit www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk  or email info@cromartyartstrust.org.uk