An Tobar
Location: Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Details: Venue, gallery, café/shop
Programme: Music, visual arts, dance, drama, children's shows
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Director's Statement |
An Tobar has made itself into an essential part of the local community and the wider Scottish arts scene in the 6 years since we opened. It’s been wonderful and completely inspiring to welcome so many fabulously talented artists and musicians to Tobermory and equally uplifting to be part of the career development of many local young people who all seem to have adopted An Tobar as their own place. For me personally, it feels like a real gift to be able to work here. 15 years ago I couldn’t have imagined that an arts centre would become a reality on Mull and it is quite a privilege to be part of the creation of a growing legacy of work involving some of the most outstanding artists and musicians in Scotland. So many local people have also worked hard to make An Tobar a success – the list would be too long to mention names.
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A venue like this has to be a place of inspiration both for the artists (it can’t be the money that attracts them!) and the audience. I feel that this organisation has grown from the local community to become part of the fabric of the island to the point that even people who have no interest in the arts can still feel proud of their local arts centre.
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This all sounds a bit idyllic – there are days when the heating shuts down because we forgot to order oil in time or a band miss the ferry they should have caught or the coffee machine breaks down (that should maybe come under the worst disaster section) but there isn’t too much to complain about in the bigger scheme of things.
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One point that is continually reinforced here is the value of live music. I love records as much as anyone but there is nothing to beat the unique experience of wonderful music played by fabulous musicians.
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