And at the same time many scores of local arts organisations will be struggling on, as ever, trying to make ends meet, while a good number will be getting to grips with the new funding opportunities.
It is to be hoped that a year hence, we will be able to say that Eden Court is about to re-open to critical acclaim, and that the extensive revamp of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, including a lift, has doubled visitor numbers.
Ethnic minority groups are also beginning to make their presence felt through cultural celebrations, such as the Chinese New Year Lion Dance
Certainly the venue situation is in the midst of significant changes, even leaving aside the new studio theatre and rehearsal space and the two new cinemas at Eden Court. It is now better known that, once one has negotiated one’s way into the Spectrum Centre, the experience of the main theatre space or the drama studio is very agreeable.
Other local venues are to receive upgrades for the purposes of performance, including Merkinch Community Centre and Inverness High School, both part-funded by Highland 2007. Charleston Academy has plans for improvements, and the Spectrum Centre is aiming to install “bleacher”-style seating.
In 2007 the Public Private Partnership brings a new Gaelic school, followed in 2008 by a new Millburn Academy with a 350-seat theatre. The main hall in Inverness Town House will not change but will shortly become a venue for top class piano recitals played on a new grand piano (courtesy of Highland 2007 and Inverness Common Good funding).
Live music venues, particular for traditional music, are no longer lacking, with Hootananny winning the Scottish Traditional Music Award for two years in succession. Soon the situation for live music of all sorts is due to change radically with the imminent opening of the Ironworks. Phipps Hall, Beauly, which hosts ‘Blazin in Beauly’ and a range of musical events, has also received a welcome refresh.
Exhibition space will improve with the new Eden Court and the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery’s £1 million upgrade; and hopefully the plans for a new public art gallery for the Highlands will have moved forward. Meanwhile the Highland Print Studio, which is revamping its print facilities, and installing a digital media suite at its workshop on the Longman, again with the help of Highland 2007, also has plans to relocate back to Bank Street.
Meanwhile the Public Art initiative, also supported by Highland 2007, is about to breathe new life into parts of the old town and the bridges, providing added interest to the walk around Ness Islands and visits to the Life Sciences Centre at Raigmore.
Work is underway on the islands with a mini-amphitheatre feature, and temporary work will begin to appear shortly in the town itself as part of the wider street-scaping project. Inverness City Centre management will be presenting extensive programmes of music and street entertainment in 2006 and 2007, which will also tie in with the Public Art initiative.
Highland 2007 will be in full swing, with Inverness having had a fantastic Auld New Year Party and in the midst of a brilliant array of brilliant arts and cultural events and projects – many presented by the local arts organisations themselves.
Meanwhile benefits have begun to accrue from the closure of Eden Court as their programme in exile attracts audiences to other venues such as Inverness Town House, the revamped Spectrum Centre, Craigmonie Centre in Drumnadrochit, and others outwith the Inverness patch, such as the Spa Pavilion in Strathpeffer. |
