Orkney Showcase for the Arts

LEAH SEATOR reports on the recent Tullimentan 2005 gathering in Orkney
 

Colourful and intricate displays filled the hall at the centre, and the arts community of Orkney came together for a session of networking, meeting and greeting. Tullimentan 2005 was a one off occasion, organised by members of the Orkney Arts Forum, and Orkney Islands Council’s arts development officer, Clare Gee.

Tullimentan was aimed at promoting and encouraging arts organisations and individuals, and making the arts scene in Orkney more accessible to those with an inclination to get involved. The targets were amply met, with as many as 25 people seeking one-to-one advice from representatives of HI~Arts, who were visiting the county in conjunction with Tullimentan.
 

Clare Gee said: “I think it went really well. I think one of the things that we really wanted to happen was that the organisations there would talk to each other as well as talking to the members of the public.  The feedback that we’ve had has told us that this really did happen.

“I have met a number of people since I have been in post, but this has given me an opportunity to really broaden that, with individuals and groups.  Making that face-to-face contact will be really helpful for the future.”

Alistair Peebles, Chairman of the Orkney Arts Forum, said: “The atmosphere was very lively, and from the point of view of enabling people to share ideas it has been very useful.  There was a real sense of vitality and opportunity. It’s a great way of trying to bring people together.”

“Orkney has something very special and unique to contribute to Scotland as a whole.”

Included in the two-day event was the showcase itself on Thursday, followed by a presentation from HI~Arts in the evening, and a further opportunity for people to view the showcase.

Some of the names showcasing their work included The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney Craft Industries, The Orkney Folk Festival, Orkney Communities, The Orkney Traditional Dance Association, and the Orkney Writing Fellowship, to mention only a few.

The following day, Friday, the showcase was packed up, allowing time for two public seminars, one on Creative Business, led by Iain Hamilton from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and another on promoting, led by Duncan MacInnes, administrator for the Promoters’ Arts Network (PAN) and chairman of the Skye Festival.

Robert Livingston and other representatives of HI~Arts gave members of the Orkney arts community an enlightening presentation on the work that they do in helping artists. The organisation offers funding of up to £500 for all individuals intending to pursue or benefit from a budding career in the arts, as well as advice and support on how to get there.

About 60 people turned up to hear the officials talk and offer advice to artists in Orkney. Councillor Mike Drever opened the talk with a short speech about Orcadian arts, and what the council’s role has been in recent times, followed by a few words from Alistair Peebles.

The floor was handed over to Mr Livingston, who talked about the work that HI~Arts does for Scottish Arts. He said: “This is a community that knows how to promote its art. What can we as HI~Arts bring to that? This is a way in which we can find out where Orkney can go.”

He raised the point that the Scottish Executive has been conducting a cultural review in the country, aiming to decide a framework for support in the future. He said: “There is no doubt that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make bids for the kind of infrastructure that we want and need in Scotland. I think it is important that voices from places like Orkney are heard. Orkney has something very special and unique to contribute to Scotland as a whole.”

“Orkney is established as an important place in the world of writing.”

John Saich, the music development and festivals officer from HI~Arts, gave a presentation on the ongoing work involving music in the Highlands and Islands. Included in his work is the founding of The Festivals Forum, which aims to put festival organisers in a position where they can meet, converse, or find out any relevant information about organising festivals. A website will be set up where organisers can seek important advice on issues such as health and safety.

Mr Livingston later mentioned the popularity of drama in Orkney, and pointed out that perhaps there is the potential to set up a professional theatre company. He said: “One part of the Highlands and Islands that doesn’t have a professional theatre company is Orkney. If anyone has any ideas on that, we’d be interested in hearing them.”

It was also revealed at the meeting that the next time the Screen Machine mobile cinema visits the county, it will be new and improved, if all goes to plan. Mr Livingston added: “It is currently being built in France, and should be ready by March 17. We are talking to Clare (Gee) and the council about the possibility of a summer tour of the isles.”
 

A further speech was given by writing development officer Peter Urpeth who was bowled over by the writing talent in Orkney. He said: “Orkney is established as an important place in the world of writing. You are a long way ahead of others, with established assets such as the writing fellowship and of course the very rich literary context in which that takes place.”

One of the ideas that Peter discussed was a ‘critical assessment scheme, allowing writers to submit their work for a critical review from established writers, who will reply with a “few thousand words” of comment.

Another presentation was given by Susan Chisholm, representative for arts and business and training, on one of HI~Arts’ more recent projects – thebooth, an online ticket agency designed to allow promoters to sell tickets for their events online, and to make buying tickets easier.

The last presentation of the evening was made by Orkney’s own Gareth Davies, who spoke on the relationship between art and science. This was a whole new take on art, and one which caught the attention of many. Also an exhibitor at the showcase, environmental consultant Gareth, who is the director of Aquatera, in Stromness, was keen to highlight the fact that art is very relevant in science, bringing ideas to life.

He said: “Science needs art to record anatomy, textures and landscapes, and to engage and enthuse the public, using images and pictures to present scientific facts in an attractive way.” He explained that Aquatera has used local artists and that he values the work that they do. He feels that there is scope for better communication between local artists and scientists.
 

The presentation and seminars were judged a huge success, leaving everyone feeling enthusiastic that organisations such as HI~Arts would take such an interest in Orkney. Clare Gee admits that she looks at the HI~Arts website every day.

She said: “I check it out at least once a day. It’s great, not only for information, but for articles and stuff. I check it out every day to see what’s going on. Hopefully, this whole event has raised awareness about this.

“HI~Arts grants are generally useful amounts of money. It’s something that people in Orkney will hopefully take more advantage of. They are so simple to apply for.”

Clare and Alistair agreed that the event had attracted good numbers, and gave the organisations a good idea of what Orkney’s arts scene is really about. She explained: “The people from HI~Arts have really come with a lot of respect for what’s happening in Orkney and a knowledge of what’s happening here. They got a much better idea from the event of what is happening in Orkney than they would have done if they had just come and done the one to ones and the seminars.

“Robert Livingston was saying that he felt that the model that we had in Orkney would work on a wider scale, and that it does enable that kind of real consultation and real contact to happen, which the cultural commission and the review would benefit from.

“They said that this is the first time that they have done a roadshow in a place that has given them as much as they were able to give us. I think they really appreciated that and it helped them.”

“Speaking from the point of view of the arts forum, this has achieved everything that we wanted it to.”

Alistair agreed that had Tullimentan not gone ahead, the response to the HI~Arts meetings may not have been such a success. “Very few people would have heard about it,” he added. “I think they’ve got a much better sense now of some of the areas of work that they will be able to support.
 

“They are talking about working with us on the development of a writing centre. There will be other things around music as well, and potential links with the UHI. There’s lots of potential for growth that they know about, and that we can benefit from. The showcase gives them a valuable amount of information on the potential that might exist here.”

Clare explained that the seminars which took place on Friday were also a success. She said: “There were about 20 people at the creative business seminar. At the promoters seminar, there were about nine people, which was fine because it made way for some really useful discussion. At the HI~Arts presentation on Thursday evening, there were about 60 people.”

Despite the success of Tullimentan 2005, it looks unlikely that such an event will take place again next year. Both Alistair and Clare feel that while they will still be actively involved in promoting Orkney’s arts scene, Tullimentan 2005 has achieved what they hoped it might.

Alistair said: “Speaking from the point of view of the arts forum, this has achieved everything that we wanted it to. Having brought people’s attention to the value of showcasing or marketing, it would certainly seem to offer a lot of benefits to people. Whether there’s some other agency that would do it is another question. There are maybe other ways in that these particular objectives can be met.”

Clare agrees: “From my point of view, I’d be keen to move forward or develop some of the elements of it. There’s a potential to do something in the future, but it’s probably about taking different aspects and developing them,” she added.

“HI~Arts probably wouldn’t come back year after year so nothing would really have the same feel about it. There are things that could be developed. What it has done is brought people together in a way, and we would need to keep the momentum of that going.”

Clare and Alistair would be grateful if people would fill in an evaluation form with their feedback on Tullimentan 2005. Clare said: “We would like any event that we do in the future to be based on people’s comments.”

Forms are available from Marjery Callaghan at Orkney Island’s Council, and for more information on Tullimentan 2005, check out the Orkney Arts Forum’s website below.

© Leah Seator, 2005

Related Links

• Orkney Arts Forum website