“In its simplest terms PAN is an independent group offering support, advice and networking in the true sense for promoters in the Highlands and Islands.
 
“I provide information about touring companies to local promoters, and I provide information to the companies about who the promoters are. PAN itself doesn’t promote, unlike some touring schemes in England, for example. We are basically an information gathering place, but it is rapidly developing, and we are looking at the implications of that in detail now.
 

“PAN has started to apply for and receive project funding. We get administrative funding for the Scottish Arts Council and a bit from Highland Council and HI-Arts, but we are now getting additional funds to help to develop touring as well. It is still not funding for PAN to put things on directly, though.

“We have literally just heard that we have received £36,000 for audience development from the Scottish Arts Council’s Lottery Fund, for example, to look at ways in which we can add support to local promoters in that regard. We also have some money from Enterprise Music Scotland to take jazz and classical music into venues where that hasn’t happened before.
 

“It opens up the possibility, for example, of a situation in the future where PAN might receive funds to commission specific pieces of work.”

PAN has around 70 members currently, but Duncan is in the process of inviting registrations for next year, and believes that there may be potentially twice that number when the new registrations are received in the next couple of months.
 

“In one way that is hugely encouraging,” he laughed, “and in another it’s quite scary!”

PAN can be contacted at Ostaig House, Teangue, isle of Skye, IV44 8RQ (Tel: 01471 844207, e-mail: dm@cali.co.uk)
 

Next Page | Previous Page                  Page 1 | 2