THE ENCOURAGING RESPONSE we have received to the launch of this Arts Journal has been very gratifying, but this is only a start. Our aim is to build the site into the first-stop forum for news, views and discussion on the arts in the Highlands and Islands, and that requires the participation of not only the artistic community, but all of you who visit and use the site.

The letters page and discussion forum provide a ready made opportunity to have your say on what is happening in the arts in our region, and in the work of Highland artists beyond its geographical boundaries. Let us know how you see the issues facing the arts – perhaps one of the articles on the site has irked you, or filled you with enthusiasm, or left you wanting to know more? The letters page or forum is the place to respond.

Is George Gunn right to condemn the Highlands 2007 initiative as the wrong way forward in last month’s ArtsRant? Is Peter Urpeth right about the marginalisation of Gaelic music in this month’s ArtsRant? Does Hamish MacDonald’s description of the vagaries of touring and producing in the Highlands strike a chord? Let us know – we want to hear your views.

Seen a show you really liked? Or disliked? Let us know. And how about the Arts Journal itself? What are we getting right? What are we doing wrong? And what would you like to see that we don’t already have? (I can’t promise we will be able to fulfill your suggestions, but we would love to hear them).

We think we have another strong line-up for this second ‘issue’ of the Journal, led by Hamish MacDonald’s experiences of independent theatre production in the Highlands and Islands, and coverage of the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway. The Aros Centre in Portree is our Venue of the Month, ArtsFolk looks at the work of Ken Ramage and the Nairn International Jazz Festival, and Andy Ross considers the impact of the Internet and new technology in delivering the arts to remote communities.

Remember to keep checking back for new reviews and features in the course of July. If you are new to the site (or simply looking for that article you glanced at a couple of weeks ago), be sure to check out the monthly archive section, where you will find all previously posted material.

Don’t forget to sign up to our e-bulletin service, which will provide a simple e-mail alert when the new issue goes on-line, with no download delays. If you don’t want to read everything while on-line, however, you can download the new issue as a PDF file from the site, and peruse it off-line at your leisure.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor
July 2003