An Lanntair

Location: Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Capacity: 55 at An Lanntair, larger events held at Town Hall with a maximum capacity of 350.
Programme:  Visual arts and related education programme, music – traditional/Gaelic music, world, jazz, classical, contemporary, and also theatre, literature, comedy

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

When An Lanntair opened in 1985 it was “only” an art gallery: events were a bolt-on extra to lure the non-visual arts audience upstairs.  Since then it has become a well-honed multi-disciplinary space, which means the gallery is also the performance/events space is the education/workshop space.  It’s a compact, intimate venue but we have had big successes in touring exhibitions (nationally and internationally), events and more recently education; winning awards willy-nilly. The stairwell is wallpapered with an accretion of posters so it has an in-built, on-going, on-site cultural archaeology, which probably tells the story better than these 300 words.

It’s a classic arts-venue-in-a-crumbling-old-building-originally-built-for-something-else scenario.  In fact it’s probably the most “challenged” of all comparable Highland venues.  Leaking roof, flaking plaster, rubbish access, low capacity, ancient lighting, wooden seats – but – superb acoustics, ambience, atmosphere, character, seafront setting and a tangible sense of history.  If you believe what Peter Brook said, that the least important thing [in a theatre] is comfort, then we’re in good shape.  Many people have commented on how much they will miss it – although none of them work here.

A venue is but a receptacle for an organisation’s creative vision, energy and ideas, so in that sense it’s secondary.  The current space has and does limit us chronically in fulfilling that vision and mission and the last 10 years have been dominated by the campaign for a new building.  We’ve raised something in the order of £5M but it only began on site in November 2003.  The sheer slog, grind, stress, frustration, desperation and aggravation of this has shoved every other so-called tough job I’ve done into the “didn’t know I was well off” category.  It could have been, and at times was, my worst disaster, but it isn’t – yet.  Could be our greatest triumph.  We’re nearly there.

Roddy Murray, Director
 

Director Roddy Murray and programmer Alex Macdonald come up with the answers to our questions.

Arts Journal: When was the venue established?

Roddy: The venue was established in 1985

AJ: What famous names have taken to the stage?

Alex: As far as the performing arts are concerned we try to provide as broad a programme as possible therefore everyone from author James Kelman to musical legends such as jazz guitarist Martin Taylor, Ali Farka Toure, and Bert Jansch.  As An Lanntair’s policy is to emphasize the traditional/Gaelic arts, that list reads like a “who’s who” and includes everyone from Aly Bain to Wolfstone. The visual arts programme has included Paul Strand, Peter Howsen, Ralph Steadman, Will Maclean, The Living Paintings, Ian Hamilton Finlay, John Bellany, George Wyllie, Picasso, and Louise Scullion.

AJ: What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

Alex: This is pretty much covered in the Directors statement – to get into our new building next year and to continue to provide a quality arts programme for the community.

AJ: Does the venue have a ghost?

Alex: Not as far as we know, although considering the amount of nights that I have spent in this building over the years, a future candidate would be me!

AJ: What was your worst disaster?

Roddy: Receiving £3.8M from Lottery (yes, I am joking!).

AJ: And what was your biggest triumph?

Roddy: Receiving £3.8M from Lottery ….

Alex: Winning Tourism & the Arts Trophy in 1996 for Calanais: The Atlantic Stones touring exhibition and CD (described by the judges as “world class”).  As well as running the programme in An Lanntair, we have also toured events and exhibitions to countries as far afield as Canada and Russia.  For a handful of staff to achieve this out of what was once described (fondly) as “a series of cupboards” is always a triumph.

AJ: If you could have any artist in the world for a one off special, who would it be and why?

Roddy: Bob Dylan, and the Brancusi retrospective currently at Tate Modern. He was the father of modern sculpture.

Alex: It would have to be someone that I haven’t managed to see live over the years, so probably BB King.  He seems like the kind of guy who would be at home playing in a small club or a huge stadium.  Also, BB King at An Lanntair has a good ring to it!

AJ: Why should people look forward to visiting your venue?

Alex: They should certainly look forward to visiting our new venue as we will finally have a purpose built, comfortable and equipped space in which to promote exhibitions, workshops, film and events.  Hopefully they look forward to it at the moment because it is friendly, serves a wicked carrot cake and promotes a programme that has something to interest everyone.