Cromarty, 26-28 March 2004

THE CROMARTY BOOK FESTIVAL has always been fortunate in the way it has been able to attract well-known writers to come north (usually, it is north) for the event. Past festivals have included Don Paterson, Bill Duncan, Janet Paisley and Michel Faber.

In 2001, the Festival hosted the launch of Ali Smith’s novel Hotel World; and in 2003 Festival-goers were treated to a preview of parts of the film American Cousins, directed by Cromarty-based Don Coutts and written by Sergio Cascio. Last year, the guest writers included two Canadians, Winnipeg poet Dennis Cooley and short-story writer Struan Sinclair.

Candia McWilliam

The fifth Festival attracted equally illustrious names, with Bernard MacLaverty and Candia McWilliam among the writers who led workshops and gave talks. We were also fortunate to be able to welcome the Kurdish poet Choman Hardi, currently writer in residence at Moniack Mhor, to read some of her work at the Friday night ceilidh which opened the Festival.

The line-up this year also featured poet Kenneth Steven, who led a workshop for primary school children; Catriona Montgomery, the Gaelic poet who was Bard of the National Mod in 2003; George Gunn, playwright and founder of the Grey Coast Theatre Company; Keith Gray, award-winning novelist for young adults; Robert Macfarlane, winner of the Guardian First Book Award for Mountains of the Mind; Gerry Cambridge, poet and editor of the international poetry magazine The Dark Horse; Jason Rose and Susan Strachan from the Moray Firth Radio news team; and Jenny Brown, literary agent.

To provide the music at the two ceilidhs we were delighted to welcome the Bang-On Boogie Band to enliven the Friday-evening event, and Champin’ at the Bit and guitarist Graham Muir to play on the Saturday evening.

The centre of the Festival was once again the old brewery, restored as the Cromarty Centre by Robert Gordon University. Jenny Gunn, who runs the Centre, made everyone feel at home and backed this up by providing an endless supply of coffee and tea as well as sandwiches and meals. One can eat very well at the Festival. The result is that visiting writers, would-be writers and just those who are interested in books can all mingle in a relaxed, informal way.

This success has something to do with the atmosphere of Cromarty itself. At the tip of the Black Isle, the small town seems to stand apart from the normal urban rush. The Festival has usually been blessed by good weather, despite the risks of the season, and this year was no exception – the sun shone strongly at times and the narrow streets looked their picturesque best.

As usual, the Festival attracted audiences for the ceilidhs and the workshops from all over the Highlands. Initial analysis shows that attendance was up this year, and many left us with questions about the next Festival.

The informal, intimate nature of the Festival is much to be prized. It is a feature we strive to maintain but to bring writers to Cromarty often from long distances – Candia McWilliam and Robert Macfarlane travelled from the south of England this year – can be an expensive business. This year the Festival owes thanks for sponsorship to the Scottish Arts Council, Highland Council and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise. The survival of the event on an annual basis depends on a successful search for funding.

We are also conscious that the Festival has to grow. This year we made use (successfully) of more venues in Cromarty, the Royal Hotel and the Victoria Hall, and we would like to build on this in the future. We shall also be looking at ways of expanding the programme, adding different types of events to attract new audiences. To achieve these aims but not lose the unique attributes of what the Festival is now will be a challenge, but one worth tackling as part of the growing spectrum of arts activity in the Highlands.

© Jim Miller, 2004