Àrainn Shuaineirt 

Location: Strontian, at the heart of the Ardnamurchan & Morvern peninsulas. 24 miles from Fort William via the Corran Ferry, also accessible outwith ferry operating times.
Capacity: 200
Programme: All year round programme of all art forms
 

Director’s Statement
 

Our aim is to bring the very best in the performing arts to this remote corner of the west of Scotland, steeped in history, and with strong Gaelic and musical traditions but until recently with no venue to showcase local and international talent. As one of The Highland Council’s new Community Schools we aim to involve our whole community in events and in programming, and to provide such a varied programme that everyone will want to come to see and experience something.

Eoghan Carmichael
 

We put the questions, and Eoghan comes up with answers:

AJ: When was the venue established?

EC: We opened in October 2002, as part of Ardnamurchan High School in Strontian, one of The Highland Council’s new PPP “Community Schools”.

AJ: What famous names have taken to the stage?

EC: Capercaillie, Cliar, Scottish Dance Theatre, Tommy Smith & the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Altan, Wolfstone, Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Battlefield Band, Mugenkyo, Scottish Ensemble, Mull Theatre, Scottish Opera-Go-Round.

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

EC: We are developing a greater variety of performances and possibly weekend festivals, bringing in more education and outreach opportunities, focusing on local Gaelic and musical traditions and the local environment.

AJ: Does the venue have a ghost?

EC: Not yet, but we’re working on it….

AJ: What was your worst disaster as director?

EC: I have had many. Capercaillie blowing the house lights and having to resort to standard lamps on stage was probably one of the worst, given that the event was designed to showcase our new venue and its state of the art facilities. Fortunately this problem has now been rectified.

AJ: And what was your biggest triumph?

EC: Possibly Capercaillie playing two nights for us by special request was one, as they had not played in the area for many years, but seeing audiences going home happy and inspired after any successful event is another, and the confidence many of our local young talents are finding when playing in public is another.

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

EC: The Grateful Dead. Maybe Jerry could be our ghost? Or perhaps Little Feat?

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

EC: This is a tremendous venue surrounded by stunning scenery, with plenty to do and see in the surrounding area and with a relaxed atmosphere – an ideal spot for a relaxing weekend and catching up on some great music or other cultural event at the same time.

© HI-Arts, 2004