THE HIGHLAND FESTIVAL has been making the news again of late, and for all the wrong reasons. The resignation of Chairman David Henderson and two more members of the board over major policy disagreements has put the festival back on the news pages, and has emphasised the urgent need for the organisation to put its house in order.

Criticism over very disappointing audience figures for this year’s events have added fuel to that fire, and although Gary Coutts has responded to the criticism in positive fashion, the feeling of a festival-in-crisis definitely hangs over an event that has never really found its optimum – or even a genuinely workable – format. With the major focal events of the Scottish Year of Highland Culture 2007 inching closer, Highland arts can scarcely afford to see the festival founder, and the months ahead may be a vital time for it.

News also comes of the appointment of Fiona Hampton as Project Director for Highland 2007. Fiona is currently head of skills and learning infrastructure with Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and takes up her new role in late September. She has held major events-related posts with both Glasgow and Edinburgh Councils in the past, and is looking forward to the challenge.

Another major appointment announced last month was the choice of Vicky Featherstone to head up the National Theatre of Scotland. She was not a name that many had predicted for that job, and is currently working out her notice with the highly-regarded Paines Plough company in London before taking up what is likely to be a hot seat. We wish both of these women well in their new roles, and trust that they have been cultivating a suitable thickness of skin in the meantime.

The Scottish Arts Council’s Tune Up touring programme resumes this month with Highland dates for both Eddi Reader (see feature) and SLAM. A newer generation of musicians will also be featured on various stages this month, including the Fèis Rois Ceòlraidh and Friends of Highland Music’s Rising Stars concerts at Eden Court Theatre, and the TMSA Young Trad Tour 2004, featuring the six finalists from the Young Scottish Traditional Musician 2004 Awards in January.

Theatre Hebrides’s new production, Metagama, is on an extensive tour this month – see Ian Stephen’s review of the play in our review section. Our major interview will be with master piper Fred Morrison – look for that mid-month. Also coming up in the Journal this month is part two of Alistair Peebles discussion with Clare Gee, and coverage of the Islay Jazz Festival. And lots more – keep checking back for the latest updates.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor