THE CULTURAL COMMISSION finally delivered its report to the Scottish Executive at the end of June, but the mammoth 500 page document is going to take a bit of digesting, and any actual decisions on implementing – or not – any of its recommendations are still some time away.

Nonetheless, the report and its implications will be endlessly analysed, criticised and fought over in the ensuing months, accompanied by a fair amount of political in-fighting and jockeying for position. Writer and broadcaster Brian Morton will give his own personal view on the findings in our ArtsRant this month, while the full report can be downloaded at www.culturalcommission.org.uk

The Highland 2007 project, another invention of the Scottish Executive, is now well underway, and we have asked a range of movers and shakers on the Highland arts scene for their views on how they see the scheme in relation to their own or their organisation’s work or, and to the Highlands in general.

Since these are by definition busy people whose workload we are increasing, the responses are filtering back gradually, and we hope to post the results around the middle of the month.

Corrina Hewat and Dave Milligan are touring their band Bachué round the Highlands and Islands this month, and we speak to Corrina in our featured interview. Alistair Peebles reflects in depth on another successful St Magnus Festival, and Wendy Sanders reports on an art project in Ross and Cromarty in our ArtsFolk piece this month.

July is also the annual Hebridean Celtic Festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a stellar line-up and a celebratory CD. Summer also brings the Scottish Chamber Orchestra north, and sees the launch of the growing annual Ceilidh Trails, pioneered by Feis Rois and now spreading around the region. See our News section and Events Guide or more details of these events.

As usual, more news, features and reviews will be added throughout the month, so keep checking back.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor

Kenny Mathieson lives and works in Boat of Garten, Strathspey. He studied American and English Literature at the University of East Anglia, graduating with a BA (First Class) in 1978, and a PhD in 1983. He has been a freelance writer on various arts-related subjects since 1982, and contributes to the Inverness Courier, The Herald, The Scotsman, The List, Times Educational Supplement Scotland, and other publications. He is the author of two books on jazz, Giant Steps and Cookin’ (both Canongate), and edited Celtic Music – A Listener’s Guide (BackbeatUK).