HIGHLAND 2007 is still several months away, but the momentum is clearly building towards the year of Highland culture. Several of our contributions this month allude in various ways to it, and the announcement of the five ‘finalists’ in Highland Quest (http://www.highland-quest.com/ ) has brought another reminder that the event is creeping closer. Inevitably, it will be an increasing preoccupation in the months to come.

March proved a very busy month in our review section, kicking off with our coverage of the National Theatre of Scotland’s HOME productions, and carrying on through a diverse run of touring theatre and visual arts events. Georgina Coburn was also in attendance at Colin Marr’s UHI lecture on the arts and culture in the Highlands & Islands, and as her review indicates, she found it a thought-provoking occasion.

The announcement that Arlo Guthrie would be one of the headline artists at this year’s Tartan Heart Festival at Belladrum in August provided a reminder that the festival season is also approaching fast. Rob Ellen jumps in early with his Easter West-Fest in Ullapool over the Easter weekend (www.medicinemusic.co.uk for details), with lots more to come.

This month’s main interview is with a young artist at the beginning of her career, Gaelic singer Jenna Cumming. Arts In Motion launch our new series of profiles of the member companies of the HITN (Highlands & Islands Theatre Network), neatly timed to coincide with the simultaneous launch of ‘Sealskin Trousers’, their new co-production with Aberdeenshire company Aye! Productions.

Nick Fearne kicks off a second round of ArtsFolk, our monthly look at the work of the Highlands and Islands Council’s Arts Development Officers around the region (with my apologies to Roxana Meechan and Sutherland, inadvertently left off the first roster but definitely counted in this time around).

Lynn Johnson’s report from Badenoch & Strathspey last month prompted Linda Jolly to put finger to keyboard in support of the voluntary sector in the arts. Her Speakout piece focuses mainly on the work she and her colleagues have been involved in at Carrbridge, but stands as a pat on the back for the unpaid volunteers creating and enabling events of all kinds throughout the Highlands & Islands.

From the Archive section takes another look at Jean Noble and her exhibition The Cycle of the Trees of Life which will be on show in its complete form for the first time at Tore Art Gallery from 10 April to 20 May 2006, along with 30 new small paintings, accompanied by a new booklet.

I can’t promise we will manage quite as many reviews this month, but as always, please keep checking back for more news, reviews and feature articles.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor, Northings

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 has contributed to numerous reference books, and has written books on jazz and Celtic music.