A Changing Scene

ADRIAN CLARK reflects on the changing arts scene in and around Inverness.

THE ARTS SCENE in Inverness is in a state of flux with opportunities and challenges in equal measure. At this time of year many will be missing the Highland Festival and the opportunities for experiencing performing arts in a variety of convivial settings.

Many will be suffering withdrawal symptoms due to the two year closure of Eden Court Theatre, and soon the gallery-going public will be deprived of visiting the only other publicly-owned art gallery for a period of five months.

Meanwhile Highland 2007, Highland Year of Culture looms ever closer and most people have little idea as to what is in store, and indeed may doubt that there is much in it for them. Many people will have read about the new Public Art initiative for Inverness and be wondering whether it will hit the mark.

And at the same time many scores of local arts organisations will be struggling on, as ever, trying to make ends meet, while a good number will be getting to grips with the new funding opportunities.

It is to be hoped that a year hence, we will be able to say that Eden Court is about to re-open to critical acclaim, and that the extensive revamp of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, including a lift, has doubled visitor numbers.

Ethnic minority groups are also beginning to make their presence felt through cultural celebrations, such as the Chinese New Year Lion Dance

Certainly the venue situation is in the midst of significant changes, even leaving aside the new studio theatre and rehearsal space and the two new cinemas at Eden Court. It is now better known that, once one has negotiated one’s way into the Spectrum Centre, the experience of the main theatre space or the drama studio is very agreeable.

Other local venues are to receive upgrades for the purposes of performance, including Merkinch Community Centre and Inverness High School, both part-funded by Highland 2007. Charleston Academy has plans for improvements, and the Spectrum Centre is aiming to install “bleacher”-style seating.

In 2007 the Public Private Partnership brings a new Gaelic school, followed in 2008 by a new Millburn Academy with a 350-seat theatre. The main hall in Inverness Town House will not change but will shortly become a venue for top class piano recitals played on a new grand piano (courtesy of Highland 2007 and Inverness Common Good funding).

Live music venues, particular for traditional music, are no longer lacking, with Hootananny winning the Scottish Traditional Music Award for two years in succession. Soon the situation for live music of all sorts is due to change radically with the imminent opening of the Ironworks. Phipps Hall, Beauly, which hosts ‘Blazin in Beauly’ and a range of musical events, has also received a welcome refresh.

Exhibition space will improve with the new Eden Court and the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery’s £1 million upgrade; and hopefully the plans for a new public art gallery for the Highlands will have moved forward. Meanwhile the Highland Print Studio, which is revamping its print facilities, and installing a digital media suite at its workshop on the Longman, again with the help of Highland 2007, also has plans to relocate back to Bank Street.

Meanwhile the Public Art initiative, also supported by Highland 2007, is about to breathe new life into parts of the old town and the bridges, providing added interest to the walk around Ness Islands and visits to the Life Sciences Centre at Raigmore.

Work is underway on the islands with a mini-amphitheatre feature, and temporary work will begin to appear shortly in the town itself as part of the wider street-scaping project. Inverness City Centre management will be presenting extensive programmes of music and street entertainment in 2006 and 2007, which will also tie in with the Public Art initiative.

Highland 2007 will be in full swing, with Inverness having had a fantastic Auld New Year Party and in the midst of a brilliant array of brilliant arts and cultural events and projects – many presented by the local arts organisations themselves.

Meanwhile benefits have begun to accrue from the closure of Eden Court as their programme in exile attracts audiences to other venues such as Inverness Town House, the revamped Spectrum Centre, Craigmonie Centre in Drumnadrochit, and others outwith the Inverness patch, such as the Spa Pavilion in Strathpeffer.

Increased confidence in major arts and cultural events in the area is evidenced by the highly successful Tartan Heart Festival at Belladrum and by the hosting of the Fatboy Slim concert at Dores.

The City of Inverness Highland Games extends the Tulloch’ Traditional Music Tent this year to feature Blazin’ Fiddles on each night, and an All Stars youth bands evening, in addition to the 20 pipe bands and some 150 Highland dancers.

There is wider coverage of the arts in Inverness, specifically through Inverness City Advertiser, and, of course, Northings. Readers are also invited to join the monthly Inverness Arts Diary put out by the Highland Council Arts Officer to around one thousand contacts.

There are well over 100 arts groups in Inverness alone. In addition to the long established local arts organisations such as Inverness Festival Association, and The Florians there are a good number of more recent ones such as Ceol Beò, Artsplay Highland and TMC Folk, an offshoot of the Highland Council’s Inverness Traditional Music Project.

The Traditional Music festival Blas is coming to Inverness in 2007 and there are other local festivals in store such as in Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus. Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s only Writing Centre has ambitious plans for development, based on greatly increased use and is also active in the wider community.

Youth Inclusive has embarked on a Youth Music Initiative, Arts in Merkinch will be running its third festival in July. Local volunteer promoters put on extensive high quality programmes in Farr and Drumnadrochit, Gorthleck and Glenmoriston. And of course Eden Court continues to broaden its outreach drama programme, its dance courses and film and book festivals. Ethnic minority groups are also beginning to make their presence felt through cultural celebrations, such as the Chinese New Year Lion Dance.

This is just skimming the surface and does not mention the increasing professional sector, with successful theatre companies such as Dogstar. Most such projects are based on good partnerships between voluntary and statutory bodies and there is increasing involvement by the commercial sector. Through such cooperation the arts scene in Inverness is gearing up and should be flourishing in 2007.

I should mention some forthcoming events presented by Highland Council:

• The 10th Day of Dance at Culloden Academy on Sat 3 June 2006
• The Caravan Theatre Ship at Muirtown Locks on 14 and 15 July 2006
• The summer bandstand concert programme at Bellfield Park on Sunday afternoons
• The 4 week long Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail which is to launched at Urquhart Castle on 17 July 2006
• Tulloch’s Traditional Music Tent at the City of Inverness Highland Games on 22 July 2006
• Concert by the Theo Travis Quartet in Phipps Hall, Beauly on 6 June 2006
• Concert by Trevor Watts and Jamie Harris plus a drumming workshop in Spectrum Centre on 27 July 2006
• Plus a wide range of community centre based Arts activities over the summer.

Hope to see you at some of these.

Adrian Clark is the Arts Officer, Highland Council Inverness Area (Education, Culture & Sport)

© Adrian Clark, 2006