Inverness, 12 January 2007

Transe Express suspended from a crane in the midst of Falcon Square.

SPEECHES DURING the official launch of Highland 2007, combined with the reopening of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and the official opening of the national touring exhibition ‘Fonn ‘s Duthchas’, celebrated the partnerships formed between the region and national agencies.

Patricia Ferguson, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, congratulated the Highland 2007 team on the ambitious project in the “impressive setting” of the refurbished museum, emphasising the importance of the ‘Fonn ‘s Duthchas’ exhibition with colleagues in the Highlands working in partnership with the three national collections.

Alison Magee, the convener of Highland Council and Chair of Highland 2007, stated in her address that “This is our time”, and that the Highlands is “no longer a place to leave”. (The 16 to 35 year old demographic and those seeking tertiary education may well disagree with the finality of that statement.)

At the turn of the old Celtic New Year the aspiration of Highland 2007 to reflect and project growing confidence and cultural identity in the Highland region was echoed in First Minister Jack McConnell’s speech.

“By the end of the year” people the length and breadth of Scotland and beyond will see the region as “ambitious, confident and successful”, he claimed, and defined by “enterprise and innovation”. He emphasised that from within the region and outside it a change for the good in terms of “attitude and perception” would leave a lasting legacy.

What was far more impressive for me than the political spin was the beauty of our illuminated city and the enthusiasm of an estimated crowd of over 10,000 gathered to publicly launch the year of culture.

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I sincerely hope that this launch is a beginning in terms of changing perception within the region, illuminating all that is unique about the area and projecting this confidently to the rest of the UK and the world

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The river Ness provided an exceptional centrepiece for an outdoor event, and I hope that this has been duly noted by local authorities who have yet to take advantage of this asset on an annual basis. There were a lot of families in the crowd, and it was gratifying to know that children in the audience would be seeing Inverness illuminated in a way not previously seen before.

Managed by Unique Events, the Monster Street Party included performances from the Inverness Gaelic Choir, massed pipes and drums of the Highlands, and Blazin’ Fiddles. Utilising nearby buildings such as the 3 tier balconies of the old HIE building (now apartments), the pipers produced an impressive sound, only affected in the dispersal by moderate gusts of wind.

A projected installation by artist Graham Rodgers featured beneath, and raised the question of permanent use of such spaces for projected public artwork in the city. The Inverness Gaelic Choir gave a haunting main stage performance under a copse of illuminated blue trees, and the commentary and introductions were all bilingual.

Inverness Castle, local churches and other buildings were illuminated throughout the evening with colours representing the six strands of Highland culture represented in H2007. It was only on my way home, looking down the river at a distance that the real effect of this became evident, especially in relation to the church spires, and it was a wonderful sight!

The fireworks display combined effects not seen before, including floating pyrotechnics down the river, which was especially memorable and made a real feature of one of our greatest natural assets.

Luckily the bad weather abated throughout the event, and the full programme went ahead as planned. Complimentary to the family-orientated theme of the Monster Street Party were a series of post launch parties in local hotels, and the showcasing of contemporary music at the Ironworks venue with The Side, The Now and Chris Gorman performing during the evening.

Following an outdoor public address by the First Minister, Nessie’s monster cousins lead the crowd into the city and through Queensgate, Union and Academy Streets, and eventually to Falcon Square. The gigantic illuminated puppets on Ness Bridge and performers on stilts were exciting especially to youngsters and interacted well with the crowd.

Clans of beasties including a black and red ant-like/crustacean brass and percussion band, multi-jointed bugs on stilts and camel/potato-faced draped creatures mingled with the crowd. The echoing screeches of the dinosaur/bird-like group in metallic silver costumes with floating tails were captivating, their movement as a group through the streets fantastical and natural at the same time.

An aerial performance by French group Transe Express concluded the evening, suspended from a crane in the midst of Falcon Square. The main carillon (see photo) was accompanied by smaller elevated cages where the troupe performed medieval-like revelries and clowning to the crowd, illuminated by torchlight. Whilst the engineering of this main performance suspended in air was impressive, it did not hold my interest for the whole performance.

Accompanied midair by bells and percussion the aerial ballet became tedious, rather like watching a children’s music box revolve for too long. Although some have criticised the international component of the event, I welcome this mixture of performance.

I am sure that the crowd on the ground (myself included) had never seen anything like it, especially in terms of staging. Imagination and perception of possibilities is perhaps the greatest legacy this year can leave.

I sincerely hope that this launch is a beginning in terms of changing perception within the region, illuminating all that is unique about the area and projecting this confidently to the rest of the UK and the world.

Though there are flaws and criticism in terms of delivery and representation of the overall programme, the ambition of Highland 2007 is a positive one. If it focuses attention consistently upon what is needed to sustain and develop Highlands and Islands culture, encouraging local authorities to deliver adequate provision where there currently is none, then the expense will have been worth it.

Now that the year of Highland and Islands culture has begun it is up to all its residents to ensure that their aspirations are realised.

© Georgina Coburn, 2007

Link

• Highland 2007