The Blas Festival will have a band in residence when the festival kicks off across the Highlands on 9 September 2011.

Plockton based Jewellery Designer, Gilly Langton has launched two new jewellery courses for 2011.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival takes place on the 5th & 6th August 2011 in the beautiful estate of Belladrum, Beauly near Inverness. New for 2011 will be an area dedicated to craft, promoted and supported by HI-Arts Craft Development working with Belladrum estate. Set in the walled garden away from the main stages, in the same area will be the Wellness space and Gaelic café.

Fibre Artist Joanne Kaar has an exhibition this June-July 2011 called Baker & Botanist at Morven Gallery, Barvas, Isle of Lewis. The exhibition runs from 1st June 2011 – 30th June 2011.

Hot on the heels of the launch of the new national arts agency Creative Scotland, the Highlands will have its own platform to focus attention on how children and young people’s can access creative experiences. The event, at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on 6 April 2011, is open to everyone (including young people) to say what they think is important to them about the arts and is free of charge.

It’s proving to be an exceptionally busy year thus far for Inverness-based Anna Macneil, a successful family company designing and making Harris Tweed fashion accessories and textile items for the home. Not only does this year see the 25th year in business, but it will also herald the opening of new premises.

An exhibition at Fort William’s Lime Tree An Ealdhain Gallery by Black Isle based artist Andrew Thompson.

For 2011, Highlands Open Studios have announced some exciting new initiatives – firstly, to be launched in early April, is a calendar of events, which will accompany each Highlands Open Studios directory distributed across the Highlands, in shops, tourist attractions and galleries, etc. The professionally produced directory is free, and contains a comprehensive listing of 49 member artists, and 10 galleries, providing an overview of each artist, their location, outline of the media worked, together with a colour image of their work.

OneTouch Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness, 27 March 2011.

A number of fairs throughout the summer have been arranged to promote all things ‘… made in Assynt’ . These fairs will take place on Fridays throughout the year and will be held at Lochinver Village Hall.