Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) chief executive Sandy Cumming and Scottish Arts Council (SAC) director, Tessa Jackson admire the new-look Highlands and Islands Visual Arts Guide.

The full-colour glossy publication details over 130 galleries, arts studios, sculpture walks and arts organisations from Argyll to Shetland and 35,000 copies of the new guide will be distributed throughout Scotland over the next two years.

HI-Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands, has overseen production of the guide, which has been largely funded by HIE and SAC with additional funding from participating galleries. In addition, a complimentary website is also under construction allowing for world-wide access to galleries and arts venues in the Highlands and Islands.

Visual arts marketing co-ordinator with HI-Arts, Marcus Wilson said: "The aim of this guide is to raise the profile of the area's visual arts, including art galleries, workshops and other arts organisations, which all run on very tight budgets and cannot really afford to promote themselves on this scale.

"As with all sectors of business throughout Scotland, the foot and mouth crisis has hit galleries hard and with access to the countryside still restricted in some places, we would like to remind visitors there is still plenty to see and do. The country's arts and cultural services are definitely open for business and worth a visit."

Research carried out on the back of last year's publication found that people using the booklet visited three galleries and most respondents planned to visit a further four or more as a direct result of using the Visual Arts Guide.

Director of SAC, Tessa Jackson said: "This guide is invaluable in opening the door to the many local galleries and outlets for visual arts and crafts. It provides a great way to know some of Scotland's artists and a great opportunity to support them by viewing and buying their work."

Sandy Cumming, chief executive of HIE said: "I am very impressed with the Visual Arts Guide. It really invites people to become involved in the arts whether they live here already or are visiting the Highlands and Islands.

"At HIE we are committed to assisting the development of the arts sector across the area and to underline this, we recently announced the continuation of support for HI-Arts with the awarding of a funding package worth £206,000 over the coming year."

To obtain a copy of the Highlands and Islands Visual Arts Guide 2001/02, please contact HI-Arts on tel: 01463 244271.