Introduction to arts and culture in the Highlands and Islands

HI~Arts and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network

These web pages can give only a flavour of the immensely dynamic arts and heritage sectors in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In the last twenty years, the cultural growth in the area has been exceptional. The figures speak for themselves:

• More than 70 arts festivals, throughout the year
• Over 150 galleries and artists’ studios open to the public
• Over 20 professional theatre companies, regularly touring throughout the area and to the rest of Scotland
• 93 museums either formally registered or seeking registration
• Over 80 members of the Promoters Arts Network (PAN), staging professional events in local communities
• Over 200 local history and heritage societies
• Over 35 local Feisean providing tuition in the Gaelic arts

And, thanks to funding from the National Lottery and other sources, there is a whole host of high quality venues: arts centres and performing arts venues in Mull, Skye, the Uists, Stornoway and Caithness; new galleries in Sutherland, Inverness, Shetland and Orkney; the current major expansion of the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, and of course the mobile cinema the Screen Machine. And that’s without reckoning in the many new and rebuilt village halls and school venues.
 

Interior drawing of the new An Lanntair Arts Centre, Stornoway

Of course, much of this growth has been in the rich heritage of the indigenous arts of the area. Traditional music, dance, and storytelling, have all undergone a healthy and energetic revival, while the growing interest in, and support for, all aspects of Gaelic language and culture has been paralleled by similar growth in Orcadian and Shetlandic traditions.

But, at the same time, the Highlands and Islands are also looking forwards and outwards. Bands from Shetland, Stornoway, Inverness and Easter Ross are all achieving national and international success in the contemporary mainstream. Highlands and Islands artists sell well at art fairs in Glasgow and London. There’s a wealth of exciting writing emerging from new authors of all ages.
 

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

So, these pages can give only a sample of this tremendous activity.  For a much more extensive view, log on to the Internet Arts Journal Northings, which  includes an comprehensive events guide for the Highlands and Islands, as well as features, interviews, reviews and arts news. Like these pages, Northings is produced by HI~Arts, a ‘not for profit’ charitable company which is contracted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to deliver an annual programme of cultural development and  promotion. Full details of HI~Arts’ range of programmes and projects are also accessible via the HI-Arts website.