A Festival that has “people and place at its heart” was being launched in Moray this week when a group of artists gathered on Findhorn beach.
The Findhorn Bay Arts Festival will take place over five days from September 24 to September 28 with a series of events taking in venues such as Brodie Castle, the Tolbooth in Forres and the Universal Hall in Findhorn.
In addition to the formal staged events there will be a carnival atmosphere with buskers and a host of free street performances in Forres town centre.
The Festival is part of Scotland’s Year of Homecoming and will feature performances from a number of internationally renowned musicians including locals such as Calum Stewart from Garmouth and Forres jazz musician Jess Abrams.
Berlin-based figurative painter and illustrator Owen Normand will also return to his native Forres for the Fesitval, while Findhorn-based pair Michael and Maria Start will feature with a full programme of their Automata work that gained international fame when featured in the Martin Scorsese movie ‘Hugo’.
Director of the Festival is Kresanna Aigner, who said: “This is a festival with people and place at its heart, drawing inspiration from and celebrating the many traditions that still shape the lives of our coastal communities.”
Central to the Festival will be ‘Culture Day’ held in the centre of Forres on Saturday, September 27. That will see the town come alive with dancers, pipe bands, live music and alternative theatre on show.
Full details of the Festival events can be found online at http://www.findhornbayartsfestival.com/