Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival’s 30th Anniversary celebration programme received an enthusiastic response from its audiences, reported Chairman Dame Barbara Kelly at the recent AGM held in Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.
Audience feedback had generally shown high ratings for a diverse programme covering a geographical spread which included Langholm, Moffat, Parkgate, Dumfries, Shawhead, Sanquhar, Moniaive, Kirkpatrick Durham, Colvend, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright, New Galloway and Dundrennan.
“Once again we endeavoured to ensure the continuing quality, diversity and accessibility of events”, said Dame Barbara. “The Festival remains committed to delivering a multi-genre event and in total covered quality events in music, drama, comedy, literature, jazz, folk, youth events, cabaret, film, visual arts and a strong children’s programme.”
Sell out shows had included the Qawali Sham Sufi Group from Afghanistan, Stones in His Pockets, the award-winning comedy from London’s West End and Swinging Supper with the Alex Yellowlees Hot Club Quartet.
The year of Homecoming had been celebrated with the commissioning of Of a’ the Airts, which charted the life and times of Rabbie Burns in his Dumfries years and a recital brought young Dumfries Bass Baritone Michael MacKinnon home from Canada to a warm welcome. Four literary lectures under the title Aspects of Burns had been much enjoyed by small, though appreciative audiences. All of this had been made possible by grants from the Homecoming funds.
However, the Rural Round, an important element in the Festival’s audience development with performances held in village halls and community centres, had met with a mixed response and it was recognised that more contact with local Community Councils and Hall Committees was required to build co-operation.
This capacity to develop new audiences, while at the same time maintaining the loyalty of present supporters, is the objective of the newly created Programme Planning and Audience Development post. Peter Renwick, who arrived half way through the process for this year’s Festival, will strive to give the Festival significant impetus in its priority areas of involving more young people, tourists and importantly those people living in the region who do not presently attend Festival events. The support of the Dumfries and Galloway LEADER programme and match funding from the Holyrood Trust was gratefully acknowledged.
Dame Barbara concluded by giving thanks to each of the Board and Programme Planning Group members for their hard work in continuing to run the Festival on a voluntary basis, as well as to Patrons, Friends, Subscribers and Sponsors for their support and to Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Scottish Arts Council for grant funding.
Dates for Festival 2010: 21st – 29th May.
Anyone wishing to become a Patron or a Member, or who would like to receive information on how they could help with the Festival, is invited to contact 01387 260447 or info@dgartsfestival.org.uk. For more information see www.dgartsfestival.org.uk.
