Raising a glass to this year’s whisky festivals

SCOTLAND’S whisky festival season is getting underway, with The National Whisky Festival returning to SWG3 in Glasgow tomorrow as part of Celtic Connections. The festival began in 2015 and has grown from its Glasgow base to include events in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Inverness. Gareth Croll, the festival’s coordinator, said: “After such an incredible year touring…

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Great Tapestry of Scotland artist Andrew Crummy among honours

ARTIST Andrew Crummy, who led the creation of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, was among those featured in the new year’s honours list. Crummy was made a member of the order of the British empire (MBE) for his “services to art and cultural heritage” in Scotland. He follows in the footsteps of his mother, Helen,…

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Native trio plans show at Aberdeen Art Gallery

WORKS by three local artists are visiting Aberdeen Art Gallery to wow crowds in their home city. Lennox Dunbar, Ian Howard, and Arthur Watson all attended Aberdeen Grammar School, where art teacher Charles Hemingway introduced them to the collection at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Howard went on to teach at Aberdeen and Dundee colleges of art…

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Panto dame hits 1,000-show milestone

PANTO dame Alan McHugh notched up his 1,000th performance last week at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen. Having started performing at the Granite City theatre in Snow White in 2004, McHugh has notched up 19 years of shows. The popular star was given a surprise presentation on stage at the end of the evening performance…

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Wildlife news round-up: Rewilding, capercaillie, and more

Peter Ranscombe rounds-up the latest wildlife news from Scotland. A MIXED picture has emerged from Scotland’s national nature reserves (NNRs) this season, with bird flu decimating great skuas – or bonxies – and gannets at Noss on Shetland, with kittiwake  and Arctic terns fairing better. Terns of all varieties – Arctic, common, little, and sandwich…

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Glasgow artist Alberta Whittle closes Venice Biennale show

THE show by Glasgow artist Alberta Whittle at the Venice Biennale has drawn to a close after attracting an “unprecedented” 35,000 visitors. Whittle is due to unveil a major exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland on 1 April. Her Venice film, Lagareh – The Last Born, is preparing to tour Scotland, with screenings in…

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Scottish Opera shines a spotlight on Verdi

VERDI is firmly in the spotlight for the latest series of concerts by Scottish Opera. The Verdi Collection, a selection of the Italian composer’s greatest hits, will be performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen on 19 November and at Eden Court in Inverness on 26 November as part of the “Opera in Concert” series.…

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Powis Gateway plaque marks slavery legacy

ABERDEEN City Council and the University of Aberdeen have erected a plaque at the Powis Gateway in Old Aberdeen. The sign is part of the council’s commemorative plaques scheme to highlight the legacy of slavery in the North-East. The gateway, now owned by the university, was built by the Leslie family, which received compensation when…

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Scots language survey launched

A PROJECT is being launched today to map how Scots is spoken throughout the nation. The “Speak for Yersel” project, run by the University of Glasgow, aims to build up a picture of how Scots is used in different places. Jennifer Smith, professor of sociolinguistics at the university, said: “Lots of people say ‘Oh I…

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Queen’s funeral to be shown in Holyrood Park today

THE Queen’s funeral will be shown live today on a giant screen in Holyrood Park, next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey in London and is due to begin at 11am. Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, will represent Scotland’s capital city at…

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