Craft Week Scotland ends with online and in-person events

THE first Craft Week Scotland closes this weekend with almost 50 online and in-person activities. Katie Leask, manager at Nielanell Knitwear, will open her studio at Hoswick on Shetland tomorrow to welcome visitors for a socially-distanced “meet the designer” event. More than 3,000 craft makers and businesses have taken part in this week’s activities. Irene…

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Edinburgh’s ‘Digital Diwali’ marks ‘triumph of light’

EDINBURGH’S Diwali celebrations are moving online this year, with two hours of dance and music kicking off at 5pm on Sunday. The programme includes music from Edinburgh’s own Ajay Dixit, classical Indian dance by Bharatiya Ashram from Dundee, fusion dance from Edinburgh’s Dance Ihayami and songs by African Connections. The climax will feature the Odissi…

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Online bookshop helps local stores

AN ONLINE bookshop has raised more than £122,000 for local bookshops. Bookshop.org donates most of its profits to bookshops, authors, and other groups involved in literature. “By design, we give away over 75% of our profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books,” it said. The…

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Scots folk band releases US book shop tour album

A FOLK band that takes its inspiration from book shops has released its latest album. The Bookshop Band’s Live in American Bookshops long-player has been released as a limited edition vinyl record. Folk duo Beth Porter and Ben Please are from Wigtown, Scotland’s national book town. They have forged their reputation by creating songs inspired…

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Doric presenter shortlisted for social impact award

A CHAMPION of Doric language and culture has been shortlisted for a national prize. Filmmaker Jill McWilliam, who runs the Doric Future website, has made the shortlist in the “social impact of the year” category at the Business Women Scotland Awards. The winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony on 6 November. McWilliam reached…

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‘Abstraction’ opens at Gallery Q Dundee

WORKS by six artists have gone on show at Gallery Q Dundee. The exhibition, entitled “Abstraction”, runs until 15 November. Siobhan O’Hehir, who lives and paints at Ancrum in the Borders, is the featured artist. Originally from the West of Ireland, she trained in fine art at the University of Ulster and achieved her master’s…

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Students learn from composer Errollyn Wallen

MUSICIAN Errollyn Wallen has been appointed as the visiting professor of composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow. Her role includes one-to-one teaching, as well as leading seminars and workshops. Born in Belize, Wallen gave up her training at the Dance Theater of Harlem in New York to study composition at the…

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Scottish Ballet unveils first feature film

SCOTTISH BALLET has revealed its winter programme, including the company’s first feature film. The Secret Theatre will have its online premiere on 21 December at 6pm. “Seen through the eyes of a young boy as he stumbles into an empty theatre, this Christmas special will feature characters, choreography and music from Scottish Ballet’s popular festive…

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Two Scottish sites among ‘museums of the year’

A PAIR of Scottish attractions has been named among the “museums of the year” by Art Fund. Aberdeen Art Gallery and Gairloch Museum were two of the five sites that shared this year’s prize. Each museum will receive £200,000. Councillor Marie Boulton, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokeswoman, said: “Covid-19 abruptly halted the fantastic momentum that…

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Finalists unveiled for Scots Language Awards

VOTING has opened in the finals of the Scots Language Awards 2020. Celebrations will begin on Friday 23 October with an online evening performance by the Iona Fyffe Trio, with Fyffe herself nominated in the Scots performer of the year category. A wee gaitherin will be held from 11am to 5pm the following day, with…

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