Our #epicstage campaign has now officially launched, with over 50 promoters, performers and members of the press attending the launch at the Tramway on Wednesday.
At the launch, Touring Network development director Sam Eccles said: “Rural activity is an integral part of Scotland’s economy, environment and culture, yet the visibility of the cultural activity in the region does not benefit from the degree of exposure that our cities enjoy. At the Touring Network we are working in partnership with performers, venues, and their promoters, to ensure that cultural events happening across communities are valued as a central, indispensable and celebrated part of the cultural life of Scotland.”
Glenurquhart promoter, Jennie Macfie, explains why she loves promoting.
At Wednesday’s media launch at the Tramway in Glasgow, some of Scotland’s leading artists were photographed with the chairs, including choreographer Ruth Mills, fiddler Mike Vass, novelist and playwright Alan Bissett, and singer-songwriter Karine Polwart (left to right, above).
Karine Polwart said: “The folk music scene in Scotland has been invigorated and sustained by performers, promoters and festival organisers in the Highlands, islands and northern isles. Some of my most treasured memories as an artist have been of performing in places like Tobermory, Stromness, Colonsay, and Ullapool.”
Sam Eccles said: “We wish to reach out to local, visiting and tourist audiences and, in doing so, provide prominent and practical event information. Today gives us all the opportunity to highlight the world class theatre, music, dance, comedy, circus and kids’ shows happening from Shetland to Campbeltown, Birnam to Skye.
Novelist and playwright, Alan Bissett, regales the audience with tales of his epic tour of the Highlands earlier this year.
“These small-scale venues, set amid some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, bring audiences up close and personal with the very best performers from Scotland and beyond. For both audiences and performers, the intimate stages, at the heart of small communities, offer a profound connection with landscape, with place and with people.”
Charlotte Allan (right), from Ipdip Theatre, gives Alice Cooper (left) some tips ahead of her Highland tour of Waves next month.
We love the rural and coastal communities we live in. We want our community to be exciting, connected, vibrant and distinctive; we are proud and want to show off the place in which we live to incoming audiences and performers; and we want to build our sense of belonging, by sharing our place and giving our time. The #epicstage campaign allows us to do this, and we hope you get involved.
Find out more about the campaign here.