Eilean Siar Isles hosts Commonwealth Games cultural celebrations
Storytelling on two wheels
High octane contemporary circus
Cutting edge visual arts
A BICYCLE with saddle bags packed with books by the author of The Gruffalo and an incredible group of young contemporary circus performers are heading to Eilean Siar this summer as more events are about to take place for the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.
The nationwide Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is celebrating Scotland and Glasgow’s hosting of the XX Commonwealth Games with more than 1,000 events taking place across the country.
Stornoway; Tarbet
Adding to the excitement of the Queen’s Baton Relay coming to the region on Tuesday 8 July, actor Tam Dean Burn will be cycling into Stornoway and Tarbet as part of an epic journey in which he will read all 195 books and plays, and sing all the songs written by former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson to children along the route of the QBR with a show called The Marathon Storytelling Cycling Challenge.
For details visit: booksonabike.com
Perceval Square, Stornoway
Also on Tuesday 8 July, Perceval Square, Stornoway will be the setting for a high octane, spectacular performance showcasing contemporary circus skills.
The Commonwealth Youth Circus is a new company featuring specially recruited young performers from Scotland and the Commonwealth who are wowing audiences along the route of the QBR. Catch them from 6.15pm.
To find out more visit: http://www.brightnightinternational.com/community/commonwealth-youth-circus-2014/
Woodlands Centre, Stornoway
At 7pm on Tuesday 8 July, there’s the opportunity to enjoy a fascinating Scottish PEN event.
An evening of poetry and music will feature readings by the current holder of the Scottish Bardic Crown, the Canadian poet Lewis Mackinnon; Meg Bateman, respected Gaelic poet and scholar and Lewis poet and singer, Babs MacGregor, whose work featured in the anthology These Islands We Sing.
For more information and to book your free ticket visit: http://www.scottishpen.org/news/events/celtic-commonwealth-%E2%80%93-gaelic-poetry-and-literature-from-canada-and-scotland
Heb Celt Festival, Stornoway
On Thursday 17 July the Indigenous Commonwealth will be celebrated through a unique collaboration of Gaelic, Aboriginal and Mâori traditions in language, song, music and dance.
Boomerang from Glasgow-based Active Events will be performed as part of the Heb Celt Festival following performances at Womad New Zealand in March 2014 and Sydney Opera House Message Sticks Festival in April 2014.
Breabach, who curated a highly acclaimed Burns Night collaboration for Celtic Connections, are curating the Scottish component of the show. Rhoda Roberts Aboriginal artistic director for Sydney Opera House, Message Sticks and Boomerang festivals is curating the Aboriginal artists.
Emere Wano and Drew James of the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust, producers of both WOMAD New Zealand and the Taranaki International Arts Festival lead on the involvement of the Maori artists.
To book tickets: http://www.hebceltfest.com
An Lanntair
In My Father’s Words is a beautiful play about identity – national and personal – and language, and the utter indivisibility between the two. In the year that the Commonwealth Games comes back to Scotland, Dundee Rep Ensemble presents a play which re-tells the Scottish emigrant story for our times. In My Father’s Words, written by Justin Young with Gaelic text by Iain F MacLeod and directed by Philip Howard will be at An Lanntair on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July.
To book tickets: http://www.lanntair.com/
An Lanntair; Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
As part of the most ambitious programme of visual art ever held in Scotland, GENERATION, two fascinating exhibitions will show at An Lanntair and Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
Running from Saturday 5 July to Saturday 30 August at An Lanntair, Tumadh: Immersion is an exciting and extraordinary new commission from An Lanntair by Dundee-based artists Dalziel+Scullion that will turn the gallery into an immersive space created through sound and tactile qualities.
An exhibition of photographs will be presented on North Uist at Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre from Friday 1 August as part of an exhibition of new work commissioned by ATLAS arts and developed by artists Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan called Are you LOCATIONALIZED.
GENERATION, which celebrates 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland, features work by 100 artists in over 60 venues and all exhibitions are free to attend. www.generationartscotland.org
The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is a partnership between the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland through National Lottery funding.
Janet Archer, chief executive of Creative Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see this exciting work being presented in Eilean Siar and I’d encourage everyone to join in with and enjoy the events.”
Eileen Gallagher, independent director on the Glasgow 2014 Board and chair of the Ceremonies, Culture and Queen’s Baton Relay Committee, said: “The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is offering people the opportunity to be part of the Games wherever they are.
“With something for all the family, in popular local settings and an inspiring range of shows and activity, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
To find out more details about what’s happening in Eilean Siar and throughout Scotland visit: www.glasgow2014.com/culture
Notes to Editors:
- The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the XX Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4,500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of 15,000 volunteers. Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.
- Glasgow 2014’s official partner level sponsors are Longines, SSE, Virgin Media, BP, Emirates and Ford. For more information on Glasgow 2014’s full sponsor family, please visit http://www.glasgow2014.com/games/our-sponsors.
- Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.
- The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is a national celebration. Culture 2014 is showcasing dance, theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and much more in the run up to and after the Commonwealth Games, with Festival 2014 transforming the Host City at Games time. The Cultural Programme is a partnership between the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland through National Lottery funding. www.glasgow2014.com/culture
- GENERATION is being delivered through a partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland and Glasgow Life, and is supported by Creative Scotland. www.generationartscotland.org
Media Contact
Brian Maycock
Interim Media Relations and PR Officer, Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme
E: brian.maycock@creativescotland.com
T: 0330 333 2000
D: 0131 523 0046
M: 07972 835 212
Gordon Boag
Cultural Press Officer, Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee
E: gordon.boag@glasgow2014.com
T: 030 2014 0000
D: 030 2014 0160
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Contact: Brian Maycock
Email: brian.maycock@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com
