They will form part of the Festival’s exciting new programme for 2015 which will take place at venues across the region, from Stranraer to Langholm and from Moffat to Whithorn.
New to the Festival is the guarantee against loss scheme for venue managers and performing artists which will support a wide range of events from dance, music, literature, drama and film. In addition to providing financial support for local performing artists and venue managers wishing to be part of the Festival, support will also be provided in the form of advice on marketing and the technical aspects of mounting a production.
Festival programme director, Peter Renwick, said: “We decided to introduce a guarantee against loss scheme for next year’s Festival because we wanted to encourage performing artists and promoters to be much more involved in the Festival.
“By supporting local promoters, we have managed to get a real richness and diversity to our programme. By providing a financial buffer, we’re encouraging people to be more ambitious with their programming and enabling them to bring more expensive high profile acts to their area.
“We are delighted that in addition to working with artists and venues who we know well we are able to support many artists and venue managers who will be taking part in the Festival for the first time.”
Events planned through the scheme include a concert in Moffat by celebrated Scots singer-songwriter Dick Gaughan; an evening in Colvend with Sunny Ormonde, the actress who plays the “outrageous and raunchy” Lilian Bellamy in Radio 4’s The Archers; an afternoon of music, song and opera at St John’s Church in Dumfries by three of the region’s most celebrated musicians: soprano Claudia Wood (Birmingham Conservatoire); Julian Pombo, flute; Billy Dewar Riddick, baritone (both at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland); smooth saxophone jazz in Lockerbie with The Getz Group; and a visit by famous playwright Bernard Kops to Gatehouse of Fleet.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival chair, Ken Gouge, said: “We are delighted with the level of interest in, and the fantastic response to, our new scheme.
“The guarantee against loss scheme brings a diverse programme of events to the region featuring a great mix of acts, many of whom we have worked with and some brand new to the festival scene.
“We are supporting local performing artists, arts organisations and venue managers communities across the region by putting on events aimed at local audiences. We are thrilled that we have been able to support all artists and venue managers who wanted to be part of the Festival.”
The 2015 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival takes place for 10 days from 22 to 31 May.
Anyone wishing to join next year’s Festival Fringe is asked to submit proposals to the festival office by December 10. For further information, visit: www.dgartsfestival.org.uk
PICTURE Sunny Ormonde as Lilian Bellamy from the Archers will be visiting Moffat.
