Kirkcudbright Fringe is back for its second year with a range of innovations – the first Pauline Saul Artistic Residency and exhibition with award-winning young photographer Dylan Lombard and the first Young People’s Fringe in association with Kirkcudbright Academy. Both are highlighted in the Fringe physical programme with stunning front cover artwork by Emily Kirkpatrick from the Academy.
Kirkcudbright Fringe runs from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September – expanded from three days last year – and contains over 50 events in 20 venues. Highlights include National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Ensemble, Neal Ascherson, John Curtice, Will Hutton, Alan Bissett, Rose Reilly, Joyce McMillan and Richard Blair (George Orwell’s son).
The Pauline Saul Artistic Residence involved 20-year-old photographer Dylan Lombard undertaking a week-long residency in the town. He took street photos and visited numerous places like the Academy, Youth Group, Selkirk Arms, West Coast Sea Products as well as some Kirkcudbright artists, shops and businesses to capture the town and its people.
The Residency – a partnership between the Fringe and Kirkcudbright Galleries and funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council and DG Unlimited – concludes with a curated exhibition in the Galleries running from 5th September for over a month. Lily Knott, Arts Officer, Kirkcudbright Galleries says:
‘It is a great honour for Kirkcudbright Galleries to showcase Dylan Lombard in partnership with Kirkcudbright Fringe Festival in the first ever Pauline Saul Artistic Residency. Dylan’s take of the life, people and places of the town offers a distinct and different perspective – one refreshing, original and on occasion challenging’.
Dylan Lombard comments:
‘It has been wonderful to meet and get to know people in Kirkcudbright and go to places I never would have visited. This opportunity has allowed me to take photographs and images which I hope people think are a bit different and that they really enjoy’.
This year also sees the production of the Kirkcudbright Fringe calendar and greeting cards that will be on sale from August onwards and feature a selection of Dylan’s Kirkcudbright photographs.
The first Young People’s Fringe includes events in the programme, and some exclusively designed for Academy pupils. These includes author and playwright Alan Bissett talking about the challenges for young people, drawing on his book ‘Lads’ published last year.
‘Kirkcudbright Fringe has something for everyone. We aim to cater for as wide a range of audiences as possible and provide an experience that is fun, stimulating and at times challenging’ says Fringe co-founder Chris Walker.
‘The Fringe aims to build on Kirkcudbright’s reputation as an artist’s town. The first-ever Artistic Residency with Dylan Lombard and first-ever Young People’s Fringe are all part of our evolving programme to do new things and make an impact’ adds co-founder Gerry Hassan.
This year’s Fringe has received generous support from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Galloway Association of Glasgow, Dark Art Distillery, Kirkcudbright Common Good Fund, RSK and many others.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Kirkcudbright Fringe website www.kbtfringe.co.uk. Physical tickets are available from Kirkcudbright Galleries and Samphire Gallery, King Street, Castle Douglas.
