13th May 2005
In March 2003, after the failure of the bid by Inverness to become City of Culture, Jack McConnell announced Highland 2007 as a project that would celebrate Highland culture across Scotland.
Whether you're inspired or cynical about this project, Caithness artists can seize the opportunity to benefit from funding offered by the tri-partite partnership of the Scottish Executive, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Highland council.
�50,000 a year for the next three years has been allocated to Caithness from the Community Events portion of the available spending, and a local partnership group has been formed to assess applications. Other areas of expenditure (International Events, Regional Events, Events Across Scotland) will be controlled centrally.
Highland 2007 has identified seven key themes for exploration - Youth, Gaelic, Creativity, Highland Homecoming, Access & Inclusiveness, The Highlands as an Inspirational Place, Reinterpretation of Traditional Icons.
If you or your organisation has an idea that fits with this very broad thematic canvas, why not realise it as part of the Highland 2007 Celebration of Highland Culture? You can reapply each year for more funding possibly building up to a larger event in 2007.
Application forms from:
Tom Bryan
Arts Development Officer
Community Education Centre
Ackergill Street
Wick
Caithness
Tel: 01955 605423
E-mail: [mail]tom.bryan[AT]highland.gov.uk[/mail]