Highland venues to share tales for Scotland's Year of Stories
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A forest above Loch Ness, a woodland near Evanton and the fisher communities of Easter Ross will be among the Highland locations where tales will be told as part of Scotland's Year of Stories in 2022.
The nationwide programme of more than 60 events presented by a range of partners from national organisations to community groups has been unveiled today in recognition of the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. Additional events will continue to be added throughout 2022.
The programme was launched along with a new promotional video featuring the voice of Game of Thrones star James Cosmo.
Events taking place in the Highlands include, Abriachan's Stories, Seanchaidh and some Stars, which will take place in Abriachan Forest in the hills above Loch Ness. The monthly event, which will run throughout 2022, will be delivered by a mix of local storytellers, musicians, natural historians, geologists, astronomers and a fire dancer.
Ross-shire events will include a special focus on storytelling at the Fisherfolk Festival, an annual weekend celebration of the history and heritage of the Ross-shire Seaboard Villages, and Our Woodland Stories, where Evanton Community Wood celebrates its 10th anniversary by involving regular users and new visitors in creating, enjoying and being inspired by stories relating to the wood, the wider local area and participant's imaginations.
Local audiences of all generations will also be encouraged to pass on their memories of growing up in the Highlands in Sharing Stories: Treasuring our Past, Inspiring our Future.
These are among 100 events across the country which will be supported by the Community Stories Fund.
This brand-new events programme strand has been designed to support organisations and community groups to take part in and celebrate the year, spotlighting the unique stories that matter to them. The fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
Other Highland projects include the Northern Stories Festival 2022, using a diverse range of voices to celebrate the stories of Far North Scotland, from the Viking era Orkneyinga Saga to the novels of Neil Gunn.
Led by SEALL and Skye Gaelic singer Anne Martin, An Tinne (The Chain) links a collection of songs, stories and objects across the centuries between Scotland and Australia. The connection is a pot hook which moved to Australia with a family forced from their homes during the Highland Clearances and which is the focus of an unbreakable link between people, land and language.
In addition to the directly funded programme of events, VisitScotland will work with the widest range of partners to showcase and promote the full gamut of events and activities that celebrate Scotland’s many and diverse stories across 2022.
Scotland's culture minister Jenny Gilruth said: “2022 is the year we celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories. Storytelling and celebrating our unique oral history tradition has never been more important as we continue to respond to the impacts of the pandemic.
“We must ensure our Scotland’s stories are preserved and celebrated. 2022 will have something for everyone from some of the biggest cultural events of the year taking place at the Edinburgh festivals, to small community festivals in our towns and villages.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating the very best in Scottish storytelling talent throughout 2022 – which will be absolutely vital to our continued culture recovery.”
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “Scotland’s Year of Stories, and this exciting new events programme, offers an incredible platform to showcase the many sides of Scotland’s distinct, vibrant and diverse culture.
“We are inviting the world to delve into the wonderful experiences our stories create. From icons of literature to local tales, the year encourages visitors and locals to experience a range of voices, take part in events and explore the places, people and cultures connected to all forms of our stories, past and present.
“And it’s important to shout about Scotland’s new and untold stories. Year of Stories 2022 will shine a light on emerging, fresh and forward-looking talent and highlight the innovators that break boundaries across all forms of storytelling.
“As our valuable tourism and events industry continues to rebuild following the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year heralds an exciting new chapter while also providing quality opportunities for artists, creatives and audiences.”
Charlotte Mountford, co-director of Lyth Arts Centre, said: "Lyth Arts Centre is delighted to once again be part of Scotland's themed years and to take part in Year of Stories 2022.
“Northern Stories Festival will be a unique opportunity to share the exceptional culture of the Far North of Scotland by giving our community the chance to tell our own story."
Sara Bain, from SEALL, said “SEALL is delighted to be able to share the story of An Tinne with the world, thanks to support through the Year of Stories 2022 events programme.
“There is so much more to the story of Skye than the mountains, castles and fairies of Victorian romanticism. This island has a unique and remarkable tale to tell, much of which remains unheard.
“An Tinne is story about identity, belonging and sense of place. It is a tale of links in a chain that has come full circle: an event in Scotland’s crofting history, drastically altered the history of a family in a Skye township which, in turn, changed forever the history of a nation in a far-away new world. It is a story which has similar resonance on every one of the world’s continents, but also one which is unique to Skye.
“An Tinne is also an intrinsically Gaelic story and highlights not only the uniqueness of the cultural heritage of one of the Highland’s last Gaelic bastions but also the language’s ability to endure through adversity and time.”
Actor James Cosmo said: “It is an honour to be involved with Scotland’s Year of Stories. I know first-hand the impact our nation’s stories have on the world and to have a full year dedicated to sharing them from all corners of Scotland, is incredible.
“I am really excited to see the year unfold and all these events take place. It’s so important that we share how Scotland’s stories, in all their forms, make our country so special.”
Many more partner events celebrating the theme will be joining the programme over the forthcoming months.
Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 will begin on January 1, 2022 and run until December 31.
