Incredible stART for festival show

Apr 9 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Blairgowrie Advertiser

A COMMUNITY arts event in Eastern Perthshire has been hailed as a “major success” by creative locals and councillors alike.

A huge selection of events took place during the biennial stART festival, entertaining as many as 900 people over the course the weekend of April 4 and 5.

Blairgowrie and Glens local authority member Caroline Shiers attended several of the workshops during the two-day showpiece – presided over by community group Strathmore Arts and Perth and Kinross Council’s cultural and community services wing – and praised the artistic talent on-show.

Councillor Shiers said: “There can’t be many communities of this size that can pull off an event like stART so I would like to pass on my congratulations to the organisers for all their hard work.

“I attended several events throughout the weekend with my family and there was an extremely positive feel within the community.

“Many of the events are unique to the festival, such as the linoleum printing workshop in Blairgowrie on Saturday that used a steamroller.”

Kirkmichael resident Ian Kirkwood introduced eight budding martial arts enthusiasts to the ancient Japanese sword-fighting discipline Iaido in the local village hall.

He said: “We had a lot more people than we initially expected. The workshop was an hour-and-a-half but they all wanted to stay for a bit longer.

“The festival certainly brings people to parts of the region they wouldn’t go to otherwise. It’s something we’re in favour of and we’ll have no qualms about doing another workshop next time,” he said.