Weekend, written and directed by Andrew Haigh, is the story of two men who meet at a night club, and go home to what they believe will be a one-night fling. But as the weekend unfolds, and they begin to explore what it is that they want from life, from sex and from love, they begin to acknowledge a deeper attraction to each other. Garnering universal critical acclaim, Weekend is an original and poignant love story, boasting excellent performances from Tom Cullen and Chris New. It carries an 18 certificate.

We Were Here is a deeply moving documentary about the advent and devastating effect of HIV/AIDS on the San Francisco community in the 1980s, remembered by five individuals who lived through the crisis, but for whom the memory is still achingly raw. As friends grew sick and died in overwhelming numbers, and society at large moved to exclude and scapegoat homosexuals, the gay community drew together to help and defend and look after each other in what became known as the ‘San Francisco Model’ of true community care. The film is exempt from certification but is recommended for 15s and over.

Both films are being shown as part of Shetland Film Club’s outreach programme, and the Club acknowledges grant support from Shetland Arts and the Arts Development Fund.

Weekend will be screened at the Shetland Museum and Archive on Friday 17th February at 7.30pm, whilst We Were Here will be shown on Saturday 18th February at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door or from Shetland Box Office on 01595 745555, www.shetlandboxoffice.org

Contact: Kathy Hubbard 01595 743843 kathy.hubbard@shetlandarts.org

Entries are welcome from amateur, professional and student artists, aged 18 and over, who are linked to Shetland by birth, education or residency.

This year’s theme is Landscape.

In addition to the Shetland Open a Bairns Open will run concurrently in the Lower Gallery.

For information on how to enter work into the Open see:
Open 2012 Call for Entries details (PDF)

Public opening: 20 January, 5.30-7.30pm, Gallery talk: 21 January, 2.30pm

Shetland Arts is delighted to announce that the work of eminent local photographer Dennis Coutts will be showcased at Bonhoga Gallery for the first exhibition of 2012 on Friday 20th January. Dennis has been photographing Shetland’s society for over 60 years and his work is a fascinating catalogue of life throughout the islands. For this exhibition work has been selected from the 1960s and represents Shetland in the pre-oil era.

 The exhibition will appeal to anyone with an interest in the stories and characters from this period in Shetland’s history. While life was very different then, these stunning black and white photographs reflect a character of life in Shetland which is timeless and remains in many ways unchanged today.

Dennis worked as a commercial photographer from his studio on The Street, combining press photography with family portraiture, social reportage and his own interests in natural history and the landscape. Dennis’ incredible talent for photography – particularly portraiture – is highlighted by the quality of composition, at a time when the art of photography was quite different to that of the digital age today.

All the photographs in the exhibition have been hand-printed by Dennis’ son, John, using traditional darkroom processes and are for sale, mounted and signed by Dennis. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a traditional print from this unique archive.

Everyone is welcome to the opening of the exhibition on 20^th January from 5.30-7.30pm. Dennis will be giving a short talk about his work in the gallery on Saturday 21^st January at 2.30pm, which will provide an opportunity to hear some of the fascinating tales of Dennis’ life, career and the subjects of his work. The talk is free, no booking required.

What’s On @ Bonhoga Gallery 2012

Download Bonhoga 2012 Exhibition programme here (PDF)

Together with the programme of concerts in the main auditorium, there will be a range of informal events in the café bar and other performance spaces. A variety of paid opportunities are available for those interested in working with Shetland Arts to coordinate and promote events including trad sessions, acoustic performances and DJ sessions.

Thursday evenings will see a regular traditional Shetland music session at Mareel, and the upper and lower café bar will also play host to regular acoustic, open mic and singer-songwriter nights and Sunday sessions.

There will also be opportunity for DJs of all styles to provide music at a range of events at Mareel including Club Nights, support for visiting performers and background music in the café bar in the afternoon and evenings.

Shetland Arts is also asking local bands and musicians to get in touch if they’re interested in performing in the main auditorium.

Details of the Expressions of Interest can be found at: http://www.shetlandarts.org/EOI-MusicAtMareel

Music Development Officer, Bryan Peterson, said: “I’m delighted that we’re nearing the opening date where the many years of planning will reach fruition.”

“We’ve had a huge amount of interest from local musicians and DJs but we want to make sure everybody has the chance to get in touch and register their interest in performing and getting involved. The Shetland music community and local musicians are the key ingredients to the success of Mareel.”

“As well as concerts and gigs in the main auditorium, there will be a weekly programme of informal events in the cafe bar for musicians to participate in and regular opportunities for local DJs.”

“There are loads of gigging bands out there, and many more that are just starting out. We’re looking for as many groups as possible to get in touch so we can ensure an eclectic mix of live music events for local musicians and audiences.”

Further information on how to get involved with activities in Mareel will be available on the Mareel website which will be launched early next year.

Shetland Arts has also put together a video-blog on this news which you can view below.

The book, by international design expert and acclaimed style blogger Olivier Dupon, profiles Whalsay born textile designers Andrea Williamson and Jen Deschênes, along with over seventy other selected artists and designers. Andrea attended the launch with some examples of her work and was happy to sign copies for the many interested visitors.

The Gallery sold all but one copy of the book and have now restocked their shelves ready for more interested customers. The Shetland College has already purchased two for their Degree Course in Contemporary Textiles, and today a review of the book by Angela Hunt, Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries at Shetland College, was published in The Shetland Times. You can read the review here.

Weather-dependent, the Gallery will be open again at the usual times with our Christmas exhibition: “Cold Hands Warm Heart” – art and craft selected from Shetland and the UK: on Saturday or Sunday 10th/11th December.

If you need to contact the Bonhoga Gallery or have any queries please call the Shetland Arts office on 01595 743843.

The concert, which starts at 7:30pm, will showcase a profusion of local talent including duo performances from Alan McKay & Robert Bennet, Johnny Polson & Lewie Peterson, and Brydon Williamson & Patrick Mainland, together with sets from Brian Nicholson & the High Level Music Students, and the inimitable Norman Goudie & Friends.

Bryan Peterson, Music Development Officer at Shetland Arts, said: “The guitar is probably the most popular instrument in Shetland, and the varied line-up reflects the broad range of genres in which it features. We have a wealth of fantastic guitarists in the isles – I only wish time allowed us to squeeze some more of them into the concert programme!”

The first Guitar Festival took place in 2005 and performers have included Martin Taylor, J P Cormier, Redmond O’Toole, Eduardo Niebla and, last month, Svara Kanti. In 2010 the festival was extended into an autumn season of concerts.

The Peerie Willie Guitar Season is dedicated to the memory of the late William Johnson, the highly regarded guitarist who pioneered the jazz influenced accompaniment style now prevalent in traditional Shetland music. Willie was heavily influenced by the jazz musicians he heard on the radio as a young man and the festival always has a healthy dose of jazz guitar in the mix.

Tickets for the concert, priced at £10 (£8 concessions), are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, 01595 745 555 or online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org

For more information contact:

Bryan Peterson, Music Development Officer, Shetland Arts Development Agency

bryan.peterson@shetlandarts.org 01595 745 760

In partnership with Live Music Now!, Shetland Arts and the Robertson Trust, the concert will feature performances of pieces from composers including as Ravel, Purcell, Rachminoff, Bizet, Rossini and more.

Born and brought up in Aberdeenshire, Maryam began learning piano at the age of six and the violin when she was seven. She received lessons at the North East of Scotland Music School, studying piano with Nigel Clayton and violin with Gillian Findlay. Enjoyment of classical music, traditional Scottish music and jazz led to a rich and varied musical upbringing and Maryam has been a member of a large number of ensembles including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, the Garioch Fiddlers Strathspey and Reel Society and the North East of Scotland Music School string Quartet.

In 2006 Maryam graduated from the University of Strathclyde with BA (Hons) in Applied Music. She went on to study with John Thwaites at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, receiving a PGDip in piano accompaniment. It was during this time that she developed a particular interest in working with vocalists.

Jemma Brown studied with Patricia MacMahon and obtained a BMus (hons) from the University of Glasgow in 2007 where she graduated with the Hague prize for performance.  She completed her PgDip, MMus (performance), MMus (opera) and MOpera in 2011 and she won the John Ireland Prize for voice and piano with Adam Laslett and the Tony and Tania Webster Prize for Russian Song.

Jemma has appeared at the Glasgow International Visual Arts Festival, Max at 75, Plug and with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She also appeared on BBC Proms in 2010.

Jemma also has a busy teaching base in Glasgow and recently joined the staff of the National Youth Choir of Scotland Girls Choir.

Music Development Officer, Bryan Peterson said: “It’s a privilege to be hosting musicians of this calibre and to give local audiences a chance to experience such talent and proficiency.”

Maryam and Jemma are proud members of Live Music Now!, a scheme set up by Yehudi Menuhin to help young professional musicians at the beginning of their careers and to take quality live music into venues which have limited access to live performance, such as schools, nursing homes and prisons. During their visit to Shetland, the duo will also be performing at the Bells Brae nursery.

Tickets for the concert, priced at £10 (£8 concessions), are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, 01595 745 555 or online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org

For more information contact:

Bryan Peterson, Music Development Officer, Shetland Arts

bryan.peterson@shetlandarts.org 01595 743 843

or

Lisa Ward, Marketing Officer, Shetland Arts

lisa.ward@shetlandarts.org 01595 743 742

Shetland Arts will take a UK-wide part in the London 2012 Festival that celebrates the London 2012 Olympic Games. Shetland Arts was invited to submit a proposal relating to Screenplay, our annual film festival, and came up with ‘A Hansel of Film – Shetland to Southampton and Back’, a relay of screenings of short films made by the public in every part of the UK, kicked off in Shetland on 10^th June by the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the isles as it reaches its UK most northerly point. The various programmes of films will be relayed between participating venues by ‘runners’, that is, creative and energetic individuals who will employ whatever means of transport they can devise to get the right films to the right venue on time. This will culminate in a marathon screening of over 120 short films at Screenplay 2012 between 4^th and 9^th September.

The project will take films made by Shetlanders and others to over twenty venues across the UK and will form a celebration of ‘home made’ short films similar to that which takes place annually at the Screenplay film festival. Head of Development Kathy Hubbard said “When we sat down and thought about what made Screenplay special, we all agreed that it was the evening of films made by local people and those connected with the isles.  The atmosphere is always really supportive, it’s tremendous to see the creativity of people of all ages – but most of all it’s fun. And it was that spirit which we wanted to offer as a hansel to other regions and nations of the UK during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to all those who will be taking part in the project.”

Acclaimed film critics Mark Kermode and Linda Ruth Williams, who are the curators of Screenplay, will be very active in promoting the project across the country. They will be greeting the ‘runner’ at The Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton at the project’s half-way point, but will also be visiting other participating venues in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Said Mark and Linda, “We are delighted to be launching this exciting, nationally inclusive film relay, which will encompass all regions and nations of the UK and will spread the spirit of the London  2012 Festival from Shetland in the north to Southampton in the south and back again, taking in many points east and west along the way. We are looking forward to partnering up with cinemas and film-makers across the UK who are as enthusiastic as we are about people making their own films and taking movies on the road.”

Director of Shetland Arts, Gwilym Gibbons said: “Shetland Arts is thrilled to be taking an active part in the London 2012 Festival. It is a tribute to the creativity of our isles that Shetland has a role in delivering a UK-wide film project of this nature. It also comes at a very exciting time for us in the opening year of Mareel, Shetland’s new £12.2m music, cinema and creative industries centre. We will be inviting representatives from each of the participating regions and nations to come and join us back in Shetland for Screenplay 2012, making it a truly celebratory event.”

Ruth Mackenzie, Director of Culture at London 2012 said: “Thanks to Shetland Arts and all our cultural stars, in the summer of 2012 the London 2012 Festival will showcase our world leading cultural institutions, and demonstrate how dedicated we are at creating and celebrating world class talent.”

A ‘hansel’ is a Shetland dialect word meaning a gift that marks an event such as the launch of a new boat, the birth of a child or the creation of a new enterprise.  Mr Gibbons said: “‘A Hansel of Film’ will celebrate the special differences between our regions and nations, capturing stories through the diverse languages and dialects, landscapes and seascapes of the British Isles. The films that we will screen will be born out of the very different experiences we all have, and heavily influenced by the power of the places in which we all live.”

Hansel definition: ‘a gift to commemorate an inaugural occasion, the launching of a new boat, the birth of a child, a new home, new enterprise.’  John J Graham – The Shetland Dictionary.

About the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival: The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements.  Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.

The culmination of the Cultural Olympiad will be the London 2012 Festival, bringing leading artists from all over the world together from 21 June 2012 in this UK-wide festival – a chance for everyone to celebrate London 2012 through dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, fashion, film and digital innovation.

Principal funders of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival are Arts Council England, Legacy Trust UK and the Olympic Lottery Distributor.  BP and BT are Premier Partners of the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival.

Visit the project’s official website: http://hansel2012.org

For more details visit: www.london2012.com/festival

For press enquiries contact Lisa Ward, Marketing Officer: lisa.ward@shetlandarts.org or 01595 743 742

For project enquiries contact Kathy Hubbard, Head of Development: kathy.hubbard@shetlandarts.org or 01595 743 843

The Discovery International Film Festival for Young People will visit Shetland with two public screenings at the beginning of November, thanks to a partnership between Shetland Film Club and Shetland Arts. Hailed by Creative Scotland as Scotland’s leading youth film festival, Discovery Film Festival is thriving in its 8th year. Based at Dundee Contemporary Arts, and touring to 18 partner venues throughout Scotland, the festival screens films from all over the world which have been specially programmed for young audiences. The Shetland screenings are supported by grant aid from the Shetland Arts Fund.

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Louder Than A Bomb is a film about passion, competition, teamwork, and trust. It’s about the joy of being young, and the pain of growing up. It’s about speaking out, making noise, and finding your voice.  It also just happens to be about poetry. Every year, more than six hundred teenagers from over sixty Chicago area schools gather for the world’s largest youth poetry slam, a competition known as “Louder Than a Bomb”.

Founded in 2001, “Louder Than a Bomb” is the only event of its kind in the US: a youth poetry slam built from the beginning around teams. Rather than emphasize individual poets and performances, the structure of “Louder Than a Bomb” demands that young people work collaboratively with their peers, presenting, critiquing, and rewriting their pieces. To succeed, teams have to create an environment of mutual trust and support. For many kids, being a part of such an environment—in an academic context—is life-changing.

Louder Than A Bomb chronicles the stereotype-confounding stories of four teams as they prepare for and compete in the 2008 event. Hopeful and heartbreaking, the film captures the tempestuous lives of these young people, exploring the ways writing shapes their world, and vice versa. The film carries a 12A certificate and will be screened at the Shetland Museum and Archive on Friday 4th November at 7.30pm

For younger children there are Shorts for Wee Ones 2011, a brand new collection of vibrant international short animated films. Last year’s screening was very popular with young audience members and this one looks to be just as inspiring.  Shorts for Wee Ones is a 50 minute programme of short films, all of which are non-dialogue or in English, so even though these stories come from as far afield as India and Brazil, they are perfect for even the youngest visitors.

Fun and creative shorts include a dragon made from spinach; a mouse with big ears looking for his perfect owner; a little girl who’s sending her wishes to the stars; a storyteller who’s forgotten the story and Fluffy McCloud, the rain cloud who just wants to be liked.

This collection of colourful stories is a treat for children age 3+ and a fantastic introduction to the cinema experience. The screening will take place at the Shetland Museum and Archives on Saturday 5^th November at 2.00pm.

Tickets for both events are available from Shetland Box Office at Islesburgh, 01595 745555 or on-line at www.shetlandboxoffice.org or on the door, subject to availability.