Nairn Book and Arts Festival returns with record-breaking edition
September has arrived, and with it, the Nairn Book & Arts Festival is now in full flow.
This year’s event, the 21st edition of this celebration of literature and arts, has already become a record-breaker, with the most tickets sold before the launch day (more than 1300), and more than 100 events taking place over nine days.
“It takes a town to deliver a festival like this,” said Tanera Bryden, the festival's artistic director.
“There are so many people involved - we have more than 60 volunteers and so many partners. There are so many groups in the community that help make the festival what it is - it's part of what makes that creative mix so special.”
With the launch day taking over the town last Saturday, a glorious sunshine closing on August, the festival truly brings the whole community together, as well as attracting people from across Scotland and further afield.
“It’s an anchor, in a similar way to the Nairn Games,” said Tanera.
“You see people coming back for it every year and new people discovering it for the first time. There is so much more to it from a community perspective than just the events themselves (which of course are fantastic!).”
With headliners such as Irvine Welsh, Sally Magnusson and Jackie Kay in the programme this year alongside a plethora of artists and performers, this year’s festival has the biggest programme in recent years.
“It's really heartening to see that people are coming out,” said Tanera.
“After a few quite tricky years and obviously with the economic climate being the way it is, you just don't know how people are going to respond and whether they're still going to book to come to events.
“This is the biggest annual arts event of its kind in the northeast and it’s really significant for Nairn as a very creative place: there are lots of artists, musicians, performers in the town and in the are and I think more move here all the time, people are drawn to this area because there are already so many creative people here. And We can reflect that back through the festival.”
Bringing the community together and touching on important themes such as climate change, the event is an important way to promote creativity across the board.
Tanera added: “It’s so important for the cultural calendar in Nairn, but even more so in this environment where the arts are being cut in various ways all the time, arts provision in schools particularly is something we are really aware of and money for the Arts seems to dwindle and arts venues like Eden Court and the NCAC in Nairn are under pressure, and I think that for us our continued existance hopefully helps them. These things are so precious.”
Chairing the festival for the first time, Ronald Skeldon (who is also president at Nairn’s Literary Institute) said the event brings a certain prestige to the town.
He said: “We are now the largest book and arts festival in the Highlands, especially after the termination of Ullapool Book Festival.
“Nairn serves quite a dense population between Inverness and Elgin. It’s a great location and it has been a major tourist destination for more than 150 years.”
Having been part of the committee over the past three years, he added: “Being chair is quite a responsibility! It’s an expanding festival, it has been very successful and I hope it is going to continue this way.
“My impression is that it’s like a ball rolling, and picking up more material as it rolls along, we are becoming better known, people are taking an interest.
He said that at its core, the event seeks to engage with the community as a whole.
He said: “The B&A is aimed at the community more broadly and involve everyone. So it’s very important to promote community involvement, bring in children and having people going into schools to promote children’s literacy.”
Bringing in visitors from around and outwith the area, the festival is also a boost for local businesses.
Nairn Connects BID manager, Lucy Harding, said: “We are thrilled that the Nairn Book & Arts Festival is here again. There is a vibrant and varied programme which will drive footfall to the town.
“The launch event begins with the town centre takeover which will see the town centre come alive. We have been working alongside the Nairn Book & Arts Festival to encourage the businesses to get involved by creating offers and indeed dressing up in the Nairn Book & Arts Festival theme which this year is ‘on the wild side.’ There is also bunting which was made by Green Hive which many of the businesses are displaying.
“Many of our members have also opened their doors to become a venue including the Nairn Golf Club, The Bandstand Bar & Restaurant, The Little Theatre and of course the Nairn Community & Arts Centre. We are certain that the economic impact on Nairn businesses as a result of this festival is invaluable.”
Overall, this is a cultural revival for the town according to Nairn provost Laurie Fraser.
He said It showcases our ability to appreciate the arts in the community.
“It’s an opportunity for those interested in arts - not just drama and theatre but also visual arts and those who have a cultural interest in reading.
“It attracts a good number of visitors and we have some really interesting speakers coming in and that promotes the town.”
The festival will be running until Sunday, September 8. You can find the full programme and book tickets at nairnfestival.co.uk.
