Time-travelling Alyth box opens
Story Box project is officially launched
open it along with little Kamryn.”
The de-commissioned telephone box was bought by Alyth Community Council, which then set the challenge to the people of Alyth to find a use for it.
Chair of the community council, Amanda Blakeman, said: “The Story Box is a real asset for the town which will give a boost to the community after the long recovery we have endured since the devastating flood of July 2015.”
The Story Box is one of three projects launching Cateran’s Common Wealth, a new initiative in eastern Perthshire which is using one of Scotland’s hidden gems, the Cateran Trail, as a stage for a programme of diverse arts, cultural and heritage activities and events aimed at inspiring people to think about and celebrate the area’s ‘common wealth’.
Clare Cooper, one of its coproducers, commented: “This project is a unique communityled arts project which celebrates the history, heritage and culture of a very special place and which will help bring new tourism business to this beautiful part of Perthshire.”
Scottish folk and traditional singer-songwriter Christine Kydd worked with pupils at Alyth Primary School together with Ewan McVicar for the project. She said: “We really enjoyed this project and we’re really pleased with the songs we came up with.
“It has been really good fun and we’re proud and excited to be working with Cateran’s Common Wealth and, in particular, the Story Box project. It wouldn’t surprise me if this project became an exemplar of working together in communities - it is a great way to celebrate the town and the people in it and creating a sense of belonging for the young people.”
And George Annan, youth worker with Alyth Youth Partnership added: “We were delighted to be involved in this very special project and we hope that the young people of Alyth will take ownership of it and look after it and treat it with respect.”
The project has been supported through significant in-kind donations from individuals and businesses in Alyth and is funded by Alyth Community Council, Creative Scotland, The Drumderg Wind Farm Community Fund, The Gannochy Trust, The Heritage Lottery Fund, The People’s Postcode Lottery Fund, Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER programme, Perth and Kinross Council, Scotmid Community Fund and the St James Place Foundation.
The Story Box has been produced in partnership with the people of Alyth, with digital and sound technology artists and designers from Fleet Collective, Dundee and NEoN (North East of North), Dundee, who run Scotland’s only digital arts festival, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust and Culture Perth and Kinross.
Details of how to get involved in the Story Box and other Cateran’s Common Wealth projects can be found at www.commonculture. org.uk.