The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Extra day added to Outwith Festival
event: Call goes out to acts wanting to take part in Dunfermline festival
The programme for Dunfermline’s Outwith Festival will be expanded by a day this year following the success of the inaugural event in 2017.
Producers want to hear from artists willing to become involved in this year’s cultural extravaganza, which will run across the town from September 5-9.
Outwith is organised by Dunfermline Delivers, in conjunction with Fire Station Creative, culture magazine Avocado Sweet and publishing consultancy Write Rammy.
Chris Foote, events manager with Dunfermline Delivers, said: “Outwith is about raising Dunfermline’s profile, attracting locals and visitors to the town centre and helping the local economy.
“Lots of people contributed their free time, skills and venues to help us last year, but we are really keen to include as many people as possible.
“We’re holding an open event so that anyone can come along and get involved.”
There are ambitious plans for the future of the arts festival but cultivating local talent will remain a key priority.
Chris added: “Over the coming years we want to attract UK artists and performers but we’re keen to keep a strong local input to this festival.
“All the festival partners are either from Dunfermline or have lived here for a long time.”
David Colvin, who grew up in Ballingry, premiered Thunderstruck at the Carnegie Hall during Outwith 2017. As a result of the premiere the play then moved to a theatre in London’s Soho.
Thunderstruck charts the journey of Lochgelly Pipe Band making it to the World Pipe Band Championships at a time when the piping world was being turned upside down by Perthshire binman Gordon Duncan, who famously played AC/DC’s fast and furious Thunderstruck on the bagpipes.
The festival is not just attracting locals. Last year, people in Edinburgh were responsible for buying the second largest number of tickets.
In 2018 the festival plans to attract more visitors from out of town by running marketing campaigns during July and August in Edinburgh, Dundee, Kirkcaldy, Stirling and the central belt.
The open event for the public and artists to become involved runs from 5.30-7.30pm on Friday in Fire Station Creative in Dunfermline.
Organisers are also keen to hear from performers, artists and venues and can be contacted at info@dunfermlinedelivers.co.uk.
Over the coming years we want to attract UK artists and performers but we’re keen to keep a strong local input to this festival. CHRIS FOOTE