Midsummer henge to take shape for Cupar arts festival

Culture: Community to decorate a series of panels for display in Haugh Park

People are to help create a midsummer henge during a new Fife art and culture festival.

A series of panels will be decorated by the public during EDEN: A Midsummer Exploration of Arts and Culture for erection in Cupar’s Haugh Park.

The event is being launched by Cupar Arts and evolved from Cupar Art Festival.

It will also feature work by renowned Fife sculptor and Turner Prize nominee David Mach and several musicians and authors.

Cupar Arts chairwoman Margaret Robertson said Mach’s show was the main feature at the Corn Exchange, which will be an arts hub for the week.

She said: “Other events include a topical play about the Scottish Suffragettes on Friday June 22, and Midsummer Music on Saturday June 23.

“It is hoped that EDEN: A Midsummer Exploration of Arts and Culture will become an annual event with a larger fringe element from other interested artists and groups in future.”

Organisers of the festival, which runs from June 17 to 24, aim to combine high-quality arts with community involvement, focusing on the town’s public and natural assets, including the Corn Exchange, Haugh Park and the River Eden.

Mach’s exhibition of around 100 small collages will be previewed by a conversation with folk singer Rab Noakes this Sunday, when the pair will discuss life, art, poetry and music.

The seven panels of the henge, created during events in the Corn Exchange, will be displayed among the trees in the park on June 23.

Artwork will also be erected along the river railings and a recycled tree created by Cupar’s Plastic Reduction Group.

The Muchty Musicmakers will perform at the bandstand during the midsummer celebration.

Other events will include A Play, A Book and A Song on June 22, when the play The Purple, White and Green: The Story of the Scottish Suffragettes will be performed.

At the interval author Jenni Gudgeon will read from her book Folkand Fables and afterwards folk artist Essa Flett will perform.

Cupar singer-songwriter Tom Beaver will team up with musicians from the Moonzie Allstars, The Tarviteers, with support from Billy Caulfield and Pip Dylan, of Raeburn Heights, on June 23.

Tickets and information are available from cupararts.org.uk and Milly’s Kitchen, Sun Close, Cupar.

It is hoped that EDEN: A Midsummer Exploration of Arts and Culture will become an annual event with a larger fringe element. MARGARET ROBERTSON

Picture: George Mcluskie. Artists and organisers, from left: Margaret Robertson, Joan Brown, Jill Dawson, Alana Paterson Brown, Colin Mclean and Claire Cousins.