Group to provide help for young artists

Singer Julie Fowlis is among six professionals giving free advice to young artists under a new project to prevent a talent drain during the pandemic.

Highlands Youth Arts Hub, a consortium led by Feis Rois, has formed the Creative in Your Community fund.

It will provide £1,000 to 16-25-year-olds, who live in, or are originally from, the Highlands to maintain and develop their creativity.

Ms Fowlis said: “This is a great opportunity for young artists to receive financial and mentoring support to develop a project of their own.”

Applicants must be in their final year at school and considering studying their chosen art form in the future; currently in further or higher education in an arts or creative industries discipline; or have recently graduated.

They are asked to devise a project, involving at least one art form, which engages with their community, collaborates with a professional mentor and perhaps explores some of the challenges faced in Highland communities or around the world.

Fiona Dalgetty, chief executive of Feis Rois, said: “We have such a rich arts community in the Highlands and it is under threat, we cannot risk losing the next generation of talented artists.”

The fund is now open for applications, with a deadline of July 24, at hyah.co.uk

“We have such a rich arts community”