Huge line-up for 50th Perth Festival of the Arts
A Perthshire village coffee and cake afternoon raised nearly £4000 for refugees fleeing war in Ukraine.
The incredible community effort took place at Forgandenny Village hall and was the idea of resident Lindsay Galloway.
The event happened on Sunday March 6, a bright, sunny afternoon and saw the Forgandenny community at the hall for their first proper gettogether since the pandemic struck.
All the proceeds were promised to the Disasters and Emergency Commission to help Ukrainians forced to leave because of the Russian invasion.
Having attracted people from far and wide to come and enjoy the bake sale, the organisers were “utterly gobsmacked” when they counted up £3192.55 raised in the afternoon.
Forgandenny Primary School head teacher Mel Duffy helped on the cake and candy stall.
Mel said: “It began as Lindsay’s idea for a fundraiser just involving a sitdown with coffee and cake. And then it grew arms and legs with a raffle, live music, book stall and sweets and cake for sale as well.
“Forgandenny Village Hall was filled with people having a great social after having been apart for quite a while due to COVID.
“Everybody was so keen to help fundraise for Ukraine. It was an incredible afternoon.”
“We were utterly gobsmacked by how many people came along. What an utterly fabulous community we live in,” said fellow organiser Charlotte Jardine on the Forgandenny Village Hall Facebook page.
“Our initial total is £3192.55 though there will be some other little bits to come in for cake and candy that was left over and we are all putting in our work places in return for donations.
“The money will be sent off to the Disasters and Emergency Commission and the government will match our donation.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who contributed with baking, raffle prizes and cash and to Dan and Kirsty for the fabulous live music. The atmosphere at the event could not have been more heartwarming and we cannot express our gratitude enough.”
Perth is ready to welcome internationally renowned names and the hottest emerging Scottish talent for the 50th Perth Festival of the Arts.
The programme of cultural highlights opens on May 18, once again back to a live event centred on the Concert Hall and Perth Theatre.
It’s going to be a joy to see a return to a large-scale, live festival after two challenging years for the arts industry.
Eddi Reader is the special guest of returning superstar jazz man Jools Holland.
The BBC Big Band will be performing cinematic favourites inspired by the James Bond franchise, and award-winning Scottish folk artists Siobhan Miller and RURA.
Prominent wildlife presenter and filmmaker, Gordon Buchanan, brings his anniversary show 30 Years in the Wild.
And restaurant critic, MasterChef judge and writer Jay Rayner entertains with My Last Supper: One Meal, a Lifetime in the Making.
As the mix mentioned here reveals, Perth Festival of the Arts continues to diversify around its long-standing classical core.
The final weekend of the festival launches SCOTLAND
TRENDING – a two-day festival weekend in a large marquee outside Perth Concert Hall. The free event runs each afternoon into the evening and features the best rising stars in indie/rock and singer-songwriters.
The 2022 anniversary festival offers one of largest programmes in recent years, featuring no less than 40 concerts and events in seven venues around the city.
Scotland’s touring opera company Opera Bohemia make their Perth Festival debut with a chamber version of Puccini’s masterpiece Madama Butterfly, promising to be a memorable night for opera lovers and newcomers alike.
Well-known faces from film and television will also feature, with presenter and comedian Simon Amstell bringing his critically acclaimed show Spirit Hole to Perth.
Pianist Lucy Parham is joined by narrator and actor Tim
McInnerny – known for his roles in Blackadder, Notting Hill and Game of Thrones – to explore the life and loves of composer Claude Debussy.
From the USA, comes Eleanor’s Story – a two-part dramatic production detailing the incredible true story of a young American girl in Germany during WWII.
Between May 18 and 29, an exciting array of concerts and workshops span churches and cultural spaces around the city, including the everpopular arTay exhibition of contemporary Scottish art in a large tented gallery.
St John’s Kirk of Perth will host award-winning choir Tenebrae and opera singer Rowan Hellier with pianist Sholto Kynoch, while one the world’s leading saxophonists Tommy Smith brings his acoustic solo saxophone concert in Perth Cathedral St Ninian’s.
Local artists Perthshire Brass take the outdoor stage in St Paul’s Church Plaza and young choristers and musicians from Perth and Kinross will perform in concerts throughout the festival run.
Tickets are on general sale from Monday, March 21 at 10am.
For details of the line-up including dates, times and ticket information visit www. perthfestival.co.uk