This year’s Spring Fling is to feature 61 artists and makers with a largely online event looking to celebrate creativity across Dumfries and Galloway.
One of the region’s signature festivals, Spring Fling is the flagship annual event of Upland CIC.
Although it has made its name as Scotland’s premier visual art and contemporary craft open studios event, the pandemic means a new look for this year which will include virtual studio tours, an online exhibition, workshops, talks and demonstrations from May 29 to June 6 online at www.spring-fling.co.uk.
The full programme will be published in the coming weeks and include details of a special commission and pop-ups.
Many of the artists and makers are gearing to highlight their work inspired by the environment of Scotland’s rural south west.
Spring Fling has generated more than £8.5 million for the local economy and, between 2003 and 2018, attracted more than 100,000 visitors who made almost 300,000 studio visits.
During those years, £1.9 million of art and craft has been bought in the studios and it is hoped the public will this year buy online the high-quality work by specially selected painters, original printmakers, photographers, jewellery makers, ceramicists, glass makers, textiles designers, woodworkers and others.
Joanna Macaulay, assistant director for Upland, said: “We are delighted to with the full line up of participants.
Many artists and makers are inspired by the scenery and wildlife in Dumfries and Galloway – and one of the aims of Spring Fling has always been to introduce people to this beautiful region.
“Even though this year’s event is largely online, rather than open studios, we are doing all we can to give audiences the chance to join us in celebrating both the creativity and beauty of south west Scotland.”
She added: “With so much on offer we hope to attract audiences from all over the world to enjoy Spring Fling virtually and with local audiences at our pop-ups, special commission and workshops. We are very grateful to all the artists and makers who are showing such enormous support for an event that is a much-loved part of Scotland’s cultural calendar.
“Next year will be Spring Fling’s 20th year so we will hopefully see participants and audiences back in the studios then.”
This year’s participants include:
● Ceramics: Clare Dawdry, Fitch & McAndrew, Archie McCall, Ella McCreath, Ruth Jones, Hannah Spicer
● Film: Rachel Shnapp, Sue Thomas, Sian Yeshe
● Glass: Alan J Brockbank
● Illustration: Lucy Hadley, Rory Laycock
● Jewellery: Alison Macleod, Sheena McMaster, Kaz Robertson, Lisa Rothwell-Young, Natalie Vardey
● Painting/drawing/mixed media: Ceri Allan, Maggie Ayres, Briony Anderson, Jennie Ashmore, Tricia Barna, Davy Brown, Anne Butler, Hazel Campbell, Janet Carson, Heather Davies, Ross Fulton , Elizabeth Gilbey, Bella Green, Diana de Gruyther, Julie Hollis, Caroline Hone, Sarah Keast, Angela Lawrence, Patti Lean, Hope London, Aileen MacEwan, Ian Mckinnel, Liz McQueen, Linda Mallett, Philippa Sinclair
● Photography: Kim Ayres, Alistair Hamilton, Izzy Leach
● Printmaking: Pamela Grace, Gail Kelly, Sarah Stewart, Emma Varley
● Textiles: Deborah Campbell, Alison Corfield, Laura Derby, Jo Gallant, Morag Macpherson, Kay Ribbens, Astrid Weigel
● Wood/willow: Daniel Lacey, Lizzie Farey, Peter Machell, Jay Rubinstein, Peter Smith.
For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk.
