Creetown Initiative has been engaged by Kirkcudbright Development Trust to manage the development and fundraising of the Kirkcudbright Festival of Light. The Festival will be held on 5 – 14 October 2018, celebrating the opening of the new Kirkcudbright Art Gallery; 
a £3.1m publicly-funded, public art gallery, which will house internationally significant collections in the former town hall.
Kirkcudbright’s Festival of Light will create a contemporary and vibrant atmosphere by bringing together an eclectic range of performances, visual art installations and locally created projects pointing to a fresh and dynamic future for the town and its regions. The Festival of Light will illuminate Kirkcudbright by becoming an artwork in itself. Reflecting the history of “The Artists’ Town”, the Festival of Light will generate a unique programme of engaging and accessible events providing opportunities for visitors, local people and artists from throughout the region to work together to celebrate and enjoy the unique nature of Kirkcudbright’s creativity and location.
Opportunities for Artists
Opportunities for ArtistsThe Festival of Light offers many opportunities for artists throughout the region to come together and work collectively on celebrating creativity and light. These opportunities include the offer of several artist commissions and co-creating a gallery project on the theme of constellations and stars. Alongside bespoke performances by international artists and companies the work of local artists will shine throughout the Festival as Kirkcudbright invites local people, artists and visitors to engage with enriching memorable experiences.
A Town-Wide Project
Central to the Festival, working with local schools, writers and artists the Festival of Light will create a town wide light project, Luminosity bringing young voices to light in cooperation with Kirkcudbright’s more established narratives. Local venues, businesses and communities are likewise invited to engage with these fresh perspectives offered by an international programme of performance and visual events.
The international performance programme includes:
- Site specific light events around the town
- Luminosity, a writer-led community driven town-wide lighting installation
- Celebratory finale event on the last evening
- Innovative performance and film events throughout
- Gallery events
- talks and speaker events
- Concert presented by an International Orchestra
- International soloist recital
- Local choirs working together with international artists
High-Profile Festival with a Local Twist
The Festival of Light will utilise local venues including St Cuthbert’s Church, SilverCraigs Caravan Park, Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool, The Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright Art Gallery, The Tolbooth, Selkirk Arms, Cochrane Hall and The Station House. The high profile festival will be enhanced by a joint marketing initiative with the Wigtown Book Festival.
