Spotlight Shorts: City of Inverness Highland Games
Last Saturday marked the return of the Inverness Highland Games at Bught Park, Inverness, funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund. We were delighted to be asked along to the Inverness Highland Games by the Inverness Highland Games Committee, the Inverness Events and Festivals’ Working Group, and High Life Highland.
Since its institution in 1822, the City of Inverness Highland Games champion Highland excellence in the traditional heavies, track, and field events as well as showcase the beauty and artistry of Highland music, song, and dance. Its return proved a resounding success with over 7000 people from across Scotland and all over the world gathering to celebrate Highland culture and creativity.
We were very fortunate to be able to showcase the project to visitors under the Spirit of the Highlands tent. In addition to the return of our immersive films via our immersive portal and our VR headsets, we were also pleased to feature the artwork of Spirit:360 artists Sarah James-Gaukroger and Lizzie McDougall. Spirit: 360, supported by Creative Scotland, is an artist commissioning programme for emerging and established creative professionals to create new work inspired by local stories which reflect the theme of the ‘Spirit of the Highlands’.
The work of Sarah James-Gaukroger - who led a Magpie Story Nest Workshop inspired by her Spirit: 360 piece – and Lizzie McDougall – who premiered her Story Quilt and engaged the public with tales of the Brahan Seer – were both greatly received by the public.
City of Inverness Highland Games 2022Image provided by Paul Campbell
Image provided by Paul Campbell
Image provided by Paul Campbell
Image provided by The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands Project
(Top left) - The return of our VR headets, alongside our 360° immersive portal, featured in the Spirit of the Highlands tent; (Top right) - Spirit: 360 artist and storyteller Lizzie McDougall and her Story Quilt; (Bottom left) - Magpie Story Nest Workshop attendees hard at work with their creations; (Bottom right) - A spirited Magpie Story Nest crafted by a workshop attendee.
We were also delighted to be joined by Kirstie Campbell, Stitch Coordinator for the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands – a project which will see over 500 stitchers across the Highlands and Islands document the ‘Spirit’ of their area. It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages engage with the work of the Great Tapestry Company and stitch designs of their own. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the Tapestry project coming soon!
Tapestry Workshop at the City of Inverness Highland Games, 2022Image provided by The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands Project
A young stitcher hard at work at the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands stall.
It was great to see such a brilliant turnout and to introduce such a wide range of people from all over the world and all walks of life with the all the different elements of our project. Our thanks again go to the Inverness Highland Games Committee, the Inverness Events and Festivals’ Working Group, and High Life Highland for welcoming us in.
Look out for us next at the Black Isle Show on the 4th August – we can’t wait to see you there!