Latest news with #GirvanArtsFestival
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Girvan Arts Festival brings diverse line-up this weekend
Journalist Brian Lavery, children's author Greta Yorke and businessman Jim English are all on the bill for the 2025 Girvan Arts Festival. Girvan Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow (Friday) and there is something for everyone in their diverse line-up of events. Journalist Brian Lavery recounts the tale of the Headscarf Revolutionaries, Ayrshire children's author Greta Yorke is on hand telling spooky tales as well as a special book signing and businessman Jim English, one of the men behind Kays Curling, talks about his passion for the sport. A number of free events are taking place over the weekend including a screening of Phantom of the Opera in Girvan Library on Friday night, an art exhibition in the McKechnie Institute and Arts, Crafts and Music in the Garden. Other events include Ian Skewis and Girvan's own Alan Jeans - or Alan Jones to use his penname - with a workshop entitled "So you've written a book...", Music in the Garden with the Bookshop Band and, closing out the festival on Sunday, Arias by the Sea preformed by The Scots Opera Project. Ahead of the festival, Ayrshire Live spoke to Brian Lavery who will be talking about his first book, The Headscarf Revolutionaries, on Saturday, June 7. Brian is a freelance journalist turned author and university lecturer who has written for a number of national and local newspapers in the UK. Brian said: "I've been invited to the festival to mark the tenth anniversary of my first book - The Headscarf Revolutionaries. "They invited me last year but I was very poorly so they were very kind, postponed it and asked me to come up again this year. "Girvan is a fishing port and the story behind the book is about the Hull fish wives' uprising in 1968 after the triple trawler disaster. "Although I'm Glaswegian, I live in Hull and, as a young man, I wrote the obituary for Lillian Bilocca - the woman who led the uprising - in 1988. "Years later, I went back to university and I did her story as my PhD thesis. The book picked up from there." The story will be relatable to many in Girvan as the changes brought about by the Headscarf Revolutionaries in response to the tragedy would transform safety in the fishing industry. Brian, 65, will also be taking part in the Words by the Sea event on Saturday evening - an hour of spoken words from local and visiting writers and poets - where, for the first time, he is set to meet his cousin's son Mark. Mark's family moved to Canada when he was young where his dad, Brian's cousin, served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Girvan Arts Festival returns for 2025
Organisers have announced the much-anticipated line up for the fourth Girvan Arts Festival which kicks off on Friday, June 6. A weekend packed full of authors, artists, musicians, craftsmen, poets and even farmers will take place over three days. Highlights include Denise Mina, talking about her stellar career as a crime-writer, and Preston Reed, world renowned guitarist, who will be talking about his life in music and playing some of his amazing back catalogue. Opera is also coming to Girvan, with a selection of famous opera hits, a few songs from the musicals and some of Scots Opera's own work - Seal Woman. Some of Ayrshire's finest poets will be joined by others from further afield in the spoken word event Words by the Sea and Jim English will be telling audiences all about his passion – making Olympic curling stones from Ailsa Craig Granite. The Bookshop Band will bring the entertainment on the Saturday evening. Their last album was produced by Pete Townshend of The Who – who also played on it. There are two events for children in the library, and a 'Festival Fringe' has been introduced for 2025 with CRAG and Girvan Youth Trust holding workshops and events. There are Zentangle drawing sessions at the New Café Royale and the Tattie Fest is having a showcase of children's art leading up to their big weekend. Rod McCance, the great nephew of a seminal Scottish artist who spent the latter part of his life in Girvan, will speak about his own colourful career as an artist. He'll also be exhibiting his work in the McKechnie Institute, along with eight other talented artists.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire Council planners rubber stamp community park proposals for coastal town
The site of the former Vogue Cinema and bingo hall had been earmarked for the exciting development. South Ayrshire Council planners have approved proposals to create a new multi-purpose community park in the heart of Girvan. Ayrshire Live previously revealed that the site of the former Vogue Cinema and bingo hall had been earmarked for the exciting development. Now the proposals have been given the green light under delegated powers. And the plan is to create a public realm space on vacant land at 89 Dalrymple Street. 'Palace Park' is the provisional name given to the project. The plan is to establish a 'relaxing space' and a 'retreat' in the centre of Girvan, provide a nod to the town's history with the former Art Deco cinema, host market stalls and festivities, showcase the work of local artists and much more. Agents in the proposals were Glasgow-based LDA Design. In their design statement the firm said: 'This land covers a gap site once housing a cinema building, latterly used as a bingo hall. 'The building was unsafe and was demolished in 2021. This proposal seeks to instigate a multi-purpose community park.' It is also hoped that the new public realm space would help kick-start the local economy through the provision of a 'nearby attraction.' In addition, it's also understood that the space could be utilised for the Girvan Arts Festival to host events. And with the McKechnie Institute nearby, the new outdoor space could serve as an 'outdoor extension' to events and exhibitions hosted by the institute. The statement continues: 'A combination of permanent attractions and changing events and exhibitions would ensure a breadth of interest in the new space. Permanent attractions draw visitors through the main access, along what is quite a narrow passageway from Dalrymple Street.' Holding interest for children will be a 'key draw' in the final plan and 'elements of incidental and explorative play,' are expected to feature in the final design. Trees and plants will also be a main consideration, as will adequate seating and 'accessible furniture' for those visiting the park. Security gates would be erected, too, and the one proposed at Dalrymple Street would be 'inspired by the old cinema facade' and become the 'grand gateway' to the park. The existing one at Wesley Place will be retained. Murals from local artists will also be central to the proposals, providing a 'contemporary street art feel' to the space, and 'draw people through the foyer.' A sculpture is also part of the proposals. Early sketch visualisations also show a proposed town crest seating wall. In approving the plan council papers said: 'The proposal seeks to create a multi-functional public park on the vacant land at 89 Dalrymple Street. The design aims to honour the historical context of the site, commemorating its past as a 1930s art deco cinema and later as a bingo hall, while providing a new central green space for the community of Girvan. 'The proposed park will enhance the existing urban environment by providing a community space that fosters social interaction, leisure, and recreational activities. "The development will improve the local environment, offering a welcoming space for relaxation, recreation, and cultural activities.'
