- Performing arts and open studios in over 100 locations
- Huge celebration of creativity in rural Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway is inviting residents and visitors alike to enjoy a huge springtime celebration of the arts and creativity in one of Scotland’s most beautiful rural regions.
The annual Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival (15 May to 1 June) will see 17 performing arts events take place in 23 different venues while the Spring Fling open studios weekend 24-26 May) sees more than 80 artists and craft makers throw open their doors.
Both are strongly supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council as Signature Events for the region – encouraging cultural tourism and boosting the economy.
The festival and the open studios weekend bring the arts to the whole of the region and to provide a platform for its creative community.
They are a great opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy a wide range of events and activities while looking around one of Scotland’s most beautiful rural areas.
Councillor Maureen Johnstone, Chair of the Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said: “The second May bank holiday weekend is a particularly vibrant time to visit Dumfries and Galloway.
“There is so much to see and do and the region always looks beautiful and verdant at this time of year.
“Spring Fling and the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival make enormous contributions to our quality of life, tourism and the economy and I’m thrilled that there will be artists’ studios open across the region and many great Arts Festival events to consider going to.”
Councillor Lynne Davis, the Vice-Chair of the Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee, added: “The Council is committed to delivering the Dumfries and Galloway Events Strategy 2023-2027 in full, and supporting great festivals and events that are sustainable and provide value for money for the public purse.
“Wherever people live in our region I hope they will get out and about over the Bank Holiday weekend and take in an artist’s studio as a result of Spring Fling or an Arts Festival event, or do both!”
Spring Fling involves an extraordinary range of art and craft from painting, printmaking, jewellery, photography, furniture, glassmaking and ceramics to handmade chef knives, carved wooden mobiles, decorative metalwork, installation art, tapestry, costume and hats.
Natasha Kinsella, Events and Exhibitions Development Manager for Upland CIC which runs Spring Fling, said:“Dumfries and Galloway is home to an extraordinary creative community. Spring Fling provides a rare opportunity to explore the studios of talented visual artists, jewellery designers, woodworkers, metalworkers, and more, all in some of Scotland’s most breathtaking locations.
“We can’t wait to welcome both locals and visitors from across the country to experience the exceptional contemporary arts and crafts we have to offer.”
The Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival returns with a world class programme combining theatre, music, dance, and spoken word. The festival will bring artists and audiences alike together again, in and around venues across the region.
This year’s programme encompasses the best of Scotland’s performing arts scene with a focus on bringing audiences and artists together. It will shine a light on the best the region has to offer, through a meticulously curated programme of local and national talent, located in picturesque landscapes across Dumfries and Galloway.
Simon Hart, Director of the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, said: “Since our first edition 45 years ago, the festival has steadily grown and developed to become Scotland’s largest and oldest annual rural performing arts event, enriching people’s lives through the transformatory power and joy of experiencing and participating in the arts.
“From supporting the talent and skill of brilliant local artists, to bringing national performers to present their work in villages and town across the region, our festival has something for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by. We look forward to welcoming you to an event this May somewhere in Dumfries & Galloway.”
- See the Upland website at www.weareupland.com.
- See the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival website at www.dgartsfestival.org.uk.
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Notes for editors
About Upland
Upland CIC (Community Interest Company) supports artists and makers based in, and with connections to, the region. It delivers, events, training, networking, support and opportunities as part of a year-round programme to benefit the region, its artists, communities and economy. Upland CIC runs the annual Spring Fling contemporary visual art and craft open studios weekend in Dumfries and Galloway. It works closely with other arts bodies in the region to further-strengthen the sector. Upland is based at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries and exists to:
- provide leadership in the visual art and craft sector regionally, collaborating with the cultural sector across Dumfries and Galloway and beyond.
- raise the profile of the visual art and craft sector of our rural area in a national and international context and build meaningful partnerships to support this.
- listen to local visual artists and makers and respond by providing relevant support and act as a collective voice to advocate on their behalf.
- support the engagement of a wide diversity of audiences in visual art and craft and initiate opportunities that promote inclusive, meaningful participation.
- produce and facilitate ambitious creative projects that are innovative and experimental in approach.
Its funders are Creative Scotland, D&G Council, The Holywood Trust, ASWT, Barfill.
For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected] or call Upland on 01387 213 218.
About Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival supports people in some of the region’s most rural areas to experience world class performing arts. We bring the best local and national artists to our communities; we invest in our performing artists; introduce our young people to live performance and engage people of all ages, from all walks of life, with our imaginative programme.
Scotland’s Largest Rural Performing Arts Festival is back for its 46th Anniversary Festival across Dumfries & Galloway from 17th May – 1st June 2025.The Festival is a celebration of local and national artists and its wide ranging 2025 programme of events has something for everyone to enjoy. The 46th Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival has curated an eclectic and exciting programme including a wide range of events in music, theatre, dance, comedy and spoken word. Tickets can be found at www.dgartsfestival.org.uk.
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival is funded by Creative Scotland, The Holywood Trust, Dumfries & Galloway Council, The National Lottery Young Start, ANCBC.
The Festival is supported and sponsored by The People’s Project, Alba, DYW Dumfries & Galloway, Dumfries & Galloway Life, DGWGO, Alive Radio.
For enquiries, contact [email protected].