New dates have been announced for Scotland’s premier open studios event as Spring Fling 2020 is rescheduled for October.
The event normally takes place in May and attracts over 10,000 visitors from Scotland and far beyond to visit artists and makers of every kind across the whole of Dumfries and Galloway.
With Covid-19 restrictions now easing the organisers, Upland Arts Development CIC, are planning for a part physical and part online event from 5 to 12 October.
The health of participants and visitors will take top priority, so measures will be in place to ensure that studio visits are safe and government guidelines are followed.
The physical event will be smaller than usual and the emphasis will be on attracting visitors from south-west Scotland.
Following the success of May’s SF | At Home initiative there will also be a whole host of digital options which will allow people from all round the world to take part.
Joanna Macaulay, Assistant Director for Upland, said: “Visitors and participants alike all look forward to Spring Fling, so we very much hoped that we could hold an event in 2020.
“Having a combined physical and digital Spring Fling means that all event participants can be involved. It also means that people from the region will be able to go along to studios while those from the rest of the country, and the wider world, will have lots of ways to join us online.”
Programme details will be announced later and will include virtual tours, exhibitions and online sales.
A survey is currently out asking event audiences for feedback and input. This can be found on the website: www.spring-fling.co.uk.
It is hoped that Spring Fling as we know it will be possible in May 2021.
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Notes for editors
About Spring Fling
- Last year 74% of visitors had been to a previous Spring Fling, 26% were new, and 99% would come again.
- 98% rated Spring Fling as excellent or good.
- 57% of visitors were from outside Dumfries and Galloway.
- Visitors spent close to £1.4 million in the region.
- More than half Spring Fling visitors spend one night or more in the region.
- For further details visit www.spring-fling.co.uk or contact [email protected]
About Upland
Upland CIC (Community Interest Company) supports artists and makers based in, and with connections to, the region. It will 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 will work 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:
- produce and deliver festivals, events, and experimental projects of the highest quality
- nurture an environment where artistic excellence thrives and grows
- inspire and educate a wide range of audiences, customers and clients to understand, celebrate, be actively engaged in and supportive of visual art and craft practice
- raise the profile of visual artists and makers locally, nationally and internationally fulfilling a crucial role in the culture and tourism of Dumfries and Galloway
- build strategic partnerships at regional, national and international level
- maintain a financially sound and adaptively resilient organisation
- use, and encourage the use of, innovative and emerging digital technology
- work to the benefit the local economy and the sustainability of local communities.
Its funders are Creative Scotland, D&G Council, The Holywood Trust, The William Grant Foundation, The Heritage Lottery Fund, ASWT, Barfill.
For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected] or call Upland on 01387 213 218.