AN EXCITING new arts event kicks off in Dunfermline today (Thursday) with a wide-ranging programme of music, comedy, theatre and literature.
The four-day Outwith Festival boasts international names such as artist David Mach, film-maker, musician and local hero Richard Jobson, playwright Alan Bissett and authors Isla Dewar and Angela Jackson.
There will be innovative comedy and theatre with Comedy in the Dark and the world premiere of David Colvin’s one-man play, Thunderstruck.
The music programme has more than 35 bands playing at six venues in the town centre while artist Ulrika Kjeldsen will be exhibiting her work, The Clydesdale Horse, an eight-foot tall, 47-stone steel rocking horse during the festival.
Outwith is being organised by BID (Business Improvement District) company Dunfermline Delivers, along with arts hub Fire Station Creative and culture magazine Avocado Sweet.
Chris Foote, of Dunfermline Delivers, said: “Dunfermline is on a roll just now – there’s a lot of excitement around the new Richard Murphy-designed gallery and library while the arts hub, Fire Station Creative goes from strength to strength.
“The Outwith Festival wants to build on that momentum.”
He added: “We have the Edinburgh Fringe to thank for our festival name.
“Our initial idea was to stage an event to help the Fringe celebrate their 70th birthday because Dunfermline hosted one of the original events in the first year, 1947.
“They were keen to help but said unfortunately we were ‘outwith’ the EH postcode. And so, the ‘Outwith Festival’ was born.”
Turner-prize nominee and one of the UK’s best-known artists, David Mach, a Fifer who has exhibited dynamic large-scale sculptures in London, New York, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Hong Kong, is showcasing a brand new and exciting Brexit-themed work in Dunfermline at Fire Station Creative.
The artist’s new sculpture, being shown for the first time at the Outwith Festival, will take over the gallery space at Fire Station Creative.
David explains: “I’ve made this Brexit piece with groyne wood from Norman’s Bay on the south coast of England because groyne wood forms a defence against the sea.
“The huge gargoyle, which features in this sculpture, is red, the same red as a British telephone or post box and it will be holding aloft a piece of the groyne wood as if it were ripped from the beach.”
The Outwith Festival starts today (Thursday) and runs until Sunday.
Information about the line-up, ticketing and travel can be found at outwithfestival.co.uk
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