Shetland Arts have launched a community-driven event to take place once social distancing and large-scale gathering restrictions are lifted.
Shetland is renowned for its thriving creative scene and has a long tradition of music, literature, arts and crafts. With many annual Shetland events sadly cancelled this year due to coronavirus, Shetland Arts have announced an exciting new event, Shetland Unlocked, to bring people together and celebrate the islands' creative spirit.
To be held four to six weeks after clearance is given for large-scale gatherings, Shetland Unlocked will be a community festival. It will create an open platform for artists, musicians, makers, writers and performers to deliver workshops and events that encourage us to re-engage with each other.
There will be a programme of activities for people of all ages, including music, film screenings, theatre, dance, art, literature, craft and wellbeing workshops and activities. The festival will be free, with some ticketed spaces and performances, and will take place over a long weekend.
Conversations are also underway about hosting food and craft fairs over the same weekend and Shetland Arts are keen to hear from other organisations, venues and associations that would like to get involved.
“We want to give our community the opportunity to use our facilities to reconnect with each other and their audiences," said Graeme Howell, chief executive of Shetland Arts. "Anything goes – you may want to put on a scratch play in the Garrison, or showcase a piece of art on the walls of Mareel. Your band may want to stand on stage and blast away the cobwebs, or you might want to share a piece of writing you have been working on. Any sort of performance or workshop, craft or art piece will be welcomed and hosted. It will be chaotic, it will be family friendly and it will be Shetland.”
Shetland Arts are encouraging musicians, writers, artists, makers, drama and dance groups from across the isles to sign up and perform at the festival. All performers and workshop leaders will be paid, and details are available on the Shetland Arts website.
If you are a musician, writer, artist, maker, drama or dance group and would like to perform at the festival, please visit shetlandarts.org and follow the Survey Monkey link from the homepage.
If you are a budding Shetland filmmaker and would like to take part in the Home Made short film event, you can download a submission form on the Shetland Arts website.
More details about Shetland Unlocked will be published in due course.