Countdown to Spring Fling

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 12:27 am Text size:

If the soft, green hills and sandy coastline of Dumfries and Galloway seem unusually quiet at the moment, it’s with good reason. Around a hundred of the region’s finest artists and makers are meticulously preparing their studios – and putting the finishing touches to work – ready for the eighth annual Spring Fling open art and craft studios event.

Taking place across Dumfries and Galloway each late May bank holiday weekend (29-31 May this year), last year’s event saw over 8,000 visitors flock to the region to follow the studio trails down winding lanes and through picturesque villages. This incredibly creative corner of south-west Scotland might feel off the beaten track – but it’s a hive of artistic activity. You can visit pottery workshops, watch demos at an old forge, see artists and willow weavers at work, browse galleries – and pick up a bargain along the way.

Walking, cycling or taking a ‘green’ hop-on bus tour between studios makes a great weekend break. This year Spring Fling has also teamed up with hill-writer and photographer Ronald Turnbull to create three new walking routes between a handful of the artists and makers (you can download the walking routes from the Spring Fling website). Or join the Spring Fling cycle ride on Saturday 29 May (details also on the website; www.spring-fling.co.uk).

Adding to the creative mix, Spring Fling is delighted to have commissioned Glasgow-based multi-disciplinary artist Calum Stirling to create a temporary art installation at Nepalese-themed Cragieburn Garden, outside Moffat. All are welcome to the launch of this – and of Spring Fling itself – on Friday 28 May, between 6-9pm at Craigieburn (admission to the garden will also be free throughout the Spring Fling weekend).

Finally, a number of exciting additional events include a ceilidh and hog roast in Castle Douglas on Saturday 29 May – in collaboration with Castle Douglas Food Town Day – and artists’ film screenings “hidden” across the county in such unlikely settings as Dalswinton’s little red church and the ruins of Cardoness Castle.

Since it began in 2003, Spring Fling has generated £3 million for the local economy. However, its benefits are not just financial. As Natalie Vardey, the Chair of Spring Fling explained at the brochure launch in March: ‘Outlying communities enjoy the sense of occasion, excitement and local pride that Spring Fling generates and each year this becomes more apparent.’

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