The business and cultural communities in the Highlands have come together in a series of creative partnerships.
It’s part of a pioneering funding programme managed by independent charity Arts and Business Scotland.
Celebrating two successful years since its original launch in April 2017, the Culture and Business Fund Scotland (CBFS) has enabled closer collaboration between the local business community and the cultural sector by match-funding business sponsorship of cultural projects across the Highland region.
The Culture and Business Fund Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government via Creative Scotland.
Throughout Scotland, the programme has generated total investment of more than £1.1million in 68 business and cultural partnerships over two years, with every £1 of CBFS monies invested generating £1.31 in business sponsorship.
Match funding provided by the CBFS ranges from £1,000 to £40,000 in value and the culture and business partnerships facilitated through the programme can take the form of direct business sponsorship, in-kind support or a combination of both.
One local partnership to have benefited from the CBFS programme was the SEALL Festival of Small Halls, which took place on the Isle of Skye in late 2018.
Comprising a series of musical events hosted in some of the smallest halls in Scotland and featuring some of the best traditional musicians in the country, the festival was sponsored by central Skye’s Sligachan Hotel, one of the oldest and most iconic hotels in the Highlands, which has hosted travellers since the mid-18th century.
Meanwhile, Inverness-based electricians MacPherson Electrical and Boat of Garten-based creative studio Spey Design collaborated with Showboaters Drama Group to bring the group’s production of legendary Glasgow-based comedy drama stage play The Steamie to a local audience of more than 800 at Boat of Garten Community Hall.
