Emerging artists in the Highlands have been given funding and mentoring to support them during the pandemic.
Highland Youth Arts Hub, a consortium of arts organisations led by Fèis Rois, is behind the effort which aims to alleviate some of the strain put on the arts world by Covid-19.
The Creative in Your Community Fund will provide £1,000 to 17 artists aged 16-25 as well as 12 hours of mentoring from professionals.
They will include Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, filmmaker Thomas Hogben, choreographer Robbie Synge, visual artist Joanne B Kaar, theatre artist and director Jenna Watt and Highland writer, Anne MacLeod.
Projects being supported include a theatre piece about lockdown in the Highlands, a documentary about climate change and a music video showcasing Gaelic and Scots culture.
Sara Oussaiden, 16, from Skye, is the youngest recipient of an award.
She said: “The funding and mentoring offered through this opportunity will help me in the development and creation of my project ‘From Inside’.
“I aim to produce a mixed media interactive installation that will prompt an open discussion in my community surrounding changes, both positive and negative, in mental health over lockdown.”
Fiona Dalgetty, chief executive of Fèis Rois, said: “At a time when the arts and cultural sectors are really suffering, it is a privilege to be able to support these incredibly talented emerging artists.
“The HYAH consortium was very impressed by the number, calibre and range of project ideas submitted, making the decisions much harder.”
The other award winners are Hester Grant, 25, Jade Hutchison, 20, Jack Macgregor, 23, Emma Ralph, 22, and Keira Smith, 21; all Inverness; Taylor Black, 19, Lochaber; Chloe Bryce, 23, Tain; Mathilde Darmady, 18, Lybster; Ruairidh Gollan, 21, Edderton; Rowen Henderson, 17, Nairn; Iain Hyslop, 20, Avoch; Ilona Kennedy, 23, Kincraig; Isabel McLeish, 22, Kyle of Lochalsh; Gillie O’Flaherty, 18, Ullapool; Jodie Sandiford, 19, Grantown and James Bauld, 19, Dornoch.
Meanwhile, Highland artists will also benefit from £150,000 of Creative Scotland Place Partnership funding.
The money will form part of a large-scale commissioning scheme for about 360 local artists.
The Spirit 360 will be inspired by stories gathered through the Inverness Castle Spirit of the Highlands project.
Work will be featured on a dedicated website and some are expected to be included in the castle when it reopens after a major refurbishment.
Fergus Ewing, the cabinet secretary for rural economy and tourism, said: “Spirit 360 is a fantastic and innovative initiative that will provide the Inverness Castle project with an artistic interpretation of stories gathered from throughout the Highlands while, more importantly, providing a direct benefit to Highland artists during these difficult times.”
Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael, said the project would support artists throughout the Highlands as the sector recovers from the pandemic.
