{"id":4697,"date":"2018-09-06T21:48:38","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T20:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stmonans.org.uk\/blog\/?p=4697"},"modified":"2024-07-07T22:04:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T21:04:32","slug":"beyond-the-fringe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stmonans.org.uk\/blog\/beyond-the-fringe\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Fringe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"St Monans Festival Goes Forth …<\/span><\/h3>\n

St Monans Community Arts Festival\u00a0Press Release: 6 September 2018<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Edinburgh Fringe may have had its final hurrah for 2018, but the Scottish arts festival scene doesn\u2019t stop at the end of August. Across the Forth in the East Neuk of Fife, September brings more treats for art and music lovers with the St Monans Community Arts Festival, which is taking place on Saturday 8th\u00a0and Sunday 9th\u00a0September.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cCommunity\u201d in the Festival\u2019s title is a major aspect of its programme. Many of the artists and performers live in the village, and others have close links through family ties or as past residents of the picturesque fishing village.\u00a0Concerts include a performance on Sunday by the local Community Choir, featuring Glas Duo (one half hailing from St Monans, the other from Bulgaria); and a\u00a0Saturday night gig by\u00a0Crosswater \u2013 a group from both sides of the Forth (including St Monans bassist George Brown), who will be supported by several local acts.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the community nature of the festival is not just about the performers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is art for the community, in the community, by the community,\u201d said festival secretary Helen Marshall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want the village to be the owners of this festival, as a community. It is a weekend where everyone has the opportunity to express themselves as active participants and to enjoy the artistic endeavours of the village and its people – and that\u2019s not just the village\u2019s residents, it\u2019s everyone who loves to visit St Monans, and who wants to be part of and take part in our community\u2019s festival.<\/span><\/p>\n

Festival Treasurer Carol Copland added \u201cWe pride ourselves on being an inclusive festival. We want to make it easy for everyone to participate. That\u2019s why all events are free and include many family-friendly activities, with several that we know will particularly appeal to children.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo if you are near St Monans on Saturday and Sunday the 8th\u00a0and 9th\u00a0of September, please find time to come and join our community and take part in our arts festival. There\u2019ll be a warm welcome, with lots to see and do. We have a dozen open house galleries and other festival venues throughout the village, with the festival hub in the Church Hall offering craft stalls, photographic and art exhibitions, and wonderful community baking in the festival caf\u00e9.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph\u00a0\u2013\u00a0the Community Arts Festival committee were out in force to promote the arts festival\u2019s events at the consultation meeting on the new St Monans Community Action Plan, which took place on Saturday 1st\u00a0September 2018.
\nLeft to right are: Carol Copland (Treasurer), Helen Marshall (Secretary) and Ruth Craib (Chairperson).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Ruth Craib commented that: \u201cIt was very encouraging to see the CAP survey results, which showed a lot of enthusiasm for the festival and the expansion of cultural events in the village. People see the festival as a key part of the community calendar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n