Profile:Dumfries and Galloway

Established as the region’s premier calendar entertainments event since 1979, the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is Scotland’s largest rural multi-artform festival, with more than 170 artists performing at 82 events in 42 venues across the full breadth of the region. In addition to the Festival Dumfries and Galloway will be running a year round touring scheme from July 2016. Each year, the festival involves a lively and varied programme, showcasing an eclectic range of top-billed performances in music, drama, dance, arts and literature in a selection of venues from the tiny, intimate Swallow Theatre to the grandeur of the Easterbrook Hall and a wide outdoor stage on the banks of the River Nith. The festival has an excellent reputation for bringing top quality world-class performances to rural locations at the end of May each year. Musical events range from unforgettable operas, to classical, jazz, traditional, contemporary and world music that are usually only experienced in the world’s city venues. Dance, the world of books and ground-breaking theatrical performances are also mainstays of the yearly programmes, as are some well-established mini festivals in literature and song and an exciting and lively fringe.