As the 2003 Edinburgh splurge of culture and arts draws to a close the GaelForce 2003 Festival commences and acts as a timely reminder that Arts Festivals are now held all over Scotland. Changed days from 1947 when the Edinburgh International Festival first took place. GaelForce 2003, held in venues throughout Dumfries & Galloway, offers late Summer amd Autumn visitors the chance to add an artistic element to their stay in a most relaxing, but overlooked, part of Scotland - the south west. The large community Arts and Entertainment Festival starts its sixth year today (22 August 2003) and continues to 1 November 2003. Entertainers and artisits will mount 210 performances and exhibitions at locations throughout south west Scotland.

 

The GaelForce 2003 brochure lists details of all peformances, exhibitions and events throughout the Festival. Dances, exhibitions, festivals, film, youth, literature, music and entertainment, theatre and drama are all listed for easy reference. The attractive brochure, which includes a poetry section, is available, free, by phoning 01387 262084, and at tourist information centres and libraries throughout Dumfries & Galloway. Visit www.gaelforcefestival.co.uk to view all Festival activities and check www.visit-dumfries-and-galloway.co.uk for accomodation.

 

GaelForce 2003 celebrates the artistic talents of the region and also welcomes some of the biggest names in folk, arts and entertaiment as part of the cultural life of Dumfries & Galloway, including international stars such as Gordon Giltrap, Barbara Dickson and Julie Felix. Major events incorporated into GaelForce 2003, includes September's Scottish Book Town Festival at Wigtown, a Floodlit Tattoo in Kirkcudbright in late August, and the season-long Seven Senses Project recognising 2003 as the European Year of the Disabled Person. GaelForce 2003 is a veritable storm of Arts and Entertainment with something for everyone - young and old.

 

The official opening is on Saturday 23 August at 11am in Langholm Parish Church. Well-known radio broadcaster, walker, folksinger, and Oliver Brown Award winner, Jimmie Macgregor will perform the opening ceremony. In the afternoon Jimmie Macgregor will be the main speaker at the Second MacDiarmid Literary Lunch in Langholm.

 

The splendidly named Dumfries & Galloway town of Ecclefechan, birthplace of Thomas Carlyle, inspires the recipe for this week. Ecclefechan Butter Tart makes a tasty start to enjoying GaelForce 2003.

 

Ecclefechan Butter Tart

 

Ingredients : 2 oz (50 g) melted butter; 3 oz (75 g) soft brown sugar; 1 egg; 1 desertspoon apple cider vinegar; 4 oz (125 g) mixed dried fruits; 1 oz (50 g) chopped walnuts

 

Prepare an 8 inch flan, lined with pastry

 

Preheat the oven to 350 deg F/ 180 deg C/ gas Mark 4

 

Mix all the ingredients together and pour into the lined tin. Bake for 30 minutes and serve hot or cold with whipped cream.