“The venue brings events and activities that are rare to this area. I was really shocked not to have heard of it before”.  Gemma Brown shares some newly discovered home truths. 

Grabbed from the website of Kaffe Matthews, the amazing Yird Muin Starn

Having recently started a Marketing and Events internship, I am seeing that there are more cultural and creative activities down in my homeland of Dumfries and Galloway than I thought. Shame it took so long to discover them!

My internship is at The CatStrand, a community and arts centre in New Galloway near Castle Douglas. The centre opened in 2007 and is under the umbrella of Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT). The aim is to enhance and enrich the lives of people in the Glenkens and it is doing a great job.

The centre hosts a diverse range of activities and events from art exhibitions/installations to live music events to film clubs and workshops to name just a few. They have their own café, shop, auditorium and exhibition space that allows them to showcase many different things. Being from a creative industries background I was really shocked not to have heard of it before I got the internship (better late than never). The venue, as they say, is a real “cultural hub” bringing events and activities that are rare to this area.

The CatStrand produces three annual brochures stacked full with an amazing range of events and activities for all ages. They cater to everyone’s needs. With an auditorium playing host to open stage nights, film showings, drama groups and live music events, the space is as diverse as the organisation.

They host an assorted mix of live music events with some of the best in leftfield music scenes.  Critically acclaimed King Creosote (duo) founder of independent record label, Fence Records will be playing here on 5th May.  (To make the gig even more enjoyable there is a pre-event supper!)  A battle of the bands competition will also be held later this month with the winners landing themselves a slot at this year’s Knockengorroch festival.

King Creosote

And there are  artist exhibitions and installations as well as workshops. The team are currently custodians of the Yird Muin Starn artwork by Mandy McIntosh and Kaffe Matthews. Yird Muin Starn is old Scots for Earth Moon Star and is fitting to this artwork. It encompasses three elements including spacesuits, ‘Sky Gazer’ chairs and a vinyl album with space inspired music. The artwork allows us to gaze at the stars in the Dark Sky Park in a specially made (and warm!) spacesuit –  they are available for hire at the CatStrand until July and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates the dark night sky.

In addition to live music and art, there are lots of events, activities and workshops for all ages, including projects for young people and the over 60s. These include theatre, films, watercolour painting, felt painting, Zumba, family film club, CatStrand Youth Players and dance classes.

If you are from the D&G area or are visiting the region and have not heard of this welcoming establishment you really should check it out.

Find more events on the Catstrand website or Facebook page.

Felt painting by Moy McKay