Hello and a very warm welcome to the 3rd Findhorn Bay Festival 2018: a spectacular six-day celebration of arts and culture set in unexpected spaces and scenic locations around the Bay of Findhorn in Moray.

Since the Festival first took flight four years ago, we are proud to have received multiple awards and national renown for our biennial event. This year we are back with another fabulous programme showcasing emerging local talent to artists of national and international renown.

Themes of migration, language and modern identity are explored through a vibrant mix of theatre and performance, exhibitions and live music, fine-art and photography, talks and tours. Experience good local food, family events, the natural landscape and free activities, including Scotland’s only Culture Day extravaganza in Forres – it truly is a Festival for all.

2018 is Scotland’s Year of Young People (YOYP) and the Festival embraces and celebrates the energy, enthusiasm and talents of young people. Many will be taking to the stage to perform while others will be working in the background learning new skills. Look out for special ticket prices for families and reduced YOYP prices too, opening doors and making the Festival accessible to young audiences.

We are Making More of Moray through the celebration of good local food, with the fertile Moray landscape providing a plentiful larder to sample from. Try locally sourced organic bites in our Pop-Up Project Café, visit growers in their gardens, shop the mini-market on Culture Day or join a multi-cultural food and music event to tantalise your taste buds.

We will also be delivering a world premiere production. The new and unique theatre piece based on the Scottish literary work The Buke of the Howlat will be set in the grounds of Brodie Castle. The tale brings to life a 1440s Older Scots poem written in Moray. A team of actor-musicians, a choir and a community cast featuring talented young people, work with an award-winning creative team to bring to you this very old and very local story of wealth, power and creativity.

So please join us here in Moray at the end of September for the Findhorn Bay Festival 2018 and be part of the celebration and experience a fantastic explosion of arts and culture.

Kresanna Aigner
Festival Director