This month we are delighted to host 3 live events under the banner of Sensing Stories, which is the culmination of a series of workshops and discussions to inspire new stories waiting to be told. We are passionate about ensuring all voices and stories are heard and encouraged in Scotland. Our stories are the threads … Continued

TRACS is delighted to be assisting Creative Scotland and other partners in delivering a pilot programme of Traditional Arts Mentoring, building on work undertaken by the Traditional Music Forum. The aim is to exchange knowledge, skills and experience between the generations. The programme is aimed at early or mid-career practitioners in Scotland. Successful applicants will … Continued

Set sail this autumn, as the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) takes audiences on a voyage, exploring Scotland’s coasts and water through music and storytelling. The 2020 SISF programme is revealed today, promising an eclectic mix of online events spanning across the globe and small-scale face-to-face events, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by the sea’. … Continued

We’re excited to announce that the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, which runs from 17 – 31 October 2020, will keep you ‘In the Flow’ with an eclectic mix of online events and small-scale face-to-face performances, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by water’, taking you on voyages at home and away. Stories and songs are vital … Continued

It’s been hard to miss the various creative responses to the restrictions, mandatory and self-imposed, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. From the weekly outbreak of applause, pot-banging and bell-ringing in appreciation of the health workers, to rainbows in windows, and comedian Janey Godley’s affectionate parodies of the First Minister, people have been making sense of … Continued

‘I believe that if Hamish had not recorded our songs and stories, a massive chunk of history would have gone to the grave with the keepers.’ (Jess Smith) A field of interest and activity for Henderson during the 50s was with the Travellers who gathered from all over Scotland each summer for the berry-picking at … Continued

“Maker, ye maun sing them… Tomorrow, songs Will flow free again, and new voices Be borne on the carrying stream.” (Hamish Henderson) Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) presents the Hamish Henderson Summer School which reflects the visionary spirit and diversity of the founding father of Scotland’s 20th Century folk renaissance, offering inspiration and enjoyment … Continued

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, issued an open letter to EU citizens living in Scotland on 5 April 2019. Following up from her original open letter in 2016, the message of welcome remains, stating: ‘Scotland is your home, you are welcome here, and you are valued. You play a crucial role in Scotland’s … Continued

This Easter Saturday 20 April, swap your chocolate bunnies and easter eggs for some pickled herring and sailor’s yarn, as Jan Bee Brown, also known as Captain Annie, opens her treasure trove of nasty nautical tales at ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’. If you are looking to keep your family entertained during the Easter holidays, … Continued

I was fortunate to be awarded Professional Development funding from Creative Scotland to attend the Chennai Storytelling Festival as principal artist and to undertake research in traditional forms of storytelling and music in India. I began my journey in the remote westernmost corner of Rajasthan. The golden forted city of Jaisalmer rises like a giant … Continued