Taking Part in the Past : photographs from the festival

01 May 2012

On Saturday 21 April the ARCH-hosted community archaeology festival 'Taking Part in the Past' took place in Dingwall Academy.

And what a great day it was! There were a host of talks, workshops and activities and stalls from heritage and craftworkers from across the Highlands.  The response to the day far exceeded our hopes, with around 400 people coming along, of which 150 were children, who took part enthusiastically in all the activities that were laid on for them.

There was a tremendously positive response to the festival - and for that we have to thank all the speakers, workshop leaders and stallholders without which the day would not have been possible.

We'll be having some more photos and comments in our next newsletter, but in the meantime take a look below at a few that give a flavour of the day - many thanks to Alasdair Cameron and Bernadette George for these - and if you've any photos or thoughts on the day that you'd like to share with ARCH we'd love to hear from you. Many thanks to all that have already given their feedback - including on our facebook page.

Some of the many stalls at the festival

 

 

 

 

Louise Hastie from HLF, one of ARCH's main funders, led a fundraising workshop with Cara Jones from Archaeology Scotland. Both of them were also on hand all day to offer valuable fundaising advice - including the new 'All our Stories' fund from HLF

 

 

 

Highland youth worker, Fiona Richardson, with her team of students. They showed an entertaining film about past food and diet and had made some delicious baking - soda bread, honey and fresh forest fruits - mmm . . .

 

ARCH was serving some delicious food too! And the cafe was busy all day. Thanks so much to all the volunteers who made so much delicious baking and helped with sales. The cafe raised over £400 towards ARCH's future funding  - impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

Mesolithic shelter building - what could be more fun?

 

 

 

 

Well . . . basketry and pottery do look pretty cool too! 

And just out of shot you could learn the art of spinning from the Highland Guild of Spinners and Weavers .

 

The huge range of heritage and craft stalls from across Highland - and for some, from across Scotland was fantastic - and commented on in glowingly terms by many visitors.

 

 

When Kirkmichael Trust volunteers weren't busy chatting to visitors they caught up on a spot of family history!

 

 

 

 

The Russian Arctic Convoy Museum used the festival to help promote the impressive range of events special week of WWii and Arctic Convoys from 7 - 12 May

 

 

 

Dingwall History Society promoted their plans for a Viking museum in the town, and Sandra and David Macdonald (hiding behind the stand) gave a much praised lunchtime tour of the town.

 

 

 

The UHI Centre for History found the festival to be a valuable opportunity to interest potential students in their courses.

 

 

 

 

That's just a wee hint of what the day was like. More to come in the newsletter!