Author’s Note: I wrote the following summary for the Local Place Plan in 2024. I offer it here as a high-level overview.

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Ecovillage Findhorn is home to a rich arts ‘ecosystem’ that includes individual, small group and community participation, as well as welcoming audiences of all sizes.

Multiple arts practices here provide creative means for exploring and sharing aesthetic experiences, ideas and celebrations amongst ourselves, as well as reaching out across Moray, Scotland and internationally.

Organisations such as Universal Hall Promotions, Moray Art Centre, Phoenix Cafe and Dance North regularly host performances, participation opportunities and exhibitions provided by local, national and international artists. These activities enrich the cultural life of Moray, as well as having a positive economic impact through attracting visitors.

Amateurs, students and professionals of all ages from across Moray engage in a plethora of performing and visual art forms in the Ecovillage Findhorn through classes, workshops, collaborative groups and organized events. These widely varied creative activities are offered in overlapping contexts such as entertainment, personal development, health and wellbeing, visioning, group-building activities, worship, and creative approaches to decision making.

We intend to map and support this large pool of arts activities, practitioners, and organisations as it continues to develop into the future.

Additional workshop venues or modifications to existing studio spaces may be required in order to fully accommodate creative practices. For example, it’s been widely acknowledged that a purpose built studio for dance and physical theatre would be a substantial support for multiple movement based activities.

A partial sample of art forms currently represented here includes:

  • Architectural design
  • Crafts: weaving, mosaic, stained glass furniture making and knitting
  • Dance: ecstatic dance such as Five Rhythms and Open Floor, Sacred (circle) Dance, Contemporary Dance, improvisation, ceilidh dancing, traditional Indian dance, plus other traditional dance and contemporary movement forms
  • Music: instrumental music, choirs, Taize (songs for worship), vocal groups and individual singing, traditional sessions
  • Photography and video
  • Pottery and sculpture
  • Visual Art: drawing, painting, graphic design
  • Theatre: eco-theatre, devised and improvised works, physical theatre
  • Written and spoken word