Innovation-rich Cowalfest gets going: Friday 9th October

Argyll’s Cowalfest – an innovative event from the outset in its marriage of walking and the arts, is always one to serve up surprises. The 2009 event is no exception.

Topping a programme of walks, wildlife walks, horse rides, mountain bike rides, tours of some of Cowal’s great houses, food events, the unique Walking Theatre caught in transit, music and talks – is an event within an event.

This is an exhibition, with a specially written booklet by Curator Dorothy Bruce, on Alexander Reid and the Japanese Influence. This is a surprise – a recovered history of the one-time Argyll Councillor, Glasgow art dealer, friend and even rival of Vincent Van Gogh, part of the notable fin de siecle cultural circle – and painted by Van Gogh. The exhibition pays tribute to the sheer spectrum of engagement and influence of Reid – which stretched from, as the programme says , art to ships to plants and to Japanese culture.

The exhibition is free but the exhibition booklet – 48 pages with 8 in full colour – from the Cowalfest Publishing imprint, is available at £4.99. The booklet will be published on the festival’s starting date of 9th October.

The full programme is on the Cowalfest website, but here is a selection to catch the flavour of the festival:

• Tour of Ardkinglas House: £6
• Music in The Smiddy: £10
• Talk: Merchants and emigrants – the Clyde, a working river: £4
• Health Fayre by Well Therapies: £7

Don’t forget you can register to receive the regular Cowalfest Newsletter – and the recent issue is not long out. You can also book at the website and pay either online there (Nochex) or by cheque later.