Signature events are international-quality events held annually in Dumfries and Galloway or regularly attracted here. The nine signature events receive grant funding from the council and support from council services. One of the successful events held this year was Spring Fling, which drew around 6,000 visitors to participating studios and is expected to generate nearly £1.5 million in economic impact.
Hannah McAndrew and Doug Fitch, pictured in their studio by Shannon Tofts, were among the participating artists in Spring Fling. Hannah said:
“Spring Fling is important to us because it offers a way of showing visitors from the region and further afield an insight into what we do… Dumfries and Galloway is home to a myriad of phenomenal craftspeople and artists and this incredible event has helped to connect them to the wider communities that we live in.”
The list of signature events now includes the Stranraer Oyster Festival and the Kirkcudbright Galleries temporary exhibitions.
Other events are supported by the council’s major events fund, including the SkiffieWorlds coastal rowing event at Loch Ryan, Stranraer – that returned for the first time since 2019 with large crowds attending last week.