Hebridean Dark Skies Festival programme announced

Next February will see two weeks of arts and astronomy events take place on the Isle of Lewis as part of the second Hebridean Dark Skies Festival.

The programme for the festival has been announced, with singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, Sky at Night presenter Chris Lintott, and arts and astronomy project Creativity and Curiosity will be among the headline events.

The festival will run from 7 to 22 February 2020 with events spanning theatre, live music, film, visual art, food, astronomy talks and stargazing. 

The festival is led by An Lanntair in partnership with Stornoway Astronomical Society, Calanais Visitor Centre, Gallan Head Community Trust, Lews Castle College and new partners including Uig Sands.

Festival programmer Andrew Eaton-Lewis said:

"We’re really excited to be announcing our second Hebridean Dark Skies Festival programme. We were very encouraged by the hugely positive response to our first festival and will be working hard to build on that success in 2020 – hopefully there will be a few opportunities for stargazing along the way. Even if it’s cloudy though there will be loads to do and see for audiences of all ages. We’ve got a few returning favourites; Chris Lintott, a big hit at our first festival, will be back, and we’ll also be staging a new photography exhibition. And we’re boldly going to new places. We’ll be doing a whole day of events with Ione and Gillian from Creativity and Curiosity, a partnership that has inspired us to explore the connections between astronomy and the arts in all sorts of new ways. And we’re thrilled to be supporting the development of Karine Polwart’s new show with a work-in-progress performance and discussion event that we hope will be a source of inspiration for Karine, our visiting astronomers, and our audiences."

For a second year the festival is being part-funded by Outer Hebrides LEADER. 

Colin Gilmour, Chair of the Outer Hebrides LEADER LAG:

"Supporting An Lanntair’s Winter Festival programme, which includes the ‘Dark Skies Festival’, ensures that activities and events are available for all ages outwith the summer months.  The LAG are delighted with the success of the Dark Skies Festival and look forward to experiencing the shows taking place throughout the island and learning more about the cosmos."

The festival is being promoted as part of #winterinthewild, a new tourism campaign highlighting some compelling reasons why the Outer Hebrides is a perfect getaway outside of the summer season, with extraordinary scenery and a programme of high quality cultural events at An Lanntair. The #winterinthewild campaign is a partnership between An Lanntair and Outer Hebrides Tourism, VisitScotland, Hebridean Hopscotch Holidays, Loganair, CalMac, Glasgow Airport, Cala Hotels, and Lews Castle, with support from Creative Scotland, Event Scotland and Outer Hebrides LEADER.

Tickets for all festival events will go on sale on Monday 4 November.

Visit the An Lanntair website for more information.

Hebridean Dark Skies Festival 2020 trailer from an lanntair on Vimeo.