Also in the news / Nature photography, cancelled tickets, climate festival, energy market reform and more …
TWO locally produced publications are in the running for a national nature photography award with the public having a chance to vote for their favourite.
Brydon Thomason’s stunning Wild Shetland through the Seasons and Laurie Goodlad’s new travel guidebook Shetland are both on a 17-strong shortlist for the Scottish Nature Photography Awards.
The biennial awards celebrate nature, wildlife and landscape photography in Scotland.
Voting closes at midday on Monday with the result being announced later in March.
The shortlist with a link to vote can be found here.
COUNTRY music fans were left disappointed after Shetland Arts cancelled tickets bought by customers for a weekend of country and Western tunes.
Disappointed patrons turned to Facebook on Monday searching for tickets to the country music weekend, to be held on 4 and 5 April at Mareel, after being told that their tickets had been cancelled.
The events have already sold out.
Shetland Arts confirmed there had been a mistake and said that the promoter-hold tickets had mistakenly been sold.
“We completely understand the frustration this caused,” it added.
A total of 23 customers were said to have been affected by the error, all of which who have been issued refunds.
A number of local artists, including the likes of Isaac Webb, Seth Travins, Arthur Nicholson and Sheila Henderson, are set to take part in the country music weekend.
The Shetland Climate Festival is to return on Saturday 13 September at the Clickimin Bowls Hall, and will showcase poems, illustrations and stories from pupils across Shetland.
It builds on the council’s first Shetland school climate roadshows – with members of the climate change strategy team delivering workshops and gathering views.
The festival will include a range of organisations including Home Energy Scotland, SHEAP and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub.
There will be practical advice for householders, businesses and community groups. This covers things like heating, recycling and making greener choices. Information throughout the day will explain what climate change means from a Shetland perspective.
The council’s Claire Ferguson said: “We know that climate change is a big subject and we want people to come along and understand what that means for them, and what they can do to help too.”
A full programme will be announced at a later date.
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has again called on the UK Government to urgently reform the energy market with energy bills set to rise by well above the current inflation rate.
The price caps set by energy regulator Ofgem every three months limits the amount suppliers can charge for gas and electricity, yet the Northern isles are not connected to the gas grid.
“The fact that energy prices continue to rise even as we see more and more renewables infrastructure – including in the isles – is frustrating,” the Orkney and Shetland MP said.
“That is not an argument against renewables, but it is an argument for proper reform of the energy market so that areas which generate renewable energy for the country as a whole see some benefit from it locally, and so that we can finally de-link electricity prices from the cost of gas.
“We need to see greater action from both our governments to roll out insulation programmes to cut bills and to implement an energy social tariff – and to look seriously at the case for a geographic tariff for areas with high fuel poverty like the isles.”
ISLANDERS will be left paying more for less, according to Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston.
He was speaking after the SIC voted to increase council tax by 10 per cent, while Orcadians could be set to pay 15 per cent more from April.
Halcro Johnston said: “In light of Orkney Islands Council’s decision to raise council tax by 15 per cent, some may think Shetlanders have got off lightly with only a 10 per cent increase in their council tax bills.
“However, this increase will be unmanageable for many who are already struggling to pay their bills, and comes on top of significant energy price increases and other inflationary pressures.
“While I understand the difficult fiscal position Scottish Government funding squeezes have left many local authorities in, council tax payers in Shetland are not seeing their wages or incomes rise to match this 10 per cent rise.
“That means many will be left considerably worse off and paying higher bills but for fewer services”.
WITH March fast approaching it is again time for the Shetland Country Drama Festival, which will take place over four days at the Garrison Theatre starting on Monday the 10th.
This year sees the return of Bruce Adam as the adjudicator who will provide insight on the performances both publicly and privately to the groups.
The week will culminate with the award of trophies for the different categories to groups and individuals.
Kevin Briggs, one of the organisers, said: “The drama festival provides an opportunity for young actors to attempt their first few steps on stage, for youth theatre members to try different styles and hone their skills and for some of our regular groups to get a chance to present their latest work.
“Some of the plays are original works by local writers, giving writers a chance to get their work performed and obtain some valuable feedback from the adjudicator.”
Ticket information is available from the Shetland Arts Box Office here.
DESPITE challenging weather conditions Nova Innovation says it managed to successfully complete scheduled maintenance operations on its Shetland tidal energy array at the end of January.
Using Nova’s LARS (launch and recovery system), the turbine nacelles were retrieved from the seabed in Bluemull Sound, serviced onshore and efficiently redeployed within 10 days.
The LARS, designed in-house by Nova, incorporates specialised equipment and sensors that make offshore operations quicker, safer and more efficient.
FRESH from announcing a headline slot at this year’s Rising North music festival in Lerwick, Scottish music star Calum Beattie has confirmed he will be playing at the 14,000 capacity Hydro venue in Glasgow just a few months later in November.
The Rising North event will take place in mid-August, with Beattie set to perform on the Saturday night at the Clickimin.
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