Artists and creative practitioners from across the Highlands will come together in Inverness this month for the region’s first Cultural Assembly.

The inaugural gathering will take place at the Drumossie Hotel on Wednesday, 16 September, with Fiona Dalgetty of Fèis Rois confirmed as its first Convener.

The Assembly is intended to give artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations and cultural bodies a stronger collective voice in decisions affecting the future of culture across the Highlands.

One of its first priorities will be helping to develop a new arts and cultural strategy for the region.

The permanent forum grew from the Cultural Conversation held in Strathpeffer in June as part of Beò! 2029, the Inverness and Highland bid to become UK City of Culture.

Crucially, the Assembly has been designed to continue regardless of the outcome of that competition, creating a lasting platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and collective action.

Organisers are encouraging new voices from across the Highland cultural community to become involved rather than limiting participation to established organisations.

Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to register their interest by emailing cityofculture@highand.gov.uk

Limited financial support is also available to help full time self employed artists attend without having to carry the entire cost of lost earnings themselves.

Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Fèis Rois, said:

“There’s an opportunity for new voices within the cultural sector to become heard and I would encourage anyone who feels they can contribute to come forward and join us on what will be an important first step.

“Artists’ voices must be at the heart of this Cultural Assembly, and I am pleased that there will be financial support to enable freelance creatives to contribute to this first Assembly and to future gatherings.”

The Cultural Assembly will be supported by a Creative Highland board intended to help turn discussion into action across the sector.

For more information visit: Cultural Assembly – Highland Council

Its arrival comes at an important moment for the wider cultural ambitions of Inverness and the Highlands.

The detailed Beò! 2029 submission was lodged in August, putting Inverness and the Highlands into competition with Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

It is the only Scottish entry and the first UK City of Culture bid to represent both a city and a wider region.

Judges are expected to reduce the nine longlisted entries to a shortlist of up to four in October.

The bid presents the Highlands as a place of living culture, bringing together its people, languages, landscapes and creativity while making the case for cultural investment as part of stronger and more sustainable communities.

Whatever happens in that competition, the first Cultural Assembly is intended to leave something permanent behind, giving the people who make Highland culture a greater role in deciding where it goes next.