Morrocco, McClure and McIntosh Patrick Exhibition

A not to be missed exhibition of rarely seen work by three well known Dundee artists, Alberto Morroccco, David McClure and James McIntosh Patrick was opened last night at the Lamb Gallery, University of Dundee. The exhibition also contains work by some of their talented family members, and work on loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland collection. The picture is McIntosh Patrick's Tay Bridge in Winter.

The WestFest Shop

WestFest are proud to show off their new shop - 93 Perth Rd, Dundee. Come and find out about WestFest events, volunteering, exhibiting and selling your work, or just come on in for a blether.

Programme Pulished

The full programme for Dundee WestFest is out and on the streets - get yours before they all vanish. The first ever WestFest has over 70 events, things to look at, things to hear; things to take part in and things to do. Things for all ages from babies to great grandparents. Get the programme and find the events for you ...

Join us for a fun filled Ceilidh

WestFest Ceilidh and Supper

Friday 21 May, 7:00 - midnight

WestPark Centre

Perth Rd (opposite Harris Academy)

Tickets £12:50; (£8:50 under 12s)


Dancing to John Stuart Scottish Dance Band

Awards for All

Dundee WestFest is delighted, thrilled and ecstatic to have won a grant of almost £10,000 from Awards for All - this will help to make WestFest a vibrant, varied and safe festival. We're still looking for additional funding make the range of events we offer even more exciting.

Thanks

A big thank you to everyone who came to the Quiz Night - we raised £251.

Fund raising - Quiz Night at Braes

Have a fun night out at Braes and help WestFest while you're enjoying yourself.

Quiz Night

Thursday 22 April at 7:30pm

Braes (opposite the University)

Entry £4

See you there!

Become part of History

As part of WestFest Dundee University are offering a free 8 week course in Oral History from 26 April - 14 June which will help equip people to collect local memories and prepare an exhibition at Verdant Works, as part of WestFest. The course will be held in the Tower Building of the University between 2 and 4pm on Mondays

If you want to take part please telephone Susan Norrie on Dundee 384809 or email s.z.norrie@dundee.ac.uk

Great things happening ...

105 days to go and great things are happening. The target was to have a minimum of 25 events as part of the festival - a target that looks as if it will be easily exceeded - we are delighted by the number and quality of people offering to be part of WestFest.

Most recent additions include:

• 'Bel Canto' a musical story written by Eilidh Mackenzie and narrated by Michael Marra - Dundee Rep on Sunday 20 June
• Sheena Wellington and friends - date and venue to be confirmed
• Art exhibition of Morocco, McLure and MacIntosh Patrick paintings - Lamb Gallery, Dundee University
• Taster Workshops on astronomy, local history, art appreciation, and song writing by Dundee Univiersity Continuing Education Deaprtment
• A raft of events and activities by West End schools
• Lunch time concerts by Dundee Chamber Music Club - St Peter's Church
• ... and lots more

Full details will be on the website by 15 March 2010

WestFest gets charitable status

We've just been told that Dundee WestFest has been awarded charitable status, Scottish Charity SC041056

Shakespeare at the Botanic Gardens

There will be a performance of one of Shakespeare's play in the Botanic Gardens on Thursday 24th June 2010.

Record your memories of the West End

During WestFest you will be able to record your memories of the West End for posterity in a specially organised 'vox box'. Your memories will then feature in future exhibitions and will help historian record and document the past in our city.

Airport Open Day

Derrick Lang, manager of Dundee Airport has offered to host an Open Day at the Airport as part of WestFest - it's likely that this will happen on Saturday 26th June. He has also offered exhibition space and to host an evening event in the Airport concourse.

Dundee Rep Workshops

Great news - Dundee Rep have just confirmed that they will offer four free drama workshops on Friday 25th June and on Saturday 26th June there will ba a site specific Youth theatre performance.

Busy behind the scenes

The WestFest team have been very busy behind the scenes - networking and talking to people who want to take part in WestFest or who are happy to support us. We've also been doing some of the less exciting, but very necessary, things which will help the Festival run smoothly. So far we're delighted with the support we are getting from organisations and individuals across the West End, but there's still lots more to do and more people to meet and places to go.

To date we have the backing of Dundee City Council, Dundee Rep, University of Dundee, Dundee Botanic Gardens, Mills Observatory several of the West End churches, West End Community Council and lots of enthusiastic individuals.

Over the coming weeks you will see changes to this website as the programme for the festival week develops. Already we have the outline for a wonderful opening event on Magdalen Green on Sunday 20th June, and we are working on plans for the parade and party on the final day - Sunday 27th June.

There is still plenty of time for you to get involved, so email your ideas, suggestions and offers of help to westendfestival@rocketmail.com. We also welcome offers of financial support - either business sponsorship or by becoming a Friend of WestFest, email us for details.

An inspirational community development

Came across The High Line the other day - it's a new park in New York which has been developed through the determination of members of the local community - it looks great and is a wonderful testament to community action. Read what Hamish McRae of The Independent says about it, specifically:

Taking the High Line – lessons in community action from Manhattan

The director of one of New York's great art galleries told me I had to see the High Line. The retired Wall Street banker asked if I had heard about the High Line. And the author with whom I was having dinner said we really have to see the High Line, so let's skip the coffee and go.

The High Line has been open three weeks. It is a public park built on the tracks of a disused elevated old freight railway line running down lower Manhattan, a couple of blocks in from the East River. You start in the Meat Packing District, you climb up the steps on to the newly laid walkway – past designer benches, plants and amid designer-dressed people – for a mile and a half north through the old warehouses and new loft apartments. The next section is being completed now, and while there are doubts about the final section, it may eventually be possible to walk right up to 34th Street, 30 feet above New York.

So New York has a new park in a formerly gritty, but now fashionable, part of the city. It is a classic story of urban regeneration, well-executed, that brings benefits to the local economy and community. But more than that – and very New York – it is also a tale of community action and philanthropy. This was not a municipal project, though it eventually it got the blessing of Mayor Bloomberg and city funding. But, in the early years, it developed when two residents hit on the idea, created a "Friends of the High Line" support group, raised seed funding and drove the idea forward.

There are several lessons. One is that new public space, done well, can revitalise a whole area. Another is that things like this can't happen unless there is political support, and probably public money. But another, which seems to be the most powerful one, is that the best ideas often spring up spontaneously in communities. The former consensus was that the elevated tracks were an eyesore and should be pulled down. But two people had a vision and the city has an exciting new park. Community works.

Join us - Be part of what's best in the west

Do you sing, dance act, play music, paint, draw or do crafts?

Are you interested in art, drama, dance or music?

Are you interested in local history or your local environment?

This is your chance to be part of Dundee's newest festival - Dundee WestFest: a community festival run by the community for the community.

Whether you want to:

• take part as a performer/producer/artist
• share your knowledge
• or whether you have ideas of what you'd like to see in Dundee WestFest

Get in touch with your suggestions and be part of all that's best in the west


email: westendfestival@rocketmail.com

Events at the festival

WestFest Themes

The Festival events will be grouped into five themes: Art, History, Environment, Music and Drama. There will be events schedules to take place all over the West End - finishing with a parade and party.

WestFest Committee

The committee for Dundee WestFest are:

• Kay Macfarlane
  
• Liz Broumley
• Sandy Greenhorn
• Paola McClure
• Heather Farmer
  
• Angela Mehlert
• Rhoda Miller
  
• Lissa Monk
• Pauline Murray

Supported by Natilie Mackland and Jim Gordon (Dundee City Council), Clem Broumley Young (volunteer) and the West End Councillors.

If you would like to get involved please email us at westendfestival@rocketmail.com

First meeting success

Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting on 17 June - it was a great turnout that produced some excellent ideas and a team of people to turn the festival dream into a festival reality.

More details will follow next week.

First public meeting

After a couple of informal meetings to get our initial thoughts together about running the West End Festival 2010, we are now holding our first public meeting to formally set up the West End Festival Committee. The meeting takes place at :

The Memorial Hall

Logie St John's (Cross) Church

Shaftesbury Terrace

Dundee

on Wednesday 17th June 2009 at 7pm

Everyone is welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you there!

A Festival for Dundee's West End

Why have a festival?
Dundee's West End has some excellent resources, lively communities and much to offer both residents and visitors; a West End Festival would showcase these. The economic stimulus of a festival will be welcome to local businesses. Showcasing the area would not only bring in revenue it would stimulate new connections and therefore new initiatives. It would demonstrate Dundee's potential to host events by national bodies which don't yet perform here. But most importantly it would be fun, for residents, visitors and participants. Looking at successful local festivals in other cities Dundee's West End has all the right ingredients.

When? 20 - 27 June 2010
Timed to coincide with Dundee University's graduation when lots of visitors will be in the West End, and just before the schools finish for summer holidays.

Where?
At venues large and small, indoor and outdoor all over the West End.

Who can be involved?
The short answer is whoever wants to be involved - we have already had initial support from representatives of Dundee Rep, DCA and Dundee University. But a festival is also about community groups, local residents (from tots to great grannies and granddads) all getting involved and enjoying themselves.

What will be on?
What would you like to see? A parade? Street theatre? Indoor theatre? Street art? Indoor art? Exhibitions? Competitions? Music? Dance? Workshops? Sports? Gardens? Walks?

Get involved and help shape a festival for your community

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to the new website of the Dundee West End Festival 2010.

A group of local residents, community groups, local organisations and city councillors in Dundee's West End have come together to organise a festival for the area, taking place between 20th and 27th June 2010.

We would welcome your help! Please contact us at westendfestival@rocketmail.com - many thanks!