Hello!  and welcome to the 'Sea Cromarty Sparkle' website.

- Crombaidh Làn Lainnir -

Now that the dust has settled it’s time to look back at what we achieved with our two, month-long festivals: Sea Cromarty Sparkle.

Fulfilling most of the cultural strands identified by Highland 2007 (arts, heritage, sport, environment, science) as well as the themes of youth, creativity, access & inclusiveness and re-interpretation of traditional Highland icons, our ambitious programme had something for everyone: incomer or native-born, resident or tourist, young or old, fit or less-abled.

Everyone has agreed that Sea Cromarty Sparkle was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work of many volunteers in Cromarty and to the generosity of so many funders. We produced 16 events or projects in the summer and 8 in the winter, involving over 2830 participants and 7170 spectators.

Whatever the criticisms of the Year of Highland Culture in some quarters, we in Cromarty can look back at what we achieved with pride, knowing that there are tangible and intangible benefits as a legacy of 2007.

Tangible legacies of the year are:

• This website which will remain live until 2009; hundreds of photos as well as the archive collection of press cuttings and specially produced leaflets and posters.
• Community plays; newly-formed drama and film clubs, the former attracting over 40 members of the community, many of them teenagers; a community photo featuring 386 members of the community; some resources available for future community use; community book and website; touring exhibition about the marine environment of the Moray Firth; Youth Café Scrapbook; a planned official record of Sea Cromarty Sparkle (currently in production).
• Experiences in interviewing, playwriting, lantern-making, project management, performing arts, shadow puppetry, marketing and promotion, website development, photography, sailing.
• Economic benefits from employment, residencies and extra business generated for local concerns. Many clubs and societies benefited from ticket and other sales, as well as national charities such as the RNLI.

Intangible legacies such as:

• Community pride, experience of working together, both as volunteers and/or participants or as interested spectators – all ages and backgrounds involved. By using a former shop window as our festival’s dedicated and constantly updated focal point, everyone in the community – including those without internet access – was kept aware of events, photos, press cuttings etc.
• Consultation and involvement with existing clubs, societies and school and youth groups meant that everyone who wanted to, had a stake in the programme. We were the envy of many other local communities who recognised our dynamism and community spirit.
  
  
  

We really hope you enjoyed Sea Cromarty Sparkle as much as we, the organisers and members of the community, did!  We're proud of what such a small group of people achieved and delighted that so many enjoyed and benefitted from it. 

2008 will be a quiet year in comparison to last, but in a happening and vibrant place such as Cromarty, there's always something going on.  The next event/concert/sale/workshop/fundraiser is no doubt in the planning as we speak!