Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival and Spring Fling open studios have teamed up to promote arts and cultural activity in Scotland’s south-west. The organisations are working together on a two-year joint marketing drive that involves visitor information, online and offline marketing, competitions, a promotional film and special offers. The initiative has been supported by Dumfries & Galloway Council as part of its strategy to promote cultural tourism.

The Arts Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, with 50 performances over 10 days from 24 May to 2 Jun, including Lucy Porter with her show Pass It On at Lockerbie Town Hall on 29 May and father/daughter folk pairing Martin & Eliza Carthy at Moffat Town Hall on 25 May.

Meanwhile the main Spring Fling open studios weekend takes place between 25 and 27 May and includes more than 15 workshops and master-classes, evening events and public art. Studio visitors will be able to meet professional artists and makers who create high quality ceramics, furniture, glassware, jewellery, painting, printmaking and textiles.

Joanna Macaulay, Events and Exhibitions Manager for Upland which runs Spring Fling, said: “We are joining forces with the D&G Arts Festival to offer visitors some of the best in contemporary Scottish culture. In late May and early June there will be around 200 arts and cultural events and activities and open studios to choose from – including lots that are family friendly. It’s a great opportunity to get a real taste of contemporary Scottish arts in one of the country’s most beautiful rural regions.”

Ken Gouge, Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, concurred: “Spring Fling and the festival are natural partners, taking place at the same time and creating a huge creative buzz across the region. It’s a chance to enjoy high-quality arts of all kinds in an amazing variety of venues from theatres, studios and galleries to farms, cottages, pubs, arts centres, and town halls.”

The organisations are also running a competition for three couples to win an Arts Pass, worth £500 each with the package offering show tickets, spending money and much more.

For further details on Spring Fling please visit www.spring-fling.co.uk

For the Arts Festival programme visit www.dgartsfestival.org.uk