Arts events in Stirling in the 1980s and 1990s

The Council has been responsible for organising some imaginative arts events over the years. The records of some of these have ended up in the Archives along with some wonderful photographs showing local people enjoying the music, plays and exhibitions that have been held. Here is a selection of images from some of these events from the 1980s and 1990s. You may remember attending these events or know some of the people in the photographs.

Several plays on historical themes were specially written and performed in the historic setting of the Tolbooth in Stirling as part of the ‘Living History’ project. These covered various aspects of the city’s history and featured several well-known figures including Kings James III, IV and VI, Mary Queen of Scots, John Cowane, the merchant who left a fortune in his will to build Cowane’s Hospital for the poor and the two Radicals, John Baird and Andrew Hardie who were executed for Treason in Stirling in September 1820. Ghost walks in the City’s ancient burial grounds were also offered to those souls with courage enough to brave them, beginning a tradition that continues to this day.

A Mediaeval Market was held in Stirling in 1989 and August 1996. These featured all manner of activities, street stalls and street performers, and both events were clearly very well received by those attending.

There were arts festivals including ‘The Whole Shebang’ in 1995 and ‘The Gathering’ in 1999. These featured art and music both on the street and in various venues.

“Show On Ice” was a public event outside the Albert Halls in Stirling on 2nd April 1995, held as part of the ‘The Whole Shebang’ Arts Festival. This fun installation was created by the ‘Hanging Together’ arts collective, a group of artists based in Central Scotland who have produced some remarkable exhibitions over the years. You can find out more about ‘Hanging Together’ here.

Imaginative hot air balloon designs at this event in King’s Park.

Shown here performing on Port Street in Stirling are the Humpff Family Band. A popular outfit in the 1990s at all sorts of events, they are seen here playing in Port Street Stirling around 1999. The band recently re-formed and now appears at venues across Scotland once more.

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