Creative Coathanger festival pair up for joint award

The event, held to celebrate all things artistic in the region earlier this autumn, has been shortlisted for the annual Arts and Business Scotland Awards, through Melrose-based design and marketing agency Brand Satellite, the firm responsible for the festival’s branding and marketing.

Creative Coathanger transformed Galashiels town centre, turning empty shops into space for artists, designers and craftspeople to exhibit, as well as hosting pop-up studios and art installations, demonstrations and a craft market.

The festival is shortlisted in the business creativity category.

Mark Timmins, one of the festival’s directors, said: “It is absolutely astounding.

“When I found out, I could have fallen through the floor.

“It is such a vote of confidence for us and whether we win or not, getting to the top five is just brilliant.

“This gives us another platform, with a national stage to showcase what we are trying to do and that is really positive.

“The whole thing about Creative Coathanger is that it is a group of really interested people and organisations who just thought we had to do something.

“It brought in a substantial amount of visitors who otherwise would not have come to the Scottish Borders.

“On a hope and a prayer, we put ourselves forward for the awards, and we were amazingly surprised to find out that we have been shortlisted. It’s very exciting.”

The business creativity category recognises nominations that establish and develop partnerships with cultural organisations to drive and develop opportunities which impact on the wider community.

Arts and Business Scotland chief executive David Watt said: “Throughout the judging process, what was abundantly clear was the value that cultural organisations bring to both rural and urban communities though their social and economic impacts.”

The award will be held on Thursday, March 27.