Month nine gets set to shine!

Whether you are an aspiring scientist, seasoned movie connoisseur, budding theatre enthusiast or sports pro – September sees a bumper offering of Year of Young People events across the country for all. Co-designed by young people in collaboration with Scotland’s events and festivals sector, the range of events not only put young people in the driving seat but they offer a fantastic platform to showcase their skills and talents.

Already underway, Orkney International Science Festival (6-12 Sep) is wowing audiences with lectures by Nobel Laureates, concerts on environmental themes, newly created art and design as well as performances on science and history from visiting Irish musicians. Science fans big and small can learn about black holes, hydrogen for transport, human genetics and even try their hands at making a rocket!

Incredible leg-burning and lung-busting ascents, devilishly precipitous ridgelines, spectacular drops and the most challenging Scottish mountain terrain – the Skyrunning World Championships 2018 (13 – 16 Sep) at Kinlochleven’s Ice Factor will see athletes from across the globe compete in three disciplines of high-octane mountain running. Young people from local high schools will be involved in reporting from the event as well as providing musical entertainment.

On 14 and 15 September, the 3D Festival, a free two-day celebration of design, music and performance will mark the highly anticipated opening of the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum. Created in collaboration with V&A Dundee’s Young People’s Collective, Saturday will see creative talent from across Dundee take to the stage including performances from up-and-coming musicians, a mass participation choral collaboration, and specially designed hands-on makerspace workshops for all the family to enjoy.

One of the most innovative youth film festivals in Europe, Glasgow Youth Film Festival (GYFF) celebrates its 10th anniversary from 14 to 16 September with an outstanding programme of screenings curated by the GYFF Young Programmers. This year’s highlights include the Opening Screening of Scottish-based production and zombie musical mash-up Anna and the Apocalypse, the Scottish premiere of Skate Kitchen, a series of short films from across the globe created by young people and the Closing Screening of Richard Linklater’s classic School of Rock, preceded by a battle of the bands competition.

From 14 to 16 September, The BIG Takeover will see Shetland’s young people take over the reins at a number of local venues. The three-day programme is packed with arts, culture and sports on a scale the islands have never seen before. From an inflatable obstacle course to open mic sessions and a foam party in the park to circus workshops – fun for all is guaranteed.

All comic lovers are in for a treat at the People of Comics Exhibition at The Lighthouse in Glasgow (14 - 17 Sep). Organisers BHP Comics bring together the work of young people from BAME backgrounds making comics for the first time as part of the Full Colour Mentorship Project. With a stunning variation of art and storytelling covering various topics, the exhibition offers an inspiring look at the achievements and talents of young comics creators in Scotland, bridging the fun and meaningful.

Òran Mòr @ Blas Festival (15 Sep) promises to be a vibrant celebration of Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scenewith hundreds of young performers from Fèisean and other youth music groups coming together to showcase their amazing talents at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness alongside some of the top names in traditional music including Skipinnish, Trail West and Breabach. A major new moment in the annual Blas Festival not to be missed!

Award winning Findhorn Bay Festival (26 Sep – 1 Oct) returns with a spectacular six-day celebration of all things arts and culture. In celebration of the Year of Young People, a new unique theatre piece based on literary work The Buke of the Howlat will be produced with the help of the region’s young people. Follow the community cast on an outdoor musical adventure around the woods at Brodie Castle as they transform into different characters and tell you all about the Howlat (a young owl) who believes himself to be ugly and blames Mother Nature for his misfortune.

National Theatre of Scotland’s Futureproof brings together the most exciting theatre makers from all over the world, including leading Scottish artists, working side by side with communities of young people to create ten new productions to take place in ten locations across the country from 28 September to 28 October. A major radical new festival of international performing arts sharing young people stories, experiences and views on the world in theatrical ways through audio headsets, the flying of kites, radio transmissions, installations, truck rides, fashion and dance.

An unforgettable quiz night awaits you at National Mining Museum Scotland on 29 September. The museum’s Youth Panel, who have recently won the Arts & Culture Award at the Midlothian Young People Awards 2018, invite you to their Retro Quiz Night to test your and your team mates’ knowledge. The evening will raise funds for the Undercroft Project, which seeks to open the historically and architecturally Undercroft at the Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange.

Charlotte Dutton and Arman Kastner, Glasgow Youth Film Festival Young Programmers, said: “GYFF is a great way to meet other young people interested in films and to learn from industry professionals. Meeting new people who share the same passions as you is exciting and to organise a festival with them is an experience you won’t forget.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “The Year of Young People events taking place this month truly shine a spotlight on Scotland’s young people’s wonderful talents and fantastic achievements. They have played and continue to play a central role in staging imaginative and inspiring activities all across the country, working closely with events and festival organisers. We are delighted to be supporting such a varied and colourful array of events in celebration of this special year.”

Other highlights across the Year of Young People events programme this monthinclude Stranraer Oyster Festival, a celebration of Stranraer’s unique coastal heritage and culture with lots to do for young people (14 - 16 Sep), Historic Environment Scotland’s Archaeology Day at Holyrood Park Edinburgh on 15 September, Wigtown Book Festival with its dedicated young people’s strand curated by their young adult team (21 – 30 Sep) and #UNCON 2.0 in Perth on 22 September, a free all-day youth arts event featuring live music, theatre, dance, film, literature, poetry, visual art and more.

Young people will continue to design and develop their own creative and innovative community based events as part of Create18 – a programme led by Young Scot and funded by EventScotland as part of the Year of Young People. September Create18 events include a Rural Youth Summit in South Lanarkshire (3 Sep), a large-scale Board Games day in Glasgow entitled Stranger Games (8 Sep), a mini-highland games event for all ages in Angus (7 Sep), Milngavie and Bearsden Amateur Swimming Club will host  a Samba Swim Meet and the Purple Dragons will be hosting a youth-friendly zone as part of Dundee’s Pride event (22 Sep).

The Year of Young People events programme is running throughout the whole of 2018, for more information on events taking place beyond September please visit www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018