Breakfast at An Lanntair with the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP

  • Published on: 27th February 2017
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Press Release                                                                              27 February 2017

Breakfast at An Lanntair with the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP:  Launch of a Season of Programming for International Women’s Day

It is with a great deal of pride and excitement that An Lanntair announces it is to host the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, for a talk on women in politics and public life in Scotland. This will launch Broad Ways, a season at An Lanntair specially curated to celebrate International Women’s Day.

 

Members of the public should book their free tickets in advance via An Lanntair’s website or box office. The audience is invited to arrive at 8.30am on Monday 6th March 2017, with last entries at 8.45am. Students from The Nicolson Institute have also been invited to attend.

 

Coffee, tea and breakfast snacks will be served as the audience settles in to hear the First Minister talk on how women experience work in politics and in public life: the hurdles being faced and achievements made by women today, and the opportunities she anticipates for the future.

 

CEO of An Lanntair, Elly Fletcher, said:  “I am thrilled that the First Minister has chosen An Lanntair as her first port of call for her visit to the Isle of Lewis on the 6th March.  Nicola Sturgeon, as the first female First Minister and a strong advocate for equality, is an inspiration for women all over the world.  As we launch our season of programming for International Women’s Day here at An Lanntair, this is a wonderful chance for us all to hear her take on the importance of and opportunities for women in Scotland today and in the future.”

 

Nicola Sturgeon’s speech will launch An Lanntair’s new season, Broad Ways: a programme of events in honour of International Women’s Day on 8th March. The events include work from prominent and talented Scottish artists like actor and writer Gerda Stevenson, Orcadian filmmaker Margaret Tait and musicians, The Bevvy Sisters.

 

There is also a selection of wonderful films from international female filmmakers on offer, and Party at the Pictures presents: Desperately Seeking Susan, at which the classic Madonna vehicle will be followed by a club night with DJs playing some of the best music by female artists late into the night.

 

An Lanntair is not alone in acknowledging the contribution of women to Scottish culture this March: Back Football and Recreation Club will be celebrating International Women’s Day with a visual arts exhibition and a series of events. Full details are available on their website: http://www.backfrc.org.uk/index.php/what-s-on

 

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Broad Ways at An Lanntair

Live events:

Story Makars with Gerda Stevenson Thurs 9th March 8pm £5/4

Acclaimed writer and performer Gerda Stevenson will read from a new collection she has been working on about overlooked women from Scottish history and culture. One of these is pioneering film-making talent, Margaret Tait. Three of Tait’s shorts will be shown alongside Gerda’s reading – each of them a very different and intimate portrait of a woman – with live accompaniment from Jess Ipkendanz.

 

The Bevvy Sisters Fri 10th March 8pm £12/£10

Co-founded by Lewis born Heather Macleod, The Bevvy Sisters have won a uniquely distinctive place in audiences’ hearts. Their radiantly triple-layered voices and artfully wide-ranging repertoire of vintage, contemporary and original songs stand out from the crowd in both style and substance.

 

Mixing equal measures of sweetness and sass, grit and glamour, heartbreak and hilarity – cut with a dash of potent Scottish spirit. Pure vocal magic, distilled to the power of three.

 

The Bevvy Sisters will also host a women’s singing workshop, Friday afternoon, with workshop participants invited to join the Bevvy Sisters on stage that night.

 

Film:

She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (12A) Wed 8th March 6pm £7/£4.50

At a time when, as Variety put it, “the clock seems to be turning backward on many of the issues – reproductive rights, sexual harassment, equal pay, etc. – that “libbers” fought more than 40-odd years ago”, this documentary celebrates the incredible achievements of the women’s liberation movement in the U.S

 

The Fits (12A) Sat 11 March 5pm £7/£4.50

The Fits follows 11-year-old Toni as she is drawn from working out at the boxing club with her brother Jermaine, into the insular and intoxicating world of a group of young dancers in the next gym. Once she has joined their troupe, a strange case of mass seizures begins to affect the girls.

 

Saturday 11th March 8pm-1am – Party at the Pictures presents: Desperately Seeking Susan £5-10

As part of our season of women’s work at An Lanntair, we’re showing a film in which the central character spends all of her time watching and aspiring to be one of the most iconic women in Western pop culture; the 1985 classic Desperately Seeking Susan stars Madonna, back when she was the coolest person on the face of planet Earth. As the film ends we’ll launch straight into a live DJ set showcasing a varied range of music by excellent women.

 


In The Pocket Cinema:

Friday 10th March 2pm – Clueless (12A) £4/Free for 18-and-unders

Arguably the greatest teen movie ever made, Clueless goes much deeper than its surface sheen of fashion and high school drama suggests. Amy Heckerling’s 90s take on Jane Austen’s Emma is a witty and endearing satire on privilege and conformity.

 

Thursday 16th March 6pm – At Five In The Afternoon (U) £4

Samira Makhmalbaf won the Jury Prize at Cannes for this visually striking portrayal of a bright and spirited young woman living in Afghanistan who dreams of becoming the country’s first female president.

 

Thursday 23rd March 2pm – Cleo from 5 to 7 (PG) £4

A classic piece of French cinema, Cléo from 5 to 7 shows in real time two hours in the life of a young pop star-on-the-rise as she awaits the daunting results of a medical test.

 

Friday 31st March 8.30pm – Girlfriends (12A) £4

Described as ‘the most influential film about female friendship you’ve never heard of’, Claudia Weills’ beautifully written 1978 debut feature follows young New York photographer Susan as she overcomes the loss of her best friend and roommate to marriage and a family.

Ends

 

Notes to Editor:

  • International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. For more information visit www.internationalwomensday.com
  • An Lanntair is a multi-disciplinary Arts Centre in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
  • An Lanntair is a registered charity – SC003287
  • An Lanntair is supported by Creative Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.