St Andrew’s Fair Saturday will take place this year on 30th of November. The Scottish Government signed up to the Fair Saturday Movement last year and re-affirmed its commitment to do so again this year.

Fair Saturday is a response to the appalling consumerism of Black Friday. The many cultural events which take place donate any takings to social enterprises or charities.

The Orkney News took part last year with our exhibition in the Northlight Gallery Stromness on the Orcadian Woman’s Suffrage Society. Orcadian Suffragists Take Centre Stage for New Exhibition at the Northlight Gallery

Later on the  completed animation was shown in the Phoenix Cinema, Kirkwall for the week of International Women’s Day and is now taking part in several short film festivals.

This year The Orkney News exhibition will feature the stories of the men who were killed when HMS Pheasant sank off the coast of Hoy on 1st of March 1917. Fiona Grahame and Martin Laird are making a documentary about the men and their families and the exhibition will feature the research that they have uncovered. HMS Pheasant (1917): The Making of a Documentary

Any donations taken at the event will go to Orkney Rape and Sexual Assault Service and Cary Welling will again donate the exhibition space.

The Fair Saturday movement started 5 years ago in Bilbao, Spain and has now spread around the world.

Ben MacPherson,Europe Minister in the Scottish Government  will today, 24th of June, speak  to artists and arts organisation leaders at Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum.

“Three years ago the Scottish people voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, and whatever happens over the coming months Scotland will continue to be an outward-looking, welcoming nation, committed to strengthening our bonds with EU partners.”

“Culture in all its forms highlights what we have in common and helps us to celebrate our differences. It broadens our horizons when sometimes the world can seem to be closing in. It reminds us of what is important beyond the current political news cycle. It helps to bring us together, and we have rarely needed that more.”

“Combining our national day with the international Fair Saturday movement is a powerful expression of Scotland’s determination to remain welcoming, open and outward-looking in these challenging times, working in collaboration with European friends and other global partners to bring about positive change.”