Welcome to COAST

2008 saw the very first COAST Festival of the Visual Arts, an annual weekend of events that takes place in the beautiful Banffshire Coast towns of Banff & Macduff.

The Festival runs over the long bank holiday weekend at the end of May; the next Festival will take place from 22nd to 25th May 2009.

COAST aims to become a festival of both National and International prominence, to promote the visual arts in its many forms, develop the arts community in the area and attract visitors from far and wide to enjoy everything this stretch of the rugged Scottish coastline can offer.

The second annual COAST Festival this May incorporates over 35 events and activities over the 4-day weekend and includes exhibitions from Francis Boag - who opens his 2009 solo exhibition with Just Art at the Festival; The Society of Scottish Artists; Peacock Visual Arts; David Blyth & Michael Agnew and many more local and visiting artists as well as the COAST Fine and Applied Art Fair. In addition to the fantastic exhibitions on offer we have a fantastic selection of participatory art workshops, stunning public art installations, a variety of film screenings and of course our Local Food Fair.... have a look at our What's On page to view details of all events and activities.

The Festival launches this year with a free public event at Banff Castle on Friday 22nd May from 6pm; we'll be celebrating the opening of COAST 2009 in the year of Homecoming with traditional Scottish music, dance and food, and are pleased to welcome First Minister Alex Salmond back to Banff & Macduff as our special guest to open the Festival once again.

After the public launch all exhibitions will preview until 9pm at various locations across Banff & Macduff.

Please contact us if you don't already have a brochure and would like one posted to you - and please remember to sign up at the bottom of the page to receive email updates offering future opportunities to get involved with COAST or just to see how we are progressing.

We look forward to seeing you at COAST 2009!

Danielle Daglan

Festival Director