ST MARY’S Music School in Edinburgh has been given a paper sculpture from the artist whose works became notable in the literary and arts world in 2011.

The Anonymous Sculptor, whose identity has remained a secret except that she is a woman, sent her latest work of art to St Mary’s Music School for the first day of the new school year.

In her accompanying note addressed to “the current and future pupils of St Mary’s Music School”, the artist revealed that the sculpture is her way of showing support for the campaign to make the Old Royal High school, on Calton Hill, the new home for St Mary’s Music School.

Like all her other work, it is made from old books.

It depicts a musician on stage who is playing a cello surrounded by flying musical notes.

This is the first time the sculptor has gifted one of her pieces to music: the sculpture stands at 37cms high.

The first sculpture appeared in Edinburgh in 2011 as a gift for The Scottish Poetry Library.

Other sculptures have been gifted to cultural institutions in Edinburgh.

In 2016, the artist announced that the time had come to “draw time on the project”.

However, the campaign to relocate St Mary’s Music School to the former Royal High School building on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill inspired her again.

In her note to the school, the sculptor said: “What makes a place, in this case a city, this city, special? The question of what we do with our buildings has to be key.”

www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk

A NEW cinema is set to be built in Fort William.

The Skye-based design firm Dualchas Architects has been appointed to design the two screen cinema with a café/bar built in Cameron Square.

The project has been developed by Angus MacDonald, who has recently purchased the 1970s former studio cinema, now used by retailer DV8.

This will, if the plans go ahead, be demolished and replaced with the new building.

Ms MacDonald said: “We are delighted to have appointed Dualchas as architects.

“Their reputation in selecting fantastic local building materials and their contemporary twist on Highland traditional building styles was very appealing to us.

“They have already produced a beautiful design concept which is being developed prior to it being presented to the local community.”

Fort William has not had a working cinema for 12 years.

Neil Stephen, director of Dualchas, said: “When you look at photographs of Cameron square prior to the town hall being demolished in 1975, you can see what an important focal point and public space the square used to be, and could be again.

"There are beautiful historic buildings within Fort William – our job will be to create a civic building and space which stitches in to the fabric of the built environment and provides a wonderful facility."

The proposed opening date for the new facility is the summer of 2020.

www.dualchas.com

A THEATRE performance inspired by a 15th Century Scottish poem is to premiere at the Findhorn Bay Festival.

The play, produced by Kresanna Aigner of Findhorn Bay Arts, is a stage adaptation of The Buke of Howlat, a Scots poem written by Richard Holland, on Darnaway Estate in Moray.

It will open to audiences on September 27, for five nights at Brodie Castle in Moray.

Ms Aigner said: “The story is steeped in culture, language and identity with the journey of the Howlat having significance and relevance to our lives today for people of all ages to appreciate and enjoy.”

The stage adaptation is written by playwright, actress and musician, Morna Young.

Ms Young is the recipient of the 2017 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship and received the New playwrights Award 2014.

Lost at Sea, her first full-length play was developed in 2013 with Stellar Quines Theatre Company and is now in production with Perth Theatre.

Morna Young said: “As a Moray quine, I'm delighted to return 'home' as part of this year's Findhorn Bay Festival. The Buke of the Howlat is a special work with much local relevance. In this theatrical adaptation, I have tried to create a piece that both honours the original poem's essence whilst translating this for a contemporary audience.”

The production will be directed by Ben Harrison, co-founder of Grid Iron.

www.findhornbayfestival.com