Inverness artists invited to first free Cultural Assembly

Name: Highlands’ first Cultural Assembly
Start: 2026-09-16
End: 2026-09-16
Location: Drumossie Hotel

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-09-08 13:32 3 min read

An artist standing in his studio surrounded by a collection of his paintings.

The Highlands’ first Cultural Assembly will bring artists and cultural organisations together at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The Assembly is free to attend and is intended for artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations and cultural bodies from across the Highlands.

Anyone interested in participating can register their interest by emailing cityofculture@highand.gov.uk. Creative practitioners who attended the Cultural Conversation in Strathpeffer in June have also been invited.

Artists will help shape a new Highlands strategy

The gathering is being established as a permanent forum through which the region’s cultural community can collaborate, share knowledge and pursue collective action. A central priority will be developing a new arts and cultural strategy for the Highlands.

That gives prospective participants a defined role beyond attending a one-day event: the Assembly is designed to create a collective voice for the sector and provide a continuing route for artists and organisations to influence its direction.

Organisers want participation to reflect the breadth and diversity of cultural work across the region. The invitation extends to established organisations as well as individual practitioners and artists who believe they can contribute a perspective that is not currently being heard.

Fiona Dalgetty named as the first Convener

Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Fèis Rois, has been confirmed as the Assembly’s first Convener. She said artists’ voices must sit at the heart of the forum and encouraged people with new perspectives to come forward.

Inverness artists invited to first free Cultural Assembly

“There’s an opportunity for new voices within the cultural sector to become heard and I would encourage anyone who feels they can contribute to come forward and join us on what will be an important first step,” Dalgetty said.

A Creative Highland board will support the Assembly and help turn discussion across the sector into action. The forum follows the Cultural Conversation held at Strathpeffer in June as part of Beò! 2029, the Inverness-Highland bid to become UK City of Culture in 2029.

Although the Assembly emerged from that bid activity, it has been designed to continue beyond the competition. The Beò! 2029 team submitted its detailed bid in August, with Inverness-Highland competing against eight other longlisted locations. A shortlist of up to four locations is expected in October 2026.

Registration and financial support

Attendance is free, but interested participants are being asked to register by email rather than assume entry is automatic. Limited financial support is available to offset loss of earnings for full-time self-employed artists, helping freelance practitioners take part in the first meeting and future gatherings.

No start time, transport guidance or accessibility arrangements were included in the published event information. Prospective attendees who need those details can request them when registering their interest at cityofculture@highand.gov.uk.

Source: Highland Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The date, venue, attendance terms and participation process were checked against information published by Highland Council.

Checks

Confirmed the Assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
Confirmed the venue as the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.
Confirmed that attendance is free and registration of interest is by email.
Confirmed that limited loss-of-earnings support is available for full-time self-employed a...

Highland Council Check wider coverage