8th September 2026
The Highlands’ first Cultural Assembly will take place in Inverness this September, with Fiona Dalgetty of Fèis Rois confirmed as its first Convener.
The Assembly aims to bring together artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations and cultural bodies from across the region to help shape the future of arts and culture in the Highlands while creating a stronger, collective voice for the sector.
Organisers are keen to ensure the Assembly reflects the breadth and diversity of the region’s cultural community. Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to register their interest by emailing cityofculture@highand.gov.uk. Limited funding support to offset loss of earnings is available to enable full-time self-employed artists to attend.
The Assembly has been established as a permanent cultural forum following the successful Cultural Conversation event at Strathpeffer in June 2026 as part of the Beò! 2029, the Inverness-Highland UK City of Culture bid.
Designed to outlive the bid process, it will provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and collective action.
One of its key priorities will be the development of a new arts and cultural strategy for the Highlands.
Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Fèis Rois, welcomed the opportunity to become the Assembly’s first Convener.
She said: “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. Artists’ voices must be at the heart of this Cultural Assembly, and I am pleased that there will be financial support to enable freelance creatives to contribute to this first Assembly and to future gatherings.”
The Cultural Assembly will be supported by a Creative Highland board, which will help drive positive action across the sector.
The first Assembly will take place at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, on Wednesday 16 September.
Creative practitioners who attended the Cultural Conversation have been invited to attend. For more information visit: Cultural Assembly - Highland Council
Beò! 2029
In August 2026, the Beò! 2029 bid team submitted its detailed submission for UK City of Culture in 2029. Inverness-Highland will compete against Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham for the title. A panel of judges will assess all nine longlisted submissions before announcing a shortlist of up to four locations in October 2026.
As the only Scottish entry in the competition and the first in its history to represent both a city and wider region, Beò! 2029 showcases the Highlands as place of living culture - ancient and modern, rooted in the region’s people, place, language, landscape and creativity.
The bid highlights the richness and diversity of culture across Inverness and the Highlands, while demonstrating the vital role culture plays in supporting thriving, resilient and sustainable urban, rural, coastal and island communities.
It sets out how cultural investment can help address challenges such as depopulation, increase participation, strengthen wellbeing and build confidence in the region as a place to live, work, study and create.