A RAFT of community suppers will take place across the region on Burns Night, thanks to lottery funding.
The events in Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright, Corsock, Holywood, Glencaple, Moffat, Langholm and Dumfries are being supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. Venues include community halls, pubs and an arts centre. Each has a theme, punk for example in Moffat.
One of the venues is Ellisland Farm, just outside Dumfries, where Burns lived and produced some of his greatest work.
Joan McAlpine, project director of the Robert Burns Ellisland Museum and Farm, said, “It’s exciting to be inviting the community in to celebrate a Burns Supper in the barn that Burns built. This is very much in the spirit of the Big Burns Supper, rolling out Scottish culture and traditions to everyone.
“It used to be the case that you could only attend a Burns Supper as a member of a club. This means all ages and backgrounds can celebrate our national bard.”
The suppers also come under the umbrella of the Big Burns Supper.
Founder Graham Main said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing our unique programming to venues beyond Dumfries. Big Burns Supper is all about community, accessibility and making Burns relevant to a new audience. This wider reach helps us achieve that.”
