Sideline Multi Arts

Sideline Multi Arts (SMA) is a voluntary group which was set up in 1998 to encourage community involvement in the arts. The idea was to create a community performance each year which would incorporate a wide range of artistic activities.

The form of the community performance varies from year to year but generally includes one or two preliminary workshops held in the spring or early summer, led by professional musicians, writers and/or artists, in order to provide ideas and work on material for the performance in August. Then, in the last week of school summer holidays, the Barn is taken over for five hectic days when people of all ages create and experience music, dance, drama and visual arts, culminating in a public performance on the fifth day.

The 2005 production was 'Phantom of the Loch', a local story concerned with the early history of Crathes, prior to the building of the Castle. This production was led by Bob Pegg and Sara Schena; it had substantial involvement of the Scolty Centre with music largely improvised by students of Bands at the Barn in an initiative to encourage young rock bands in the area supported by the Scottish Arts Councilís Youth Music Initiative.

SMA has taken a holiday since 2006 but is now emerging from slumber and we would like to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming involved in a community performance in 2012. Please contact mail [at] woodendbarn [dot] co [dot] uk (subject: SMA%3A%20get%20involved) or call 01330 826520.