Tolbooth music photo exhibition attracts worldwide visitors as more events planned

Tolbooth Stirling is gearing up for more exciting exhibitions after welcoming visitors from as far afield as Kazakhstan at their most recent gallery event.

A visitor to the exhibition looks at the images on display
Images from the Scottish music scene of the 1980's featured prominently in the recent Tolbooth exhibition. (Photo credit: Alexander Bland, courtesy of Stirling Photography Festival).

An estimated 1,500 visitors paid a visit to the award-winning Tolbooth venue as it hosted ‘What Presence: the Music Photography of Harry Papadopoulos’ a rare exhibition featuring the work of the celebrated music photographer, presented in partnership with Stirling Photography Festival and Street Level Photoworks.

‘Keeping the Stories Alive’ a fascinating display of memorabilia and images collated by David Meldrum Lowe that captured the energy of Stirling and Scotland’s music scene in the 1980s featured alongside the exhibition.

In addition to being a hit with local visitors, the event attracted people from across Scotland and beyond with guestbook contributions from Manchester, Derby, Amsterdam and Kazakhstan.

Following on from the incredibly popular exhibition, the Tolbooth recently launched sit/read/be, a free, immersive experience that combines film and mindfulness with poetry from Stirling Makar, Laura Fyfe. This exhibition remains open until 9 November.

'Championing local artists'

Stirling Council Depute Leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey said: “I was delighted to see the overwhelmingly positive reception that the recent music photography exhibition received at the Tolbooth which was reflected in the number and geographical spread of visitors who came to see it.

“The Tolbooth provides a fantastic space for exhibitions such as ‘What Presence’ which embodies Stirling’s support for arts and culture that can attract visitors from across the country and beyond.

“I’m delighted that local artists and creatives can be given a platform to showcase their craft at the Tolbooth who have championed their work and continue to do so.”

Upcoming events

Other upcoming exhibitions scheduled to take place at the Tolbooth include ‘Autism Through an Autistic Lens’, a Photography and Zine Exhibition which opens on 15 November and features various artwork from autistic people to communicate their experiences and challenge discrimination. Curated by Sarah Dantas as part of a research project conducted by The University of Stirling.

In February, Tolbooth Gallery will present an exhibition that will spotlight the work of Dunblane-based, bespoke glass-blower, Elin Isaksson who was recently awarded the Scottish Album of the Year Design Commission.

For more info on all the events at the Tolbooth and Stirling Council’s other venues, visit: www.stirlingevents.org.