Also in the news / Scottish Water jarl, Greenland comments and more …
SCOTTISH Water has paid tribute to employee Lynden Nicolson, who is set to lead the Lerwick Up Helly Aa festival next week.
Nicolson, who has worked for Scottish Water for 25 years, said that there had been “plenty of speculation” about his suit and whether he would choose green colours to reflect his support of Celtic, but added that people would “be surprised”.
He is leading the festival as guizer jarl having waited 18 years for his opportunity at the head of the ranks.
Speaking ahead of the event, he said: “As a meter technician, I am used to working in the community, but I am looking forward to hanging up my work gear and putting on my Viking suit.
“It’s an honour to represent both the festival and the organisation I work for at such an important cultural event for Shetland.”
Shetland News published a full interview with Nicolson and his family last week – read it here.
SHETLAND’S MP has urged for more cooperation with “our friends and neighbours” like Faroe, Iceland and Denmark.
Alistair Carmichael’s comments come on the back of an interview with a former US ambassador to Denmark, which referenced Shetland.
Carla Sands, who was the ambassador to Denmark from 2017 to 2021, told Channel 4 that Denmark “has not a chance” in defending Greenland – which US president Donald Trump has expressed a keenness in acquiring.
In the interview, Sands mentions the GIUK gap and says that “Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands are really near your Shetland Islands”.
“If anything, these comments surely highlight the importance of countries working together to deliver meaningful security in the North Atlantic – in the Northern Isles, Faroe, Iceland and Greenland alike,” Carmichael told Shetland News.
“In an ever-more unstable world – and one where destructive nationalism is rearing its head once again – we need more cooperation with our friends and neighbours, not less.
“Isolationism and nationalism are luxuries we cannot afford when our security is on the line.”
SHETLAND Arts has announced the five successful applicants from its autumn round of Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA).
VACMA offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £1,000, to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.
Kirstie Clubb is set to use her grant to recover and experiment with an undiscovered archive of up to 100 analogue family films, while Meilo So will paint ten scenes from the Shetland folktale Jan Tait and the Bear and have these turned into an animated film.
Coleen Thomson, Lydia Hann and Diana Winfield were the other successful applicants.
Applications for VACMA’s winter deadline are open until 3 February at 5pm.
MEANWHILE Shetland Arts is inviting applications for its next programme of Soup and a Show lunchtime concerts.
The idea behind the “Soup and a Show” format is that it features a short, 40-minute performance that can take place during the lunch hour.
Applications are invited from performers with readymade works, and the performance can be of any art form.
The dates for the next performances, which are on Thursday afternoons, are 2 April, 7 May, 4 June and 6 August. Applications close on Monday 2 February at 5pm.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
