West Highland Free Press photographer Willie Urquhart was named Journalist of the Year for the Highlands and Islands, winning £500s of which £300 goes to a charity of his choose. (He also scooped photographer of the year award). A trainee photographer at the former Glasgow Sunday Standard he has been with West High Free Press for 26 years.

Ian Abernethy,  the Lochaber freelance
journalist (right: with work and quaich) who has just completed 50 years in the business, is the winner of this year's Barron Trophy, was recognising for a lifetime achievement in journalism in the Highlands and Islands.

That has extended from 1959 as Lochaber correspondent for the Press and Journal and working for the Highland News Group before working in 1963 in the Press Services Division of the Central Office of Information, returning to Lochaber in 1980.

Known locally as Roamer, he collects and publishing anecdotes of life in Lochaber and runs the antiquarian and second hand Ben Nevis Book Corner  in Fort William (no longer on the web alas!). He continues to provide reports to local and national newspapers on a freelance basis through his agency, Abernethy Highland Press.

Scotland breaks out spring with arts sponsorship
A new Arts Sponsorship grant scheme to provide match-funding for first-time arts sponsors, or for companies that have not sponsored for at least three years, is also open to non-Scottish based companies to sponsor arts activities in Scotland.

Arts organisations which receive an eligible business sponsorship grant get £1 of funding for every £1 of sponsorship, through the Scottish Government's New Arts Sponsorship grant scheme, and in doing so, doubles sponsorship benefits offered to the business.

The success of the grant scheme offered by Arts & Business Scotland can be measured by the fact that the first tranche of funding has been spent generating more than £300,000 from businesses for arts in Scotland.Now an additional £50,000 awarded reflects commitment to the cultural sector, and demonstrates continued increased efforts to leverage business sponsorship to arts in the current climate.

Culture minister, Fiona Hyslop (left) said: "Despite the economic climate, attendances at cultural events and arts venues are holding up well. This is a good time for businesses to benefit from involvement in the arts, with tangible commercial benefits, whether it be branding, customer engagement, heightened community profile or staff development.

"I would encourage businesses throughout Scotland, particularly those in emerging sectors such as the computer games industry, to consider arts sponsorship as a rewarding way of adding value both to their business and to Scottish culture."

Barclay Price, (right) director at Art & Business Scotland said: "Research shows that it is those companies that continue to successfully market themselves that recover from periods of recession faster by stealing a march over their competitors, and arts sponsorship is a very cost effective form of promotion.

"For those companies that have not yet tried it, having the chance to obtain double sponsorship benefits for their investment through this government scheme is a great opportunity."

A successful arts business sponsorship cited is the grant of £13,000 awarded to Inspace  (left) the new public gallery at Edinburgh University School of Informatics, leveraging in-kind sponsorship worth £23,000 from Edinburgh-based electronic display company, Pufferfish Ltd towards exhibitons costs.


Highlands also work on 'art' approach
A prestigious art business based in a remote highland area is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to expand its work into promotion of other home-grown talent.

Artist James Hawkins with his wife Flick, have built up a successful (right) art studio over nearly 30 years at Rhue, north of Ullapool, in the north west Highlands.  Their open studio policy has attracted many visitors to the area. With HIE support, they now plan to put their wealth of experience to work by promoting high quality art from the Highlands and Islands.

"Having worked for 12 years with the Highland Arts Project I know the value to an artist of gaining access to important exhibitions, art fairs and partnerships,"  said Flick Hawkings. "When the project came to an end, I knew there was opportunity to work closely with some of the gifted artists from this area."

HIE's Raine MacLennan has been working with Rhueart to create a sustainable development plan.  "Rhueart hadn't really seen themselves as a key business in the local economy.  Together we have been able to look at their goals and aspirations and the impact their business growth can make.

"Their growing reputation as a dealer promoting high quality artwork from the Highlands & Islands will establish the area and encourage more artists. The core business will grow through their increased profile and e-commerce development."