Social life, leisure and recreation, art and culture in Orkney
Orcadians of all ages enjoy an immense range of leisure pursuits - sporting and cultural.
There’s a strong tradition of community associations, clubs and societies and the many activities reflect Orkney’s diverse environment such as golf, badminton, rugby, football, drama, hill walking; or loch fishing, diving, windsurfing and bird watching.
Events associated with the land are particularly well supported in Orkney - with cattle shows, ploughing matches, harvest homes and village produce shows filling the summer calendar.
You are never far away from excellent examples of Orkney's unique culture and heritage. Music, arts, crafts and cultural groups thrive throughout the year in the islands, with many of these interests collaborating in the internationally recognised St Magnus Festival, a celebration of music and arts held every summer.
There is also an annual Orkney Folk Festival plus Jazz, Country, Blues and a Beer Festival. This has helped make Orkney a favourite year-round destination for visiting groups and artistes.
Interests in drama, dance, music, the visual arts and new media, crafts and literature are all well represented, and over the years world-wide acclaim has come to many talented performers, writers, artists and musicians who have either been lifelong residents or those who have made Orkney their home.
In Stromness, the Pier Arts Centre, newly refurbished and expanded in 2007, houses one of Britain's finest collections of 20th century paintings and sculpture.
The cultural environment has fostered the concentration of many craft skills - in jewellery, pottery, knitwear, ceramics and textiles, traditional furniture, paintings and tapestries. One of their combined effects has been the creation of the Orkney Craft Trail.
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