Popular Highland festival saved thanks to crowdfunding campaign

A popular Highland festival has been saved, just four weeks after a crowdfunding campaign was launched.

The Nairn Book and Arts Festival was facing cancellation this year because of a £15,000 shortfall, after it missed out of funding from Creative Scotland.

But a raft of donations from individuals, local groups and businesses helped ensure more than 100 events can go ahead in September.

Around 5,000 people attend the event every year.

David Godden, Chair of the Nairn Book and Arts Festival Committee, said: “We’re immensely relieved to be able to safeguard the Festival for this year, and hugely grateful to everyone across the Highlands and beyond who has supported us and given so generously.

"We have an even stronger sense, now, of how valued the Festival is by our community and regular Festival visitors.

"The fundraising campaign was very definitely a one-off, though, and we’ll be working hard to ensure that we get the support we need from all possible funding sources for future Festivals.

"In the meantime, we can now get on with the business of delivering the best possible Festival, come September."