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MORNING PROGRAMME
Reclamation and Remembrance with the Creative Coven
Rowan is a storyteller and author who has given voice to the accused witches of Scotland through oral and written stories, songs, performance art, and memorial events. She established the Creative Coven to bring together creatives whose work was inspired by the Scottish Witch Hunts. They have produced innovative sold-out performances, art, and workshops in collaboration with Karen Strang. Their mission is to explore the historical persecution of the Scottish witch hunts through the evocative and emotive power of the arts.
The Creative Coven are joined by some of Scotland’s most talented, artists, storytellers, singers, and speakers. This Weaving Threads Event marks our reclamation of the historic date of the Witchcraft Act of 1563, as a creative memorial to Scotland’s accused witches. May it live in your heart forever. ....
SPEAKERS AND STORIES
The De’il in the Butter Churn with Scott Richardson Reid
An independent researcher, published Author, activist, and Scottish folk magic practitioner. Scott has several master’s degrees in research and related subjects informing his exploration of Scottish Folklore, customs, practices, and traditions to explore their relevance to us today and to inform a tradition based in a historic and social reality. In this presentation, Scott will journey through Scottish elite beliefs and everyday folk magic. He is exploring witchcraft trial records, and cultural testimony, and comparing them with domestic folk magic and lifeways. In scrutinising an elite-working class discourse we explore power differences still echoing in today’s Scotland and the diaspora.
Transformational Tales with Jane Mather
Jane is a storyteller and woodland leader with a background in community work. She is a guardian of a healing well and shares traditional Scottish stories and legends that evoke wild landscapes and inspire nature connection. Jane's recent work focuses on themes of remembrance and weaving traditional stories into new narratives. Jane’s performance weaves together two tales of transformation from the wild north edge of Scotland. The first tells of an 18th-century Caithness witch trial following a plague of cats in Scrabster, the second is a poignant faerie tale from Sutherland about a witch’s romance.
WORKSHOPS
Unknown Witch with Rowan Morrison and Karen Strang
There are 625 unknown witches listed in the Scottish trial records. The first record of 'a great number of unknown witches' happened in 1590 and was connected to the North Berwick Witch Hunt. Most were probably poor folk deemed unworthy of having their names recorded. This channelled art workshop aims to give these accused witches a portrait, where history failed to remember their names. In collaboration, we will create a unique art book for future exhibitions.
The Witch of Auldern with Helen Wright
During this workshop, Helen will talk about the inspiration that she drew from Isobel Gowdie, not just to create her work of community art but also the poetry she has written in remembrance of the Witch of Auldearn. Helen will support participants in drawing from this deep well so they can create memorials in the written word.
Folk Magic Poppets with Katy Bremer
Throughout history, poppets made from natural materials have been used in acts of sympathetic magic with the intent to curse, cure, or protect against baneful witchcraft. In this workshop, Katy will show you how to create a folk magic poppet made from soft rush, that are similar to a traditional Brideóg effigy. Harm to none!
ART EXHIBITION
Karen Strang is an award-winning visual artist who graduated from the Glasgow School of Art and studied further at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Over the years, she has created many powerful works of art that were inspired by the Scottish witch hunts and has painted live images of persecution as a performance artist. Karen will be exhibiting the Coven’s iconic image of The Burning Witch and other art. Prepare to feel their potency stir your blood.
Katy Bremner is an artist and basket weaver. She studied contemporary art in Glasgow and combined traditional willow basketry techniques to make more experimental pieces. Her interest in the witch trials grew as she moved to Fife where it was impossible to ignore the rich history and folklore on her doorstep. Katy will be exhibiting her Wicker Devil. This large multi-media exhibition piece will command the stage in the theatre. The Witches Bridal, complete with tongue spikes will be on our table for all to see.
Linda Morrow is a self-taught artist with a background in Theatrical costume. She experienced an artistic re-awakening under a midsummer moon. Since then, she has painted and created art that reflects her spiritual path. Her powerful 3D witch heads are visceral memorials to Scotland’s accused. Linda will be showing her Maiden, Mother, Crone sculptures. 3D heads whose faces are full of untold stories of persecution.
Helen Wright has a degree in Fine Art Sculpture and worked as an Art and Design teacher. After moving to Auldearn in 2006, she became aware that there was no public memorial to Isobel Gowdie. In 2021, Helen put that right when she created an innovative mural on a public-facing wall that depicted the story of the Witch of Auldearn. Helen will be exhibiting some new paintings done especially for the event.
Rowan Morrison’s linen art memorial with the names of the four thousand Scottish accused witches who suffered for the crime of witchcraft will be on display along with her hand-sewn ‘Declaration of Reclamation’ of the 4th of June as a National Day of Remembrance for Scotland’s Accused Witches. And her exhibit, the Witch Children.
A host of coven members have contributed to our Unknown Witch Art Memorial. Some of the portraits have been made into small sets of memorial prints that can be purchased on the day. We will also have our Sewing Seeds of Remembrance Bags filled with wildflower seeds. All money raised will buy trees for the Witches Memorial Grove.
AFTERNOON PROGRAMME
Unknown Witch poetry with guest Poets Marianne Berghuis Janine Philips Janis Wemyss.
SPEAKERS AND STORIES
We Are All Witches with Mairi Kidd
Mairi is Head of Literature, Languages, and Publishing at Creative Scotland and has an MA in Celtic Studies. She is CEO of Moat Brae, Scotland's National Centre for Children's Books, and has worked with the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and local authorities. Mairi is a contributor to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s books coverage and writes for broadcasts. Mairi’s book, a weaving of fiction and fact was inspired by women who lived under the shadow of witch persecution. Her presentation invites us to explore the forces at work in one of the darkest episodes of Scotland's history and consider their echoes in the present day.
The Witches of Atholl with Lindey Gibb
Lindsey is a performance storyteller based in Highland Perthshire, specialising in history and the environment and local folklore. In 2023 she researched and performed ‘The Lost Witches of Dunkeld’, sharing stories of the accused witches of the area. She has performed nationally and internationally and is co-author of Perthshire Folk Tales. Lindsey’s performance takes you on a journey to Perthshire to meet Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl, Dunkeld’s Issobell Douglas, and Margaret Stewart who fought back against their accusers. You will hear about the Great Witch Gathering and the role the powerful Earls of Atholl played in the trials. This is not the story you expect!
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Singing Their Souls Home with Rowan Morrison
Women were persecuted as witches because it was feared that they could charm, curse, and cast spells with their voices. By reclaiming the magic of your voice, its medicine can begin to heal the legacy of the burning times. Through the ancient practice of keening, we will sound out our sorrow for the accused witches of Scotland.
Witches as Works of Art with Karen Strang
A talk from an award-winning painter about how the Scottish witch trials have inspired her paintings to create witches as works of art. Karen will explore women painters in the time of the Scottish witch trials and the alchemical use of natural materials in the creation process, as an act of magic.
Weaving Words with Jane Mather
During this creative workshop, we will explore the many faces of the witch in Scottish folklore. Create new writing inspired by folk tales, and weave individual charms of remembrance to commemorate the thousands of innocents accused and executed under the Witchcraft Act of 1563.
SONGS FROM THE WITCHES SABBAT
Joss Cameron is a traditional Scottish folk singer, researcher, artist, and award-winning songwriter born in Edinburgh and holds a First-Class BA (Hons) in Music Performance. She has a passion for promoting Scotland's rich culture, heritage, and traditions and holds courses and workshops as well as touring regularly.
Amy Dudley is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the piano, clarsach, and harmonium. She is an award-winning composer from Galloway who holds a BA (Hons) in Music Composition. She produces performances and regularly tours the country. Amy specialises in singing neo-classic, folk, and alternative modern music.
Together they will sing some of their Songs from the Witches Sabbat. Their haunting vocal harmonies will stir your soul, take you back to a dark time in history, and leave you in no doubt about the depth and richness of Scotland's magical song heritage.