What's New

• 17 May 2013

  NVA's Speed of Light Salford now available to watch online

  NVA’s Speed of Light at The Quays from NVA on Vimeo.

  NVA’s extraordinary public art performance Speed of Light, brought The Quays in Salford to life in March 2013.

  A centrepiece of the Edinburgh International Festival and recently staged in the docklands of Yokohama in Japan, the night-time work combines light, intentional movement and sound changing the way we perceive about a chosen environment.

  Hundreds of runners in specially commissioned LED light suits animated beautiful, choreographed patterns of light flowing through key parts of The Quays including canal banks, bridges and public spaces around The Lowry, the Imperial War Museum North, MediaCityUK and BBC North.

  Over 8,000 people from Greater Manchester and beyond came to witness abstract art written on the grandest scale: a work that can be simultaneously monumental and intimate.

  nvaspeedoflight.org.uk

  Category: Industry News
• 17 May 2013

  FIRST EVER TEMPORARY COVERED TENNIS COURT CREATED

  

  In any event manager manual, the first rule is plan for the worst weather and hope for the best - we do live in Scotland after all.  So when the Tournament Director’s first challenging question on suggesting bringing the ATP Champions Tour to Scotland for the first time was ‘How do we keep the players dry?’ the wheels were set in motion for a 6 month struggle to find an outdoor venue that could still be used for top class tennis….whatever the weather.

  Damon Farrell from Airsculpt Ltd said,  ‘When we were asked to provide a temporary demountable and reusable roof structure to cover an entire open air tennis court in Edinburgh, one of the UK’s famously windy cities, we knew we had to come up with an innovative engineering concept.'

  ‘The task became more challenging when we were told the structure had to comply with ATP international tennis tournament minimum height guidelines.  Additionally it had to be a clear open span construction, be easy to deploy, architecturally pleasing and at the same time compliant with a myriad of cross over construction codes and safety standards.’

  Viki Mendelssohn, Tournament Director, researched the options over a six month period before concluding that Airsculpt was the only company who could deliver such a temporary structure.  She said, ‘When I first spoke with Damon at Airsculpt  I had a clear vision of what we needed in Edinburgh and I knew it was going to present some challenges.  I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to create our own unique court that will deliver that vision, and give weather protection to the players whilst on court.  This is the first time a stadia of this nature has been built in Scotland so it is another first for the event.’

  The stadia will have its first showcase on Thursday 20^th June.  Brodies Champions of Tennis takes place Thursday 20 - Sunday 23^rd June at Edinburgh Accies, Portgower Place, Stockbridge in Edinburgh.  For details on players, match schedule and tickets, visit www.championsoftennis.com

  Category: International Events
• 17 May 2013

  Iconic Santa Cruz Bikes to premiere new bike at Tweedlove Festival

  

   One of the world’s biggest bike brands has chosen Scotland to host a global exclusive launch of their new product.

  The California-based Santa Cruz Bikes will premiere their new bike at TweedLove, the fast growing cycling festival in the Scottish Borders, next month.

  Staff, including Santa Cruz founder Rob Roskopp, have also signed up to take part in one of TweedLove’s flagship events, the Glentress Seven– a seven hour mountain bike race on Glentress’ famous trails that takes place on Saturday, June 1.

  The race will be followed by an Evening with Santa Cruz when the iconic brand will not only debut their new product with a short film shot in Scotland, but will invite international media and members of the public to take part in a question and answer session. Sheffield-born Santa Cruz rider Steve Peat – the most successful downhill mountain biker in the history of the sport and a former world champion – will feature on the panel, along with Santa Cruz’s head of Engineering Joe Graney, Stu Thomson of Cut Media, who produced the film, and its executive producer, Chris Ball.

  The evening will round off the TweedLove festival, which in just its fourth year is now the UK’s biggest cycling festival. Estimated to be worth approximately £500,000 to the local economy, TweedLove encompasses all forms of cycling and features over 30 different events.

  Scotland is now recognised as a leading cycling destination, with the International Mountain Biking Association’s members twice voting Scotland as offering the world’s best biking. It’s a sentiment Rob Roskopp, co-founder of Santa Cruz Bikes, agrees with.

  "The riding I've experienced in Scotland is some of the best in the world. From the events, to the trails, to the people who are out there riding them every day, it's an honour to have a major Santa Cruz launch be a part of it.  We filmed the launch video up in the West Highlands a few weeks ago, and can't wait to share the results at TweedLove."

  And TweedLove Director, Neil Dalgleish, says hosting the product launch is testament to the growth of the Scottish cycling market.

  “The decision to come to TweedLove by such an iconic brand proves just how respected the Scottish cycling scene is internationally. We are delighted that TweedLove is helping to further enhance Scotland’s cycling credentials. TweedLove is now the UK’s biggest cycling festival, so it seems fitting to welcome perhaps the world’s best team to come and take part.”

  Category: National Events