The countdown to Aberdeen International Youth Festival’s first fundraising dinner is under way, with auction prizes for the event revealed following last week’s appeal.
A pop-up ceilidh, a day of radio broadcast training, a Mad Hatter’s tea party at an exclusive hotel and a specially designed piece of silverware are among the auction prizes up for grabs at the dinner on March 7.
“We’ve got quite a range of things,” said AIYF chief executive Stewart Aitken. “People have been very generous. We’ve had really good response and some really good theatre tickets, festival tickets and hotel nights.”
The fundraising dinner will take place at the Beach Ballroom and will feature a glimpse into the spirit and diversity of the 42nd AIYF, which runs from July 25 to August 2.
Edinburgh silversmith Kathryn Hinton is currently forging a silver brooch for the fundraising auction.
“She’s provided a brooch for the auction, designed specifically for the event,” said Mr Aitken, who added: “She was very keen to support the event and created it specifically.
“It’s being made at the moment.”
The pop-up ceilidh will be one of the auction prizes available.
It will offer the highest bidder the chance to have the North East Folk Collective play a ceilidh gig in their back garden, catered by Aberdeen University.
City hotel Carmelite has offered an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party as a prize. The successful bidder will be able to invite up to 20 people for a Mad Hatter’s evening of drinks.
Station House Media Unit (SHMU) is also offering a team-building day in radio production for up to six people.
All money raised from the event will go towards making this year’s AIYF a success, with funds helping to secure a broad variety of international youth dance, music and theatre groups at the festival.
For Mr Aitken, the fundraising dinner – like the festival itself – is partly about displaying local talent. He said: “There is some amazing talent. And it gives us a chance to showcase them.”
Among the acts playing at the event are a quartet from the North East School of Music, the North East Folk Collective, a “big band” from Aberdeen and a choir from Aberdeen University.
Tickets for the dinner can be purchased through the AIYF website.