Cove Park is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with the continuation of free Friday visits for anyone who is interested in what goes on there.  Dismiss all memories of the former animal park for children.  There are Highland Coos but only because the artists like to see them as well as the rich wildlife of the area.
 
The programme of artists’ residences was started through the generosity of Eileen and Peter Jacobs who provided a 50 acre site on Peaton Hill above Loch Long and more recently the splendid modern building, a meeting place for the artists in residence to share ideas and experiences.
 
The artists come from all over the UK and abroad, including writers, musicians, visual artists and dancers.  There are 10 units or pods which vary in size and are intended to provide quiet spaces for artists to work on a specific project. Residence can be for a few days, a week or longer, and the centre is open throughout the year.
 
In recent years Cove Park has been trying to establish more links with the local community by offering, for example, art workshops for children, which have been very popular.  They would like to extend this work to adults and are therefore applying to the national association of The Arts Society for funding.  Our branch is supporting this application.
 
The committee encourages you to visit any Friday afternoon till 16th September from 1–4 pm.    If you wish to visit, please telephone the centre (01436 850500) in advance or email Rona Grierson at rona@covepark.org.  A tour round the ‘pods’ scattered down the hillside is normally possible in the centre’s four-by-four.
 
For those who do not drive or are unsure of the route, the committee is providing two dates to go in private cars, with Bryan Temple and Mark Duncan on 20^th June and with Marion Maudsley on 29^th August.  If you can help with transport for a small group to visit on either day, please contact Marion (marion.maudsley@btinternet.com).
 
You can telephone Bryan for 20^th June (01436 672845) or Marion (01436 671282) for the August visit, or speak to us at the final meeting this Tuesday 10^th June.  You can also pick up a flyer and arrange your own visit on a date to suit you during the summer. 
If you have visitors over the summer they might find it fascinating whether they are art-minded or not – less stressful and a bit different from Inveraray or Luss.