Portable Sound System
The St Magnus International Festival is Orkney’s annual celebration of music, literature, drama, the visual arts and community events.
This year it celebrated its 50th outing, with 50 events taking place over 10 days in June.
In 2025, The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation agreed a £5,000 award towards a portable, high-quality sound system for use by the festival to save hiring costs.
It is having lasting impact, with festival director Alasdair Nicolson stating: “As a permanent Festival asset, the sound system continues to generate benefits year after year, demonstrating the lasting value and success of the original funding investment.”
As well as being used for concerts, events and performances during the festival, it is also available to be used by the wider community for other events throughout the year.
That has brought cost savings as well as benefits to the environment, by reducing the transport impact associated with hiring equipment from the mainland.
A registered charity, St Magnus International Festival was established in 1977 to celebrate Orkney’s rich heritage and vibrant landscapes.
From small beginnings, it has flourished and now attracts world-class artists, ensembles and performers from across the globe.
"The equipment has enabled the St Magnus International Festival to deliver a diverse range of events using its own resources, reduced ongoing hire and transport costs, supported volunteer training and skills development, strengthened the wider Orkney cultural community through equipment sharing, and contributed to environmental sustainability by reducing transport-related carbon emissions. "