Published: Thursday, 1st May, 2008 8:05am

Harbouring high hopes for an arts festival

COCKENZIE Power Station is to receive a special birthday treat at the opening of this year"s 3 Harbours Arts Festival.

The station is 40 later this month and will be serenaded by internationally renowned violinist Tasmin Little on May 30, at the start of a festival that will have the sea as its theme.

A lucky audience, sporting hard hats and protective clothing, heard a sneak preview last Thursday of the music London-born Little will play at the opening ceremony.

A film crew from ITV"s arts programme "The South Bank Show" was on hand to record her performance for an edition due to be aired next month.

Little has performed throughout the world with international orchestras, from the Royal Philharmonic to the Deusches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

She will launch the festival by playing again at the power station and turning on the lights that will illuminate its chimneys for the duration of the festival.

Festival organiser and artist, Andrew Crummy, said: 'It"s fantastic to have someone of Tasmin"s reputation at our festival this year. It"s also great to have a high-profile musician, which emphasises that our festival isn"t just about visual arts.

'This year is the 40th anniversary of Cockenzie Power Station, so it is particularly fitting that it is playing such a big role in our festival. We are extremely grateful for the support they have given us over the past three years.'

He added: 'Our festival is indeed blessed by its setting, along the wonderful coastline of East Lothian and, this year, we look to the sea as our theme.'

Now in its third year, the festival takes place in Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton and will run to Sunday, June 8. With more than 140 venues and 300 artists, including Calum Colvin, Richard Demarco, Sandy Moffat, Ettie Spencer and David Harding, the festival will celebrate the vast array of talent in the local community and beyond.

The popular annual exhibition of model boats will this year be expanded to include items made by the women of Cockenzie and Port Seton. A book, "Boatie Blest", will also be launched during the festival, as well as a short film about the boats.

In celebration of the county"s famous John Muir Way, a John Muir art trail is also planned. This will include art installations at various points along the trail, including events and venues that will link the festival with Dunbar and Aberlady.

There will also be John Muir Totem Poles, a successful collaboration between the East Lothian Inclusion Unit, Prestoungrange Arts Festival and Kenny Grieve of Brotus Rural Crafts.

The second murals festival will also take place, at Cuthill Park in Prestonpans, during the festival. Cows painted by local schoolchildren will be also found grazing around the town.