Published: Friday, 30th May, 2008 4:38pm

Making a splash at 3 Harbour Arts Festival

THIS year"s 3 Harbours Arts Festival is officially launched on Friday (May 30) - but these youngsters (pictured) have already made waves by launching four coracles at Port Seton Harbour.

As part of the festival celebrations, pupils at Preston Lodge High School built the little boats with Dave Purvis of Ripon Youth Trust.

Now in its third year, the festival - set in Prestonpans, and Cockenzie and Port Seton - boasts more than 140 venues and 300 artists, including the likes of Richard Demarco and Calum Colvin, and will run to Sunday, June 8.

The summer"s best outdoor arts events is jam-packed with art in unusual places - everywhere from bowling clubs to churches, fish "n" chip shops to residents" homes.

The traditional illumination of the two chimneys of Cockenzie Power Station will take on a special significance this year, as the power station celebrated its 40th birthday this week.

Internationally renowned violinist Tasmin Little will play at the switch-on.

Other highlights include a globally-supported paperboat exhibition, a murals festival, a John Muir art trail, a display of model boats, and much, much more.

Michael Russell MSP, minister for the environment, was due to appear in person to officially open the festival at Prestongrange Mining Museum tonight (Friday), but will now send a video message instead.

He told the Courier: 'It is unfortunate that I will be unable to attend. I have been extremely interested in the development of the festival and I am proud to be associated with it.

'I have watched it go from strength to strength since it started three years ago and I am sure it will go on to be even better in the future.'

Festival chairman Andrew Crummy said: 'We have had three times as many hits on our website this year compared to last year and we are expecting around 18,000 people to come to the festival this year.'

Run almost entirely by volunteers, the festival received £2,500 in funding from East Lothian Council. It generates most of its income from the sale of artworks on display.

Added Mr Crummy said: 'You cannot put a true value on the amount of work done by those who volunteer, but we have calculated that it would cost us around £150,000 if we had to pay them for their services.

'We also appreciate the amount the goodwill shown by the management and staff at the council, as they do fantastic work for us in opening venues, the libraries and the mining museum outwith their everyday hours. They have also cleaned up Cuthill Park for the murals festival.'

• Log on to www.3harbours.com for full programme details.

• Fiona Crombie is exhibiting paintings, prints, pastels, jewellery and other types of artwork at The Seashore Studio in Marshall Street, Cockenzie.