THE Sunday National spoke with festival director Kresanna Aigner on the 10 things that changed her life.
1. My first foray into music with The Green Mountain Volunteers
WHEN I was 10 and living in America, I saw a group called The Green Mountain Volunteers – a local folk band and community performance group. I loved them and ended up joining them. We rehearsed and performed across the state of Vermont and every two years, we went to Europe.
They became my family, opened my world to people and places and instilled a sense of joy and participation in the arts.
2. Having a displaced childhood made me the person I am today
MY displaced childhood majorly influenced my life, with an Austrian father and a British mother who divorced when I was young. This resulted in me moving backwards and forwards between America, Austria and Scotland where my mother ended up living.
This wasn’t always easy, however, it gave me a lot to think about including perspective, the ability to travel and seeing and experiencing many different cultures. It taught me how to adapt to all situations and gave me both independence and resilience.
3. Moving to Scotland
I MOVED to Scotland at the age of 12 to live with my mother who had made Findhorn her home. Moving here influenced my life again as it gave me a sense of community along with access to the sea which still plays a major part in my life.
The area is rich in creativity and being tucked away in the north of Scotland, I couldn’t believe the access I had to art. I was introduced to the singing group Sweet Honey In The Rock at the age of 14. They blew me away as I couldn’t believe how beautiful their singing was.
4. Moving to Edinburgh
I MOVED to Edinburgh at the age of 18 to study drama as soon as I finished, I got my first job with Vision Mechanics which was then the Edinburgh Puppet Company. I directed, performed and toured across Scotland.
What I love about Vision Mechanics is that they trusted me, and that level of trust enabled me to “learn on my feet” by doing, using my common sense, and it gave me the confidence to put myself forward and develop a “can-do” attitude.
It gave me the tools to work with communities as part of a team, and developed my confidence and passion and allowed me to work out my career path. One job led to another and I worked on many community arts projects with ArtLink, Arts Outreach Edinburgh Touring Circuit.
Vision Mechanics have become lifelong friends and are they are involved with two shows at this year’s festival – The Fantastic Life Of Minnie Rubinski and as producers of Hebridean Treasure: Lost And Found.
Being part of this wonderful Edinburgh art scene enabled me to initiate Artistic Upstarts in the late 1980s, which was a multi-arts showcase event.
5. Getting involved with music tour management
MY entry into music management started with Bert Jansch which opened up a whole new world to me of touring and taking musicians internationally and across the world.
At the time, I had no idea of his place in the folk world. We toured for four weeks in my little Citroën car. There were no apps and I did all the driving.
He was so interesting and he taught me some valuable rules that I still hold close to my heart.
One of these was that if you get lost on the road, you never turn back. Throw away your map and follow your nose, there are no wrong turns. If you keep moving forward, you eventually find your way.
This was Bert’s rule as a driver but what what a great philosophy in life. I still carry this with me even now.
6. Becoming a mother in Belfast
IN 1999, my career path led me to Belfast where I became a mum to beautiful twins – Jacob and Taylor – quite simply a life changer.
Giving birth was awesome, inspiring, frightening and a beautiful experience. It grounded and rooted me, and my twins teach me and I learn from them every day.
I still find them awesome, inspiring and a beautiful experience even now.
7. The art of multi-tasking
AS I was a freelancer, there was no such thing as maternity leave. I had to integrate motherhood with my work.
When they were babies, I was working for Belfast Festival at Queens, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast as well as producing community arts projects.
As a single mother and a freelancer, I had to integrate my kids alongside my working life.
When they were younger, they were with me backstage and side stage and when they got older, they became participants and helpers.
8. Meeting my husband, James
I MET my husband James over 15 years ago and we got married five years ago. A deep and long love is a commitment to self but also to each other.
It is glorious, it can be messy and it takes constant work and revisiting both on the individual and the relationship, but to quote Joni Mitchell: “If you want endless repetition, see a lot of different people. If you want infinite variety, stay with one”.
This was a massive decision from living 25 years in a city to moving to a small rural community. It changed my perspective again as I knew I wanted to be more in line with the community and the sea, which was so important to me as a child.
There was already an abundance of creativity in the area but it felt like the time was right to bring my 25 years of learning back to Findhorn. It was a full circle and felt like I was going back home.
9. The Menopause
STARTING the menopause was a game changer. Shedding the skin of a younger person makes you realise that you are letting go of what and who you have been by embracing the change and revisiting your own needs and capacity.
It’s about coming into one’s own, and you lose your insecurities. It’s a big shift emotionally and physically but you have to face up to it, move through it, and come to a place of better understanding yourself.
I’m now in a better place to look forward to the future and makes me think of what Bert Jansch taught me that there are no wrong turns.
10. Starting Findhorn Bay Arts
JAMES and I decided to move to Moray. We both had reached a point where we wanted to leave our urban dwellings and so we moved north.
The sea, the natural landscape and living in a rural community is a constant inspiration and influence in my work and life.
My work is firmly rooted in people and place. This year, our festival themes are nature and the natural world, connection and belonging.
For me, it goes back full circle, as these themes are so personal in how I live my life today and how I create work and embody the value of my life.
The 5th Findhorn Bay Festival runs until Sunday, September 29. Visit the website to view the full festival programme: findhornbayfestival.com
