Kirkcudbright Fringe

Founded by Gerry Hassan and Chris Walker

Gerry Hassan is a writer, commentator and academic who has organised and run many events, residentials and mini-festivals. He has written numerous books on Scotland, the UK, politics, social change and the future. Currently Professor of Social Change at Glasgow Caledonian University, Gerry previously worked at the universities of Dundee and West of Scotland.

Gerry moved to Kirkcudbright two years ago and participates in many local activities along with co-founding Kirkcudbright Fringe. Previously he set up the Changin Scotland residential weekends in Ullapool hailed as ‘an alternative Davos’, co-founded Scotland’s Festival of Ideas and established Govanhill Book Festival on Glasgow’s Southside. In his spare time he likes to walk his dog Lena and listen to music - from Sinatra to the Beatles and everything in between

Chris Walker is a local Hotelier owning and running the Selkirk Arms Hoptel in Kirkcudbright. Having visited the Edinburgh fringe over the years the idea to bring a similar vibe to the town simply added to the already wide range of events that Kirkcudbright hosts. Chris has cooked in the Kitchens for nearly 30 years and developed a passion for marketing following a spell on Border TV hosting Spoon with a View, an outdoor cookery program and also on BBC Radio 2's The Debbie Thrower afternoon show. He has a love of music of all genres, a keen cyclist and ran the bars at the famous Wickerman Festival at Dundrennan for many years.