Local performing arts students Logan Fry and Tess Harper shared their connection to the Home of Auld Lang Syne in social media takeover.
Two Dumfriesshire young people recently took over the reins of Ellisland’s social media channels as part of a new initiative to broaden the audience for the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust.
Logan Fry and Tess Harper, both performing arts students who have been working Front of House at Ellisland over the summer, brought fresh energy and authentic local voices to their three-day takeover, creating TikTok and Instagram content that was also shared across Facebook and LinkedIn.
The social media initiative offered followers a glimpse into how contemporary young Scots connect with their local cultural heritage. Both Logan and Tess began their relationship with Ellisland as volunteers before joining the team in paid roles, motivated by their enthusiasm for Robert Burns and his work.
Tess Harper, from Dumfries, won Best Reciter at the Dumfries & Galloway Burns Association Schools’ Competition earlier this year, while for 20-year-old Logan Fry, from Keir Mill, just 10 miles from Ellisland, Burns was an important part of his local heritage.
Logan said: “My experience at Ellisland has not just been as a great place to work, but as an inspiring location to inform my own creative processes and to explore the wealth of local heritage on my doorstep. Being here to welcome visitors from all over the world, I have gained insight into how the world today views Burns, which in doing so, makes his life’s work feel all the more relevant.”
The pair collaborated to record content before departing for university, creating posts that revealed the personal connections they’ve forged with Burns’ legacy. Their TikToks and Reels featured spoken word performances of iconic Burns poems, including ‘On Seeing a Wounded Hare’ – a poem written at Ellisland 236 years ago when Burns encountered a hare wounded by a hunter and empathised poignantly with the suffering of the animal.
Logan shared his perspective on the “sweet poetic ground” that is Ellisland, with the pair highlighting their own favourite places at Ellisland – Burns’s study and the banks of the River Nith. Their content also captured the international reach of Burns’ work through the diverse visitors Logan and Tess welcomed over the summer.
Joan added: “Creating opportunities for young people will continue to be an important part of everything we do in the years ahead as we work together to save the home of Auld Lang Syne, and we are grateful to the organisations who are supporting us to do this.”
Ellisland Farm, located near Dumfries, was built by Burns in 1788, and is a site of outstanding historic and cultural importance, where the poet composed a third of his creative work, including iconic pieces like Tam o’ Shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust is working to preserve this historic site for future generations through conservation, restoration, education, and community engagement programs.
Several condition reports have identified the original A listed 18th-century buildings as at risk, prompting urgent action to preserve them for future generations. The work of the Trust is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, South of Scotland Enterprise, Museums Galleries Scotland, and The Holywood Trust.