This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for Gaelic arts tuition
21/08/2003
Festivals teaching traditional Gaelic music, song and
dance are to be expanded as a result of a three-year
funding package announced today.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are providing
£180,000 to Fèisean nan Gàidheal - the independent national
association of Gaelic arts tuition festivals - to help them
deliver a wider range of services. This package will match
funding already provided by the Scottish Arts Council, The
Highland Council and the European Social Fund.
Meeting young musicians during a visit to Eden Court in
Inverness, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said:
"We want to preserve and promote Scotland's traditional
culture, and encourage people of all generations to further
their interest in the Gaelic language and culture.
"There are already 37 of these festivals (feisean)
across the country, involving around 4,000 people. The
success of Fèisean nan Gàidheal means it is time to put
their funding on a firmer footing.
"I'm delighted to welcome this further support from HIE,
which will go towards new workers, an instrument bank, IT
improvements and a Development Fund for local projects. It
is also hoped that new fèisean will be established in the
coming years."
HIE Chairman, Jim Hunter, said:
"The growth of the fèis movement since the first event
in Barra in 1981 has been quite phenomenal. Its success is
largely due to the efforts of many volunteers, and while
they will continue to play a crucial role, our funding
reflects the need to professionalise and expand the
capabilities of what has become a nation-wide
organisation.
"Fèisean nan Gàidheal plays a tremendous role in
engaging people in the Gaelic culture, and it also brings
significant economic benefits to our area so we are
delighted to be able to offer our continued support."
Fèisean nan Gàidheal's director, Arthur Cormack,
said:
"The Fèis movement is unequalled as a model of good
practice in community arts development, and as a vehicle in
introducing young people to Gaelic language through its
associated song, music, drama and dance. We warmly welcome
this additional support from Highlands & Islands
Enterprise, which will go a long way to help us realise
several of our plans to support the volunteers and tutors
involved in the Fèisean. We wil be able to offer them some
administrative back-up, improvements in IT - which will
lead to better communication throughout the movement - as
well as an integrated training programme."
During his Eden Court visit, Mr Wallace heard
presentations on the Feis movement, the Scottish Year of
Highland Culture 2007 and the Eden Court Development.
He also made visits to the UHI Millennium Institute
offices and Inverness Medical.
Fèisean nan Gàidheal was formed in 1989 and is funded
through a mixture of membership fees, public sector grants,
sponsorship and sales. HIE has funded core costs with an
annual grant of £15,000. Local fèisean receive support from
HIE's local enterprise companies, local authorities and the
Scottish Arts Council through a scheme administered by
Fèisean nan Gàidheal.