A conference of Creative Islanders from across the Hebrides will take place on Easdale Island in mid August 2005, and will be used to launch a new funding scheme to promote better arts and cultural links between island communities.

In summer 2002, HI~Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands, commissioned Deirdre MacMahon to interview 54 Hebridean islanders about their sense of culture and identity. The report, ‘Na h-Eileanaich Ealanta/Creative Islanders – culture and creativity in the Hebrides’ (available on the HI~Arts website www.hi-arts.co.uk) has been praised for its advocacy of greater support for island initiatives. In September 2004 the first Còmhradh na h-Eileanaich Ealanta/Creative Islanders Conference brought contributors together on Skye to socialise, share concerns and seek solutions. This year the focus moves to the islands of Argyll, which are spread over a huge geographical area and host a vast range of arts activities year-round.

Since the initial study took place, cultural activity in all the Hebridean islands has been steadily growing. Improved infrastructure to the north has facilitated development and cohesion in the Outer Isles and on Skye. Yet communication between island arts activists continues to be fragile and many creative possibilities remain unexplored throughout the Hebridean archipelago. Creative Islanders/na h-Eileanaich Ealanta exists to encourage these possibilities.

This year’s gathering of Creative Islanders is being held on Easdale Island on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th August 2005. At the event, HI~Arts will be launching a new fund to promote better arts and cultural links between the island communities of the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

The new fund, ‘Hebrides Go and Meet’ will offer grants of up to £500 to individuals and community groups from any of the Hebrides for cultural visits between the islands. Eligible criteria range from exploring collaborative arts projects to attending fèisean and festivals as observers or volunteers. The essential factor is that the purpose of each visit must be to strengthen arts and cultural ties between the islands and people of the Hebrides. If successful, HI~Arts hopes to secure more funding to expand the scheme in future years.

Deirdre MacMahon, co-ordinator of Na h-Eileanaich Ealanta/Creative Islanders commented: “I’m delighted to see HI~Arts respond so generously to the wishes of Hebridean island communities and am quite sure this investment will reap handsome rewards for arts and cultural activity across the islands.”

Robert Livingston, Director of HI~Arts stated that: “Through activities such as Screen Machine and The Booth online box-office, HI~Arts aims to provide valuable services to the many islands that make up the Hebrides. ‘Hebrides Go and See’ is the first funding scheme which we have set up specifically for the benefit of these communities and we hope it will be well-used!”