Scottish indigenous crafts and their role in promoting Scotland’s tourism, economy and culture will be the focus of the Scottish Arts Council’s forthcoming conference ‘Living Traditions’. The event will explore how the contemporary practice of traditional skills benefits local communities in the 21st century.

The conference, at the Birnam Institute in Dunkeld, Perthshire on 28-29 September 2005, is aimed at those working in the tourism, enterprise and cultural sectors as well as crafts practitioners and artists, curators and arts development officers. It will stimulate debate on how best to develop crafts as diverse as boat-building, weaving, musical instrument making and silver-smithing.

In July 2003, the annual Smithsonian Folk Life Festival showcased Scotland’s traditional skills to a million visitors in the USA’s capital city, Washington DC. Dr Nancy Groce, Curator for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institute will be keynote speaker at the conference, explaining the benefits of promoting indigenous cultures.

Also offering valuable insights at the conference, will be leading Scottish crafts organisations working within training, enterprise and tourism development.

These include:

Grimsay Boatshed Trust in North Uist, set up to ensure that the unique style of fishing boats built on the island since the early 1800’s by the Stewart family continues. Under the guidance of Uilleam Thearlaich (William Stewart), and by the appointment of a Craftsman-Manager, the Trust has been able to transfer the skills and build new Grimsay-style boats, repair existing vessels and make connections with other boatbuilders across Scotland. The venture won a Scottish Enterprise Dynamic Place Award 2003. From August 2005, school pupils from the area will be able to undertake a new SQA qualification in Traditional Boatbuilding Skills with Grimsay Boatshed, learning advanced joinery skills whilst building dinghies in the local style. Two major impacts for the island community are the creation of a sustainable small-scale industry and the economic savings of time and cost in providing a local build / repair facility instead of having to rely on mainland services.

Violin Makers Scotland, a group that enables individual, highly-skilled practitioners from across Scotland, to undertake joint marketing, promotion and education initiatives. Since its formal launch in 2004, members have benefited from export training, undertaken a trade mission to USA to establish new retail opportunities and also completed a six-week training project in which they mentored an emerging maker, helping her to develop further skills and set up her own business.

Scottish Basketmakers Circle, a membership organisation which is active across Scotland, promoting basketmaking and allied crafts such as chairseating and environmental sculptures. SBC organise exhibitions, training courses, demonstrations, lectures and trade fairs to promote its members both in the UK and internationally. SBC is currently working on a major public art project entitled ‘The Big Willow Event’ with funding from the Scottish Arts Council. This will involve the creation of a large-scale willow sculpture by American artist Patrick Dougherty in Inverness-shire, complemented by a series of education and community initiatives.

Helen Bennett, Head of Crafts at the Scottish Arts Council, says: ‘Indigenous crafts represent skills and trades originally acquired and practised out of necessity. Historically, they reflect locally available materials and resources and are part of Scottish regional and national cultural identity. Today these crafts continue to offer a livelihood to a significant number of people whilst also helping to promote a positive image of Scotland’s culture, in turn boosting cultural tourism and contributing to local economies.

‘This conference aims to examine what has been achieved in recent years in supporting traditional Scottish crafts but also to stimulate debate about what can be done now to maximise opportunities for growth in the sector and to ensure that these traditions continue for future generations.’

For conference enquiries, please contact Louise Butler on 07774 832776 or email: louise.exfactor@virgin.net