A major Gaelic Arts Conference will take place on the 8th and 9th May 2007, in An Lanntair, Stornoway. The conference is being organised by Pròiseact nan Ealan (PnE) in conjunction with the GASD Forum, (Gaelic Arts Strategic Development) - a collaboration of key Gaelic arts organisations working together to strategically develop the Gaelic arts for the future.
The conference is the first of its kind in ten years and comes at a time when the Gaelic arts and the language itself are at a turning point. With the National Gaelic Language Plan, the emergence of Creative Scotland and the impending Culture Act, not to mention the new digital Gaelic language TV channel just around the corner, the Gaelic arts need to move forward together strategically.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity for Gaelic arts practitioners, administrators, and promoters to come together to talk, listen and network. The event will offer a range of stimulating and inspiring speakers from Scotland and beyond as well as various breakout groups on current subjects including funding, audience development, training and promotion as well as the role and function of new media. There will also be an opportunity to help create a new Gaelic cultural framework to engage with and guide the National Plan and Creative Scotland. The programme will showcase some wonderful examples of new Gaelic arts work, an exhibition of art created through GASD residencies and a Cèilidh on the Tuesday night.
Arthur Cormack, Director of Fèísean nan Gàidheal said: "We hope that the conference will not just be a 'talking shop' - although talking is always a positive thing - but will highlight and showcase some of the worthwhile projects funded by GASD over the past two years, as well as the work being done by various Gaelic arts organisations. I have no doubt that the Gaelic arts engender positive attitudes towards Gaelic, and research has confirmed that they are often the motivation for people to learn the language. This conference is timely given the recent publication of the National Plan for Gaelic and the undertaking within that to devise a strategy for the further development of the Gaelic arts."
Malcolm Maclean, Director of PnE said: "The Gaelic arts are a growth sector and this is an opportunity for anyone involved in Gaelic arts and culture to help shape the future. The conference conclusions will form the basis of Gaelic arts development strategy for the next five years but we hope the event will also be a new form of fèis. The showcase will be a chance to experience some of the exciting work being done and to meet others involved in the Gaelic arts from across Scotland".
The event is aimed at all those working in the Gaelic arts sector. All arts forms will feature and delegates from rural and urban communities will have an opportunity to engage in discussion and debate. Artists, arts organisers, tutors and educators, arts centre managers, community groups and all with an interest in the Gaelic arts should attend.
GASD Audience Development Manager, Kirstie Anderson, comments: "This is a real opportunity to look at where the Gaelic Arts have come from in the last 10 years, where we are now and where we intend to go. Large scale research was commissioned by GASD last year into the impacts of and demands for the Gaelic arts, following on from a similar piece of research carried out in 1996. This allows us to measure the growth of the Gaelic arts over the last 10 years, and offers a solid awareness of where we stand right now. The conference will open this up and allow everyone to join the debate and help move the Gaelic arts forward together".
Tickets are £15 including lunch, and advanced booking by 4th May is essential as places are limited. Booking forms can be downloaded from www.gaelic-arts.com and bursaries are available. Alternatively contact Marisa Macdonald, at Pròiseact nan Ealan (01851 704493,
Marisa@gaelic-arts.com ), or Iona MacDonald at Fèisean nan Gàidheal (01478613355,
iona@fesisean.org ). More information and list of speakers to be announced over coming weeks.
The conference is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council.
