Na hEileanaich Ealanta - Creative Islanders

The European Small Islands Network Inter-Island Exchange Project (ESIN IIEP) aims to promote the sustainable development of Europe’s small islands. The project is funded by the EU’s Interreg IIIC Funding Programme and the Scottish funding partners are Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Argyll & Bute Council and North Ayrshire Council.

As part of the ESIN IIEP an information exchange visit to Bere Island in Ireland is taking place from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th November 2005.

This visit is based on the project theme of Island Environment and Identity as it relates to cultural practices. During the exchange meeting, participants will look at a Heritage Conservation Plan for Bere Island, which was carried out by the Irish Heritage Council. The Heritage Council is a statutorily independent body, established under the Heritage Act, 1995, and funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Council’s statutory functions include proposing policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage, and promoting education, knowledge and pride in, and facilitating appreciation and enjoyment of Ireland’s heritage.

The Heritage Council has worked closely with the Bere Island community and together they have devised a plan for sustainable development of the island.

Broadly speaking, the network meeting wishes to hear about other community initiatives which involve a high awareness of the island environment. It might also be interesting to hear about private initiatives, though this will not be the main focus. In Ireland, there has been a marked shift in attitudes towards the local environment, the sense of place and appreciation of one's own surroundings. During the exchange meeting, this phenomena will be looked at and the Bere Island example considered as a possible way of promoting a more active and sensitive awareness by a community of its island home.

There is a limited amount of funding available through the ESIN IIEP Project to cover the costs of participation in this visit for 2-3 people.

To help us ensure that these limited funded places are put to best use we have had to draw up some selection criteria in line with the projects overall aims and objectives. To be eligible for a funded place on the exchange visit you must:

represent a community group or organisation based on, or working closely with, island communities;
be involved in (or planning involvement in the near future in) a project relevant to the theme of the visit;
demonstrate that your participation in the visit will be of benefit to your local community / interest group;
show that you will be able to disseminate the findings of the visit to a broad audience.

If you are eligible to participate, please complete the attached application form and return it to me at this email address. The closing date for applications is Monday 24th October 2005.

The final selection of participants will be made in consultation with the project’s funding partners and members of the Scottish Islands Network Management Committee.

Please note that although the number of funded places available is limited, we would welcome involvement from anyone who meets the selection criteria above and is able to fund their own participation in the visit. If this applies to you, please let me know and I will endeavour to accommodate you if we have spare places.

Also note that participants may be required to share accommodation and will have to pay for some of the costs incurred during the visit upfront before being reimbursed after the event.

For further information, please contact Lisa Stephen, Project Officer, The European Small Islands Network Inter-Island Exchange Project , The Scottish Islands Network, 5 Pabbay Court, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9TD
Tel: 01478 613102 E-mail: info@scottishislands.org.uk

A conference of Creative Islanders from across the Hebrides took place on Easdale Island on 19th and 20th August 2005, saw the launch of 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 at the bottom of this page) 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 moved 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 was held on Easdale Island on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th August 2005.