25th September 2009
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing �540,000 to support the development of the popular traditional arts movement, F�isean, across the Highlands and Islands and further afield.
The three year funding package will offer F�isean nan G�idheal, the umbrella organisation which supports the F�isean network, the opportunity to develop a range of new activities across the region. These include the expansion of the F�is C�ilidh Trails, an annual Gaelic drama summer school, events bringing families together in Gaelic language activities and a new Gaelic song-writing initiative.
HIE chair William Roe commented: "The positive impacts of the F�isean in Scotland are becoming well documented. Its social and economic benefits are enjoyed in some of our most fragile communities; it brings new skills and confidence to young people, a terrific sense of pride in the Gaelic culture of Scotland and a new sense of cultural vitality across the region. As well as supporting and promoting talent and creativity, its work attracts newcomers and returners to the Highlands and Islands.
"We are delighted to agree a new three-year funding package with F�isean nan G�idheal, as part of our support for cultural activity in strengthening Highlands and Islands communities. The new investment will build on recent successes and help further realise the full potential and benefits of the F�isean phenomenon in Scotland."
The F�isean network grew from the first F�is in Barra in the early 1980s. Its initiatives, which have brought traditional music tuition into schools, the training of new tutors in traditional music teaching skills and high profile work in the annual Blas Festival and C�ilidh Trails, have ensured the establishment of local F�isean in communities across the Highlands and Islands and many other parts of Scotland.
Arthur Cormack of F�isean nan G�idheal, commented: "We are grateful that HIE is to continue investing in our work. This assistance will help us fund new initiatives as well as ensure the continuity of support that is vital to the local F�isean, both financial and human. F�isean nan G�idheal's 2009 Annual Report, to be published at the AGM in Stornoway tomorrow (25 September), reveals that our work now involves around 36,000 people as participants or audience members. The F�isean are, therefore, making a significant contribution to the creative industries and Gaelic language development across Scotland.
"With a workforce based wholly in the Highlands and Islands, our work also contributes to the area's economy. For every �1 HIE invests in the F�is movement, around another �4 is spent by F�isean nan G�idheal in the HIE area."
F�isean nan G�idheal, which supports 45 local F�isean - currently provides the equivalent of 100 jobs across Scotland annually, bringing �7m into the Scottish economy, and �6m into the economy of the Highlands and Islands in a three-year period.
HIE a' cur c�rr is leth millean n�ta ri leasachadh nam F�isean air coimhearsnachdan na G�idhealtachd 's nan Eilean
Tha Iomairt na G�idhealtachd 's Eilean (HIE) a' cur �540,000 de dh’airgead-tasgaidh a-steach a leasachadh nam F�isean air feadh na G�idhealtachd 's nan Eilean agus gu n�iseanta. Bheiridh an airgead-tasgaidh tr� bliadhna seo cothrom do Fh�isean nan G�idheal, a' bhuidhean-taic a chumas taic ri l�onra nam F�isean, diofar iomairtean �ra a chuir an gn�omh air feadh na sg�re.
Am measg nan iomairtean seo, thig leasachadh air na Cuairtean C�ilidh, air sgoil shamhraidh dr�ma, air tachartasan G�idhlig a bheireas teaghlaichean c�mhla agus air nithean eile a leithid pr�iseact a-chum �rain Gh�idhlig �ra.
Thuirt Uilleam Roe, neach-cathrach HIE, "Tha sinn f�s mothachail air buaidhean m�ra nam F�isean. Tha sinn a' faicinn gu bheil iad a' toirt sgilean is misneachd �r do dh’�igridh, a thuilleadh air m�it mh�r �s f�in-aithne G�idhealach na h-Alba agus barrachd be�thalachd ri coimhearsnachdan na sg�re; a' tarraing daoine air ais agus as �ire don Gh�idhealtachd. 'S ann a tha e air leth iongantach agus gum b' urrainn dhuinne a-nis figearan a chuir mu choinneamh de f�idhir na buaidhean eaconomacadh a th' aig obair nam F�isean air a' Gh�idhealtachd 's na h-Eileanan, is gu h-�raidh na sg�rean d�bhlanach.
'S ann a tha e a' toirt dhuinne toileachas m�r aontachadh �r a' ruigsinn le F�isean nan G�idheal, mar ph�irt de phr�gram-taic HIE ri cultar is e a' toirt spionnadh is neart do choimhearsnachdan na G�idhealtachd 's nan Eilean. Tha sinn an d�il gun toir an t-airgead �r seo leasachadh a bharrachd air comas agus buannachdan Fh�isean na h-Alba."
Th�isich a' chiad fh�is ann am Barraigh tr�th sna 1980an. Tha na F�isean agus iomairtean nan l�ib air sgilean-ci�il G�idhealach a thoirt a-steach do sgoiltean, air luchd-oide �r a thre�nadh an sgilean ci�il tradiseanta, agus leasachaidhean a leithid F�is Blas agus na Cuairtean C�ilidh a thoirt gu bith. Tha F�isean ionadail a-nis air feadh na G�idhealtachd 's nan Eilean agus gu dearbha air feadh Alba.
Thuirt Art MacCarmaig aig F�isean nan G�idheal: "Tha sinn an comuinn HIE agus gu bheil an taic-airgid bhuapa a' maireachdainn. Cuiridh an t-airgead �r seo ri diofar iomairtean �ra agus n� e cinnteach gum bi e nar comas taic, taic-airgid is taic-daoine mar an ceudna, cumail ris na F�isean ionadail. Tha Aithisg Bhliadhnail Fh�isean nan G�idheal 2009, a theid foillseachadh aig a' Choinneimh Bhliadhnail, a' sealltainn gu bheil mu 36,000 neach a-nis an-s�s ann gnothaichean Fh�isean nan G�idheal eadar luchd-�isdeachd agus an fheadhainn a tha a' gabhail p�irt. Mur sin, 's urrainnear ag r�dh gu bheil na F�isean nam p�irt m�r den ghn�omhachasan cruthachail agus gu dearbha a' Gh�idhlig fh�in air feadh na h-Alba.
"Leis is gu bheil an luchd-obrach againn uile st�idhichte air a' Gh�idhealtachd agus air na h-Eilean, tha a' bhuidheann fh�in a' cur gu m�r ri eaconamaidh na sg�re. Thathas a' meas gu bheil F�isean nan G�idheal a' cur �4 ri eaconamaidh sg�re HIE mu choinneamh a h-uile �1 a tha HIE a' cosg air F�isean nan G�idheal."
Tha a' bhuidhean F�isean nan G�idheal a' cumail taic ri 45 F�isean ionadail, agus thathas a' meas gum bheil iomairtean air fad nam F�isean a' cumail an ceart uiread ri 100 cosnadh do mhuinntir na h-Alba sa bhliadhna, agus a' cur �7m n�ta ri eaconamaidh na d�thcha thar tr� bliadhna, is �6m dhen a sin a' tighinn dhan a' Gh�idhealtachd.