HIE Boost For Skills In Traditional Arts - £632,000

6th February 2007

Iomairt na G�idhealtachd/Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have announced a new investment package into the development of the F�isean movement in the Highlands & Islands.

HIE's investment will focus on creating benefits for the creative industries, cultural tourism initiatives and skills development amongst young people.

HIE has awarded �632,000 over the next three years to F�isean nan G�idheal - the independent national association of Gaelic arts tuition festivals (f�isean) - to help them expand, improve and build on the success the movement has enjoyed over the last 25 years. F�isean nan G�idheal will also receive funding from the Scottish Arts Council, Highland Council and B�rd na G�idhlig.

As well as supporting F�isean nan G�idheal and local F�isean, HIE investment will be targeted towards some key projects and developments. These include expanding the F�is C�ilidh Trails, allowing young people the opportunity to tour and perform at local venues. A Ce�l nam F�is (music of the F�isean) tour is planned, showcasing the talents emerging from the F�is movement as part of the Scottish Year of Highland Culture in 2007. The Gaelic drama sector will be developed as well as a F�is training programme
and smaller-scale seedbed funding will be made available for developing new and innovative projects.

HIE recently commissioned a study into the F�isean movement and its influence over a number of issues. Results showed that 61 percent of respondents reported that the F�isean had a positive influence on their decision to return to the Highlands and Islands.

Alasdair MacLe�id, HIE Gaelic policy manager said: "HIE supports F�isean nan G�idheal as the umbrella organisation providing access to resources that will allow the local f�isean to grow and flourish. The growth of the f�is movement since the first event in 1981 has been quite phenomenal.

"There is no doubt that the F�isean have made a tangible and long-lasting impact on the cultural vibrancy and sense of pride in our native music and language across the G�idhealtachd over the last 20 to 25 years. The F�isean provide a real opportunity for us to build on our cultural heritage and create real and tangible benefits for the cultural, creative and tourism sectors."

The original F�is Bharraigh was held on the island of Barra in 1981 when a group of parents and other individuals became concerned that local traditions were dying out and that island children were not being taught traditional music in the context of formal education.

Inspired by the success of this first F�is, many other communities throughout the Highlands and Islands, and beyond, have established similar events. These individual F�isean are now corporate members of F�isean nan G�idheal, the national development and support agency for F�isean.

F�isean nan G�idheal estimates that more than 11,000 young people currently participate in the work of the 43 F�isean that take place each year and around 60 FTE jobs are created as a result of its activities.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson MSP, welcomed HIE's funding announcement. She said: "F�isean nan G�idheal is an established and valued part of Scottish cultural life and we should all be proud of its success. It has made an immense contribution to the lives of many young people and has strengthened both traditional music and the Gaelic language throughout Scotland.

"From modest origins F�isean nan G�idheal has experienced sustained growth, it has expanded into many areas of Scotland and its commitment to Gaelicm remains undiminished.

"It is initiatives such as this that are needed to give Gaelic speakers the confidence to use and pass on their language and thus create a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland."

Arthur Cormack chief executive of F�isean nan G�idheal, said: "We are delighted that HIE is providing this three year funding package. The contribution the Feisean have made to sustaining the Gaelic language and the local communities where they take place, and building the confidence of the young participants, is a story that we see repeated in so much of our cultural activities.

"Only a small proportion will go on to become professional musicians or to perform in public, but so many people learn an instrument or sing just for fun, and that's great.

"The skills taught at F�isean are a highly-valued aspect of the informal education of young people. Most importantly, the F�is experience is valued by the young participants themselves, and they seem to use the skills learned in a practical way, and I am also encouraged by the large numbers who seem moved to progress to learning Gaelic. The F�isean are considered by many as one of the most successful arts initiatives in Scotland."

The F�is movement was awarded the Community Project of the Year at the 2006 Scots Traditional Music Awards and have recently published a substantial book charting the history and progress of the movement over the first 25 years.

Gaelic News and Links On Caithness.org

Highland 2007

Gaelic
F�isean nan G�idheal - Maoineachadh bho HIE

Bidh Iomairt na G�idhealtachd agus nan Eilean a' maoineachadh F�isean nan G�idheal le �632,000 airson tr� bliadhna eile.

Cuidichidh an airgead cruthachadh buannachdan airson iomairtean cruthachail, cultarail is turasachd agus leasachadh sgilean a measg dhaoine �ga.

Gheibh F�isean nan G�idheal maoineachadh cuideachd bho Bh�rd na G�idhlig, Comhairle na G�idhealtachd agus Comhairle Ealain na h-Alba.

Chaidh F�isean nan G�idheal a st�idheachadh ann an 1988 mar bhuidheann-sg�ile neo-eisimeileach iomairt nam F�isean. Tha a' bhuidheann a' tabhann taic-airgid, programan-tr�anaidh, �rachas, 'banca' ionnstramaidean-ci�il, foillseachadh stuthan-teagaisg, agus m�ran sheirbheisean eile do na F�isean.

Tha na F�isean air m�ran a dh�anamh airson G�idhlig agus cultar nan G�idheal a bhrosnachadh, agus tha sin follaiseach anns na h-�ireamhan m�ra de dhaoine �ga aig a bheil �idh agus comas ann an ce�l G�idhealach, �rain Gh�idhlig agus dr�ma G�idhlig, a bharrachd air a' ch�nan fh�in. Gu cudthromach tha iad a' brosnachadh dhaoine p�irt a ghabhail anns a' chultar luachmhor a th' againne, agus a' teagasg sgilean, a bha aig aon �m air an ionnsachadh tro bheul-aithris.

Rinn HIE sgr�dadh air am buaidh a th'air na f�isean air iomadh c�is. Tha e soilleir bhon seo gu bheil na f�isean a' toirt buaidh d�chasach air 61 duine sa cheud air an co-dh�nadh air tilleadh don Gh�idhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan.

Thuirt Alasdair MacLe�id, manaidsear poileasaidh na G�idhlig aig HIE: "Tha HIE a' toirt taic do Fh�isean nan G�idheal airson cuideachadh leudachadh na goireasan a th'aca ma thr�th. Bha a' chiad tachartas ann an 1981 agus bhon uairsin tha an leasachadh air a bhith gl� iongantach.

Tha na F�isean air buaidh bhunaiteach a chuir air dealas cultarach agus am pr�is a th'anns ar ce�l d�thchasach agus c�nan anns a' Gh�idhealtachd anns na 20-25 bliadhna a chaidh seachad. Tha na F�isean a' toirt cothrom dhuinn a thogail air ar dualchas cultarach, agus buannachdan a thogail airson roinnean turasachd, cultarach agus cruthachail.

Chaidh a' chiad fh�is a chur air bhog nuair a th�isich buidheann de ph�rantan ann am Barraigh a' gabhail dragh gun robh dualchas an eilein a' dol b�s is nach robh an cuid chloinne ag ionnsachadh ce�l traidiseanta anns an sgoil. Mar dh�igh gus an suidheachadh seo a leasachadh, chaidh a' chiad Fh�is Bharraigh a chumail anns an Eilean ann an 1981.

Nuair a chualas cho m�r is a shoirbhich F�is Bharraigh, th�isich coimhearsnachdan air feadh Alba a' cur nam F�isean aca fh�in air d�igh. Tha a' mh�r-chuid de dh'Fh�isean fhathast gan ruith le comataidhean saor-thoileach.

Tha F�isean nan G�idheal a' tuairmse gu bheil c�rr air 11,000 daoine �ga an-dr�sta a' gabhail p�irt anns na 43 F�isean a tha a' dol air adhart gach bliadhna, agus timcheall air 60 dreuchdan air an cruthachadh mar ph�irt de na cur-seachadan.

Thuirt Ministear an Turasachd, a' chultair agus an Sp�rs, Patricia NicFhearghais: "Tha F�isean nan G�idheal st�idhte agus air an luach mar ph�irt de bheatha chultarach Alba agus bu ch�rr dhuinn a bhith pr�iseil air cho soirbheachail sa tha e. Tha na f�isean air cuideachadh m�r a dh�anamh airson daoine �ga agus air neartachadh ce�l traidiseanta agus G�idhlig mar ch�nain air feadh Alba.

"Tha F�isean nan G�idheal e�lach air f�s seasmhach agus e air leudachadh gu iomadh che�rnaidh ann an Alba leis an dealas a thaobh a' Gh�idhlig fhathast �rd.

"Tha feum air iomairtean mar seo airson a thoirt misneachd do dhaoine a bhios bruidhinn G�idhlig gus cleachdadh agus mar seo Gaelic a chumail seasmhachd ann an Alba san �m ri teachd."

Thuirt Art Cormack, �rd oifigear F�isean nan G�idheal: "Tha sinn air leth toilichte gum bi HIE a' maoineachadh F�isean nan Gaidheal airson tr� bliadhna eile. Tha F�isean nan G�idheal air cuideachadh m�r a dh�anamh a thaobh na c�nain a cumail buan, na coimhearsnachdan far am bi iad a' gabhail �ite agus a' togail misneachd a measg dhaoine �ga. 'S e seo rud a tha sinn a' faicinn uair is uair anns ar gn�omhaichean chultarach.

"Th�id ach gl� bheag den chlann air adhart a bhith nan luchd-ci�il proifeiseanta, no a' cluich ann an �ite poblach, ach tha e math gum bi iomadh dhaibh ag ionnsachadh ionnsramaidean no seinn airson sp�rs."

"Tha luach m�r air na sgilean a dh'ionnsaicheas na daoine �ga aig na F�isean, mar p�irt de foghlam neo-fhoirmeil. Tha na F�isean air an luach leotha, agus bithear ag ionnsachadh agus a' cleachdadh na sgilean ann an d�igh practaigeach. Tha mi cuideachd air mo mhisneachadh air co mheud a tha a' dol air adhart gus G�idhlig ionnsachadh. Tha feadhainn air a' bheachd a ghabhail gur e F�isean nan G�idheal aon de na h-iomairtean as soirbheachail ann an Alba.

Chuir Ailean Caimbeul, Ceannard B�rd na G�idhlig f�ilte chridheil air an naidheachd. Thuirt e: "Se f�or eisimpleir air leasachadh cultarail is coimhearsnachd a th'ann am F�isean nan G�idheal, agus chan eil teagamh nach eil iad �raidh air a h-uile taic a tha dol thuca. Mar phr�omh bhuidhinn taice tha am B�rd a' cur f�ilte mh�r air an naidheachd seo bho HIE. Tha an co-dh�nadh seo bhuapa na h-aithne air na caochladh dh�ighean as am bheil nam F�isean a' cur ri amasan cultarail, s�isealta, agus eacanomaigeach air
feadh na d�thcha. Tha an co-dh�nadh seo cuideachd na cheum chudromach anns a Phlana G�idhlig a tha HIE a nise a deasachadh dhaibh fh�in le taic a Bh�ird."

Fhuair F�isean nan G�idheal duais bho chionn ghoirid - Pr�iseact Choimhearsnachd na Bliadhna aig Duaisean Ce�l Traidiseanta na h-Alba agus tha iad air leabhar fhoillseachadh air an eachdraidh agus adhartas anns a' chiad 25 bliadhna.

Gaelic News and Links On Caithness.org

Highland 2007