Recognising 8 years of the Gaelic arts in our communities
06 March 2009
From 2001 – 2008 key members of Gaelic arts bodies came together, as the Gaelic Arts Strategic Development (GASD) Forum, to represent and support the Gaelic arts community. Serviced by Pròiseact nan Ealan (PnE) the GASD Forum originally comprised of 6 key Gaelic arts bodies – Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Gaelic Media Service (now MG ALBA), An Comunn Gàidhealach, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Tosg Theatre and PnE.
In 2004 the GASD Forum received funding of £400,000 from the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and from Bòrd na Gàidhlig toward a 3 year programme covering the development of skills, audiences and showcases.
In 2008 the ‘GASD Programme’ was evaluated independently by Erika King of Scottish Cultural Enterprise. The evaluation stated that “The GASD Forum itself has been shown to be an effective means of supporting a wide range of projects offering skills and showcasing opportunities... supported projects had positive impacts on the local communities in which they took place and several reported legacy activities, which will extend the benefits into the future.
“They embraced a wide range of art forms including drama, poetry, creative writing, song, instrumental music, visual arts, photography and digital arts and engaged with beginners, intermediate and new Gaelic speakers and with non-Gaelic as well as Gaelic organisations’.
"A great deal of new information has been gathered and capacity within the Gaelic arts sector has been increased. The two research studies supported by GASD have yielded a large amount of audience data which will be of use to future strategic development.”
Showcases which received funding include the Songs & Music of Dùthaich Mhicaoidh, Eadar an Saoghal’s a' Bhiothbhuan (A Musical Celebration of Sorley Maclean), Ceilear! and Mach ann an Deich. Many of the supported projects have proved sustainable for example ‘Mach ann an Deich’ which is due to take place again this month after a successful GASD funded pilot in 2007.
GASD aim was to fund such strategic projects which would develop new audiences, attract new participants and leave a lasting legacy. Broadcaster and presenter, Niall Iain MacDonald, took part in the Mach ann an Deich pilot as an amateur actor and has continued acting recently winning ‘best actor’ at the pilot Gaelic short film festival, FilmG.
Niall Iain said “I had not done any proper acting until I was asked to take part in a play for "Mach Ann An 10". Although I was quite worried about standing on a stage in front of an audience I felt better because I was not alone - the majority of those involved in the venture were in the same situation and we could help and encourage one another. I learnt an awful lot about how I should present myself on stage and it gave me encouragement to try other things in drama, such as 'Lostbost' and a short film for the FilmG competition.”
The skills development strand included traineeships and residencies which have had long term implications for the organisations and the artists involved. Young Gaelic writer Daibhidh Martin was taken on as one of three Writers in Residence at An Lanntair.
Daibhidh said, “In 2007 I completed a 3 month GASD funded residency at An Lanntair working alongside pupils at Sir E Scott School. The remit was to help them write and perform a short Gaelic play for Mach ann an Deich as well as writing and directing my own play for the festival and producing online blogs to promote participation. It was through one of these blogs, which I made a short film for, that I was subsequently offered a job as a Director with Mac TV. I have now been working for them as a director for over a year and a half alongside writing and might not have had this great opportunity if I hadn't been involved in the GASD programme.”
In 2007 Fèisean nan Gàidheal received funding for a Trainee Marketing Officer, and the position was taken up by graduate Chris de Plano from Skye.
Chris said. “Five years ago my current job as short courses co-ordinator was advertised in the local press. As someone with an interest in education, marketing and organising, it seemed like the perfect job. What I lacked, however, was the marketing skills which were essential to the job. Thanks to my traineeship through GASD, I was able to develop a thorough knowledge of arts marketing and put that to good use. I also used these newly acquired skills for the benefit of the community, working as a volunteer organising a traditional music festival. At the end of the traineeship, Fèisean nan Gàidheal had a solid marketing infrastructure in place and a workable strategic marketing plan. Coincidentally, the job as Short Courses Co-ordinator was open again. I'm certain that if it weren't for the GASD traineeship, the career opportunities available to me would not have been so plentiful.”
GASD’s most important legacy has been the development of the National Gaelic Arts Strategy (NGAS) which has been adopted by both Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the SAC and which will, in collaboration with all Gaelic arts organisations, determine the future of the Gaelic Arts and of their effectiveness as a key tool of Gaelic language development. The NGAS will be funded and implemented from 2009 onwards.
