Fèisean nan Gàidheal celebrates expansion of fèis programme

FÈISEAN nan Gàidheal, the organisation which supports the development of community-based Gaelic arts tuition festivals throughout Scotland, published its annual report on Friday at the group’s annual general meeting in Ballachulish.

Guest speaker at the event was musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy and there was music from Fèis Lochabair which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Fèisgoil experienced substantial growth last year with the development of Blasad Gàidhlig, which offers Gaelic lessons in schools where the language is not currently taught. Gaelic tuition is now being delivered in several local authority areas and this increase in demand has led to employment for a growing number of tutors.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s chief executive Arthur Cormack explained: ‘Everything we do is to support the local Fèisean, increase opportunities for young people or to create employment for tutors. Over the past year we have provided employment for 97 full time equivalent posts. In addition we have offered many young people opportunities to develop their skills through cèilidh trails, drama work and performing at events as part of Blas and other national and international festivals. We strengthen Gaelic education, too, through the work carried out in schools and with pre-school groups. In March 2017 we formally launched our FèisTV service which will, through time, offer online opportunities for an international audience to participate in the work of Fèisean nan Gàidheal.’

According to a survey conducted by the Traditional Music Forum, the work of the Fèisean now accounts for a third of all traditional music tuition for young people across Scotland, with the report showing it engaged with at least 71,000 people in 2016-17.

In his foreword, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s chairman Duncan MacQuarrie MBE said: ‘This report demonstrates that our year-round programme, agreed with Creative Scotland, HIE and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, was successfully delivered. We were pleased to deliver services for The Highland Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute Council, as well as securing a number of contracts from other local authorities and public bodies, which were delivered through our Fèisgoil service.’

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s priority is to ensure continued support for and development of local Fèisean.’