Art Archives - Am Paipear

£1million boost for Cnoc Soilleir from Scottish Government

December 14, 2016

Design concept for Cnoc Soilleir. Image: John Renshaw Architects (2015)

£1million has been pledged by the Scottish Government to support the Cnoc Soillier project.

Working in partnership, Ceòlas and Lews Castle College UHI hope to establish a dedicated centre for Gàidhlig music, dance and cultural heritage in Daliburgh, South Uist.

Announcing the support today, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I am pleased to confirm £1 million in Scottish Government support towards the development the Cnoc Soilleir project.

“The establishment of a multi-functioning Gàidhlig education and arts centre in Uist will create over 40 full-time equivalent jobs in the coming years and generate significant benefits for the local economy. It will also secure a sustainable future for Gaelic in the area, in line with this government’s commitment to supporting the language in communities and in education at all levels across Scotland.”

Read all about the plans for Cnoc Soilleir in the latest edition of Am Pàipear – out now.

Students from one of Europe’s top art schools to visit Taigh Chearsabhagh

September 29, 2016

Glasgow School of Art and Taigh Chearsabhagh will welcome students from one of Europe’s most prestigious art schools during a collaborative visit in early October.

A group of third year sculpture students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris will spend two weeks travelling in Scotland as part of an educational trip.

They will have three days in Glasgow, including a visit to Glasgow School of Art’s Garnethill Campus.

Then the group will then travel north to collaborate on a project as part of Archipelago 136, Glasgow School of Art’s Institute of Design Innovation’s Island Research Programme. Students aim to gain a better understanding of life in the islands, including aspects of community, infrastructure, landscape and identity.

They will stay in Lochmaddy from 2nd to 9th October, where they will work with Taigh Chearsabhagh. Sturdents will will also work on drawing and digital art projects with two groups of visual arts students from UHI. This will be followed by visiting the Glasgow School of Art’s Highlands and Islands Creative Campus in Forres from 9th to 15th October, where they will work with arts students from the art school on a week long collaborative project that continues the themes of rural identity and landscape.

It is hoped that the trip could lead to further collaboration with the art school, including the potential for a visit to France by Glasgow School of Art and UHI students.

“We are delighted to welcome students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and hope that this will develop into a stronger international relationship as well as sharing what the Highlands and Islands have to offer,” says Research fellow Dr George Jaramillo, of Glasgow School of Art.

“They will see two different sides of Scotland during their trip and I’m sure they will find both equally inspiring for the projects they will be taking part in. We hope this is the first of many collaborative visits with the school.”

“The trip is a great opportunity for the students to discover a different context as well as working together as a group with GSA and University of the Highlands and Islands students. I am especially looking forward to exchanging ideas and developing some new artwork inspired by the collaboration,” added Professor Anne Rochette of L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts.

“Earlier in the year researchers from Glasgow School of Art’s Institute of Design Innovation presented workshops in Taigh Chearsabhagh, where our studios are located. It provided a great opportunity for a number of students, from both the degree and certificate courses, to engage with innovative design technologies and discuss areas of design research that were of interest to them,” said Dennis Magee, Course Leader for the BA Fine Art at the UHI.

As a result, we have developed a very positive connection with the GSA. The fact that this connection has now led to us being able to invite students from L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts to come here, provides a great opportunity for our students to develop future international connections. These are extraordinary opportunities for students working in a remote location like Uist.”

Pictured is the courtyard of the celebrated École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris.

It’s official…Benbecula is currently hosting the best festival ever!

July 30, 2016

Skippinish headlining EDF last night. © Am Pàipear

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) got off to a rocking start last night with more than 1000 revellers enjoying a sensational evening of music, dance, food and drink…

Following years of planning and a colossal volunteer effort setting-up over the past week, Benbecula’s first music festival got underway on Liniclate machair last night.

Alex MacDonald & Friends (above) opened EDF. © Am Pàipear

Skippinish headlined yesterday’s exceptional evening of entertainment, topping a bill that included Vatersay Boys, Trail West, ABBA A RIVAL, Fatlips and local group Alex MacDonald & Friends.

EDF is sold out with some 3000 people expected over the course of the two-day event. Local residents are being joined by many people from the mainland and around the world for the festival.

Pirates ahoy! This hen party travelled from Inverness to EDF. © Am Pàipear

Festivalgoers snapping memories to look back on. © Am Pàipear

Music performed last night varied from the impromptu ceilidh session kicked off by AlexMacDonald & Friends to the rock classics performed by Fatlips. ABBA tribute band ABBA A RIVAL warmed up the crowd with a selection of the hits of the Swedish icons, before Trail West, Vatersay Boys and Skippinish gave the night a rousing send-off.

Fatlips got the EDF crowd rocking. © Am Pàipear

ABBA A RIVAL got the crowd buzzing. © Am Pàipear

Trail West were the first of three trad bands to headline last night. © Am Pàipear

As well as the main tent, the EDF site includes spaces for stalls and merchandise sales, fairground rides and several mobile food stalls.

Helen MacLean and Sarah MacEachen manning the merchandise stall. © Am Pàipear

Doors open again today (Saturday 30th July) at midday, with lots of family fun promised throughout the afternoon.

Today will see Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, Ceilidh Trail, Angel, Alex, Chris McGill, The Shed, Uist Pipe Band, Beinn Lee Ceilidh Band, Chunks, The Tailormade, Resurrection, Stop the Clocks take to the stage.

Former frontman for RunRig, Donnie Munro and his band, will headline tonight.

Look out for more pictures and details in the next edition of Am Pàipear.

Voove to keep EDF crowd connected with WiFi

June 24, 2016

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) has announced Benbecula-based firm Voove will provide full on-site WiFi coverage over the course of the two-day event.

As a result, festival-goers will be able to instantly post their happy snaps online as they dance the nights away. EDF will also provide secure phone charging points to allow guests to charge their phones as and when required.

Connectivity provided by local technology company Voove – which earlier this month revealed it will be providing WiFi at the Belladrum tartan Heart Festival – is expected to be a big hit with the crowds at Scotland’s newest music festival.

EDF founder Roddy MacKay said: “I’m delighted that with the support of Voove we can offer this essential digital service to our guests here at EDF 2016. Connectivity in the islands is absolutely paramount for tourism and industry, so to be able to have our guests instant reactions from a site that normally does not even have a mobile signal, nevermind Wi-Fi, is absolutely fantastic.”

Advance vouchers are available online from https://www.voove.com/product-category/edf-wi-fi-vouchers/ at a discounted cost of £6 for one day, or £10 for the duration of the festival. These are strictly limited so make sure you get yours quick.

On-site, vouchers will be £8, and £15 respectively, available at the Voove stand within the main arena. Voove’s expert team will be on hand to support festival goers with any connection issues.

Tickets for this first Festival in Benbecula are selling fast so if you don’t have yours yet then make sure you get them now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/edffestival or pop in to the office at East Camp in Balivanich.

£10,000 funding boost for EDF

June 24, 2016

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) has secured £10,000 support from Awards for All.

Taking place on Liniclate machair on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th July, EDF is the first ever music festival for Benbecula. Acts including Skippinish, Vatersay Boys, Trail West and Donnie Munro will take to the stage over a weekend like no other for the islands.

Funding from Awards for All – a partnership by sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund – will help cover the costs of setting up the annual festival.

EDF Chairman Roddy MacKay commented “We are delighted to get this award to help us deliver Benbecula’s first music festival. Not since Runrig played at Liniclate more than 20 years ago has there been anything like this held in Uist. With former frontman Donnie Munro returning, it’s sure to be a momentous weekend.

“We will have nearly 20 acts this year and there’s sure to be something for everyone. This award will allow us to showcase Benbecula and the Southern Isles and what they have to offer at a crucial time for the tourism industry here in the islands.”

A spokesperson for Awards for All said: “These grants, totalling just under one million pounds will benefit over 130 groups across the country and shows the variety of projects that can be funded through Awards for All. We are always surprised at the difference a relatively small amount of money can make providing support and advice to people in communities across Scotland and wish all of these groups the best of luck for the future.”

Awards for All Scotland gives out grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects that bring communities together to enjoy a range of activities. Groups can download this form here www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland

Exciting new collaboration between Taigh Chearsabhagh and An Lanntair

March 14, 2016

An Lanntair in Stornoway has just entered into a new contract with Taigh Chearsabhagh, which will see An Lanntair and its arts and administration teams providing leadership and support to the arts and heritage programme at Taigh Chearsabhagh over the next year.

This innovative partnership has been made possible through funding secured by Taigh Chearsabhagh from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for one year to test this new collaborative way of working. An Lanntair’s visual arts, education and marketing teams will be working with Taigh Chearsabhagh, led by An Lanntair CEO, Elly Fletcher.

Elly said: “I am delighted to have this chance to be involved so directly in the future growth and development of Taigh Chearsabhagh. The building is such an incredible space, the staff and board are so driven and dedicated, and the arts and heritage programme is just fabulous – myself and the team at An Lanntair can’t wait to get going with this exciting new collaboration.”

Both Taigh Chearsabhagh and An Lanntair have extraordinarily diverse programmes, attracting local and international artists, supporting the growth of new talent, and celebrating the unique Gaelic culture and heritage of the Outer Hebrides.

It is hoped that by working together so closely, the two organisations can start to collaborate longer term across their activities; from exhibitions, to learning programmes, to marketing and communications.

Susan Fogden, Chair of Taigh Chearsabhagh said: “Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust is thrilled to be part of this collaboration with An Lanntair and is very grateful to HIE and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for their support in this exciting venture. After getting to know the strong and experienced team from An Lanntair we’re confident that the partnership is going to take us from strength to strength and that we are going to enjoy, as well as benefit from, a lasting relationship.”

Great Tapestry of Scotland coming to Benbecula

November 6, 2015

Part of one of Scotland’s most popular artworks will be on display in Benbecula during November and December.

Thirty panels from the Great Tapestry of Scotland will be on display at Museum nan Eilean (Sgoil Lionacleit) from 14th November to 22nd December. A number of events for all ages are being planned to coincide with the exhibition.

One of the nation’s largest community arts projects, the 142m tapestry depicts the history of Scotland from the landscape’s geological formation to the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. The story is told in 159 boldly designed and intricately stitched panels that are the work of over 1,000 stitchers from across Scotland.

Since its hugely popular debut exhibition at the Scottish Parliament in September 2013, the tapestry has been taken to the hearts of Scottish communities. Over 325,000 visitors from all over the world have visited tapestry exhibitions at venues including the Scottish Parliament, Stirling Castle, Paisley Thread Mill, New Lanark, Aberdeen Art Gallery, and Ayr Town Hall.

Visitors have been amazed over by the tapestry’s epic scope and fascinated by the details of its stitching.

Originator of the Great Tapestry of Scotland, bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, said: “I am delighted that the Great Tapestry of Scotland is coming to the Western Isles. The Western Isles have made a great contribution to the history of Scotland and this is reflected in a number of the tapestry’s panels. I hope that as many people as possible will take the chance to see this magnificent and moving work of art when it comes to them in November and December.”

Alistair Moffat, historian and co-chairman of the project, said: “This is a history of all of Scotland, and one that attempts to compass not only the whole nation but also all of its people as it tells the stories of shepherds, weavers, ploughmen, crofters, fishermen and all of the people who made our story come alive. Kings, queens and other powerful people have their place, but this is a unique way of telling our history – because it was made by the people of Scotland, a thousand stitchers, from Berwickshire to the Butt of Lewis.”

Trish Campbell Botten, Principal Officer Libraries and Heritage, added: “We are delighted to welcome the Great Tapestry of Scotland to the Outer Hebrides in our council museum space in Benbecula. This is a wonderful opportunity to see such an impressive piece of art and history on our own doorsteps and to see the work created by local stitchers.”

Five of the tapestry’s stitchers are residents of the Western Isles. Lewis stitchers Margaret and Mary MacLeod combined to make an early panel representing the visit of the Greek traveller Pytheas, who took a reading of latitude at Calanais in the fourth century BC.

A stitching group who named themselves the ‘Sea-Mistresses’ worked on the panel depicting the loss of HMY Iolaire in 1919. This group consisted of Tracey MacLeod and Gillian Scott-Forest from Harris and Moira MacPherson from South Uist. Over the months of winter stitching, this group sent their panel back and forth to each other in the care of Caledonian MacBrayne on the Leverburgh-Berneray ferry.

OPENING HOURS

November: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-1pm and 2-5pm; Thur 10am-1pm and 2pm-7pm; Closed Sun & Mon.

December: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat 10am-1pm and 2-5pm; Fri 10am-1pm and 2pm-7pm; Closed Sun & Mon.

FREE ADMISSION; Tapestry merchandise is available, payment by cash or cheque only.

Funding setback for proposed Ceòlas centre

October 12, 2015

by Iain Smith

Plans to establish a purpose-built Gàidhlig music, culture and heritage centre in South Uist have been thrown into doubt after a bid to secure funding from the Big Lottery Fund was unsuccessful.

Ceòlas, working in partnership with Lews Castle College UHI, is leading plans to establish the ambitious £9.56million centre. Together they proposed to erect a purpose-built education and performance centre that would provide year-round education alongside performances of an international standard in music, song and dance as well as other aspects of Gàidhlig culture and heritage. Detailed plans for the new centre had been drawn up and, after consultation with the local community, a site was identified for the new facility in Daliburgh.

Ceòlas recently submitted a funding bid for £1.365 million towards the cost of the project to the Big Lottery Fund. However, it has emerged that at this stage the Big Lottery Fund has declined to offer the project any funding.

It had been hoped that the new centre would be completed by June 2017.

However, despite the disappointment of the failed bid, Ceòlas chair Mary MacInnes insists that efforts to secure funding from other sources will continue.

“We are obviously very disappointed that our application to the Big Lottery Growing Community Assets fund was unsuccessful,” she said.

“Nevertheless, we remain very confident about the project’s viability and are positive about the wide-reaching social and economic benefits that it will bring to our community. We are continuing to work closely with our partners at Lews Castle College UHI to identify alternative funding sources to make up the shortfall in our capital investment plan.”

Ceòlas is already preparing other funding applications, and the board will meet later this month to discuss the way forward for the project.

Photo: Visualisation of the proposed new centre at Daliburgh (John Renshaw Architects)

This article was edited on 14th October 2015 (1629).

Summer showcase from Uist artists

July 9, 2015

UAA exhibition at Taigh Chearsabhagh.

Uist Arts Association (UAA) has opened its first ever summer exhibition at Taigh Chearsabhagh.

With over 50 pieces of work by UAA members on display, including watercolour, oils, photography and sculptures, the show has something for everyone. All of the works, with a strong Hebrides theme, are from established local artists or with a strong connection to the island.

The show, which takes place in the café and both studios one and two, runs from 3rd to 25th July. The opening was attended by artists exhibiting works and visitors eager to view the new exhibition. Some of the works have already been sold though will remain on show until the end of the exhibition.

The 2015 show has an open theme this year and the works cover a wide range of talent from water colours to oils, sculptures and prints, covering the Hebrides, wildlife, abstracts and structures.

UAA chair, Louise Cook, said: “We have had a fabulous response from our membership in submitting work for this event. The quality of work on display is clear and the show is attracting a positive response.”

Next year’s exhibition theme will specifically tie in with the islands rich history of archaeology and the UAA is looking forward to the diverse and complex look into Hebridean history as envisaged by their members. Should you wish to become a member of the UAA and participate in their future shows then please contact the Uist Arts Association on their Facebook page.

Q&A with Ceòlas Artist in Residence Sharon MacPherson

July 7, 2015

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Sharon MacPherson is this year’s Ceòlas Artist in Residence.

Earlier today (Tuesday 7th July 2015) Am Pàipear caught up with this year’s Artist in Residence at Ceòlas, Sharon MacPherson from Berneray…

Q: How are you getting on as Ceòlas Artist in Residence for this year?

A: “It’s going well so far. I arrived on Sunday and I an now settled in. Yesterday (Monday) I set up my artwork and so far I have had a very good response with the pieces I’ve brought with me, which is lovely.

“My main reason for being here is actually to capture what Ceòlas is all about and to take, not only my own response, but also other people’s, and produce work as a response to being here.

“Maybe in a month or so I will produce a piece of art, which I’ll present to the Ceòlas team, reflecting on my time here.”

Q: Are you getting a sense already of what that piece may be like, or is it too early to say?

A: “I think it is too early to say what that will be like. There is definitely a fantastic atmosphere, but I’ll maybe answer that question a bit later in the week.”

Q: Have you always been interested in art?

A: “Yes, since I was a child. In all honesty, it was comic books that really started my interest, the illustrations in both comics and books. I really enjoyed trying to copy all of the different characters and would work for hours and hours until I got it just right.

“From a very early age, I was much more keen on illustration, so I began with drawing.

“I did the NC course at Taigh Chearsabhagh after I finished school, and I went on to do a year at Grey’s Schools of Art.

“My career path changed after that, and I actually diverted into health sciences. So my artwork took a backbench during those years and really it was only last year, when I moved back to Berneray, that I found my love for art again. I have spent a whole year reconnecting with different mediums, which I am still doing, still experimenting.

“As you can see, there is a variety of work here. I haven’t quite yet decided on which medium I prefer and I take my inspiration from all my surroundings, especially wildlife.

“Here, I’ve got drawings, watercolours, and also some oils. I haven’t tried using acrylics yet, but what you are seeing there is a wide mix. I think I am starting to prefer watercolours. I’m trying to become more vibrant with colours and develop a looser approach, but I do tend to revert back to my tighter drawing skills and I hope to maybe develop them more.”

See some of Sharon’s work, currently on display in Daliburgh School, at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sharonmacphersonart?fref=ts