Culture Minister enjoys the creative exchange of Air Iomlaid

Gaelic medium schoolchildren from Edinburgh’s Tollcross Primary School and
Bun-sgoil Shlèite on the Isle of Skye were joined by Culture Minister, Michael
Russell in the heart of the capital for an innovative art project.

The event was part of the Air Iomlaid (On Exchange) initiative, enabling the
pupils to develop their skills in looking at, and responding to, their local
outdoor environments using Gaelic language and visual art. The education
project, led by The Fruitmarket Gallery and artist Julie Brook with a team of
professional artists, has brought the schools together at outdoor locations In
Skye and Edinburgh where they intensively draw and paint their respective
environments.

Earlier in the month the children captured Skye's rural mountain landscape and
last week's visit allowed them to draw and paint Edinburgh's city scape on
Calton Hill, in Princes Street Gardens and on Waverley Bridge.

Culture Minister Michael Russell said of the project:

"The visual arts can play a role in developing individuals and communities and
this project is a fantastic example of just that. I was lucky enough to meet
with the children and see first hand the high quality landscape drawings they
were producing thanks to this strong and positive learning experience.

Linking Gaelic communities throughout Scotland can only boost our drive to
create a new generation of Gaelic speakers, providing more opportunities to
use
Gaelic in daily life, and making new friends at the same time.

Gaelic and its culture are inextricably linked to the landscape so it is great
to see young Gaelic speakers not only learning about their culture and
language,
but also developing new skills thanks to being involved in cultural activity."


The natural history element of the project is being supported by Scottish
Natural Heritage and the organisation’s Gaelic communications officer Shona
Sloan guided the party through the natural history of the area. A highlight of
the visit was the group’s exploration of Calton Hill and Princes Street
Gardens.

Shona Sloan said:

"Despite being in the very centre of a big city heart the kids discovered lots
of colourful wildlife. There is so much natural history to see in Princes
Street
Gardens including some wonderful seasonal features such as the changing
colours
of autumn foliage, the berries and the birdlife. The visit also showed the
youngsters how rich and descriptive the Gaelic language is in its expression
of
nature and wildlife. Especially here in the heart of a busy city like
Edinburgh
where one of the most celebrated natural features - Calton Hill - is a name
derived directly from ‘Calltain’, the Gaelic word for hazel."

This project will culminate in an exhibition in April next year. The
exhibition, which after its run at The Fruitmarket Gallery will travel to
Sabhal
Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic-speaking further education college on the Isle
of Skye, will show the children’s sketch books and working drawings as well
as
large scale artworks in which the landscapes of Skye and Edinburgh are
interpreted from the perspective of both resident and visiting children.


The Fruitmarket Gallery’s Director Fiona Bradley said:

"We are delighted to be helping to develop the art and language skills of
these
young people. The forthcoming exhibition promises to be a real treat - the
fruits of a dynamic exchange of ideas and creativity.

A visual manifestation of a creative exchange, the exhibition is a celebration
of the two school communities, 250 miles apart yet linked by art, technology,
language and ideas."