Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig, a’phrìomh bhuidheann poblach le uallach airson leasachadh na Gàidhlig, air fàilte a chur air dà naidheachd bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba, a’ cur tuilleadh taic ris a’ chànan.
A’ bruidheann aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach an diugh (Diluain, Lùnastal 3) dhearbh a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear Ailig Salmond gun deach £800,000 a bharrachd a chomharrachadh airson foghlam Gàidhlig a’ toirt na tha an Riaghaltas a’ cosg bho Stòras Gàidhlig nan Sgoiltean gu £2.15m am bliadhna.
Chaidh an Stòras fhoillseachadh leis a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear aig a’ Mhòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta an uiridh. Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Cathraiche Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air an impidh a tha a’ sìor nochdadh bhon Riaghaltas an Alba mu choinneimh an taic dhan Ghàidhlig a’ stèidheachadh slighe romhainn a bhios beothail, tèarainte agus maireannach, agus tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig fìor-dheònach a bhith ag obair còmhla ris an Riaghaltas chum sin a bhuinnig. Tha an t-airgead calpa a bharrachd airson sgoiltean Gàidhlig a’ toirt cothrom do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail ceum air adhart a ghabhail le pròiseactan cudromach a chuidicheas le bhith a’ cur ri àireamhan luchd-bruidhne na Gàidhlig, leithid sgoiltean Gàidhlig ann am Portrìgh agus anns a’ Ghearasdan. Bu chòir seo cuideachd pàrantan anns a h-uile sgìre a mhisneachadh son sgoiltean Gàidhlig iarraidh nan coimhearsnachdan fhèin.”
Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig cuideachd air fàilte a chur air an taic a tha an Riaghaltas a’ nochdadh airson barrachd oidhirp a dhèanamh gus daoine a thàladh gu bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig. A’ bruidheann ann an Steòrnabhagh feasgar, thuirt Ministear na Gàidhlig Micheal Russell agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam Fiona Hyslop gu robh feum air adhartas anns a’ bhad feuch an gabhabh ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig a chothromachadh agus a leasachadh. Thuirt iad gum biodh an Riaghaltas agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig ag obair gu math dlùth còmhla thar nan trì mìosan romhainn airson slighe a chomharrachadh a bheireadh amasan gu math adhartach gu ìre. Thuirt Mghr Russell gu robh e an dùil molaidhean fhoillseachadh ro dheireadh na bliadhna a’ mìneachadh ceumanan bunasach a bhiodh a’ toirt gu ìre àrdachadh ann an luchd-cleachdaidh agus luchd labhairt na Gàidhlig.
Thuirt Mghr MacCarmaig: “Mar phrìomh bhuidhinn comhairleachaidh an Riaghaltais tha am Bòrd a’ cur fàilte air na bh’aig an dà Mhinistear ri ràdh mun taic a tha iad airson a chumail ri oidhirpean barrachd dhaoine a thàladh gu ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig. Tha am Bòrd gu math mothachail gun fheum sinn a bhith ag amas ar dòighean obrach agus oidhirpean gu math innleachdach airson cothroman ionnsachaidh a leasachadh. Bidh sinn a’ cur ris an obair a tha seo gu dealasachach agus thig sinn air adhart le molaidhean bunasach an co-bhuinn ris an Riaghaltas. ’S e cothrom a tha seo cur gu làidir ris a’ Phlana Nàiseanta a th’againn an dràsta, le taic an Riaghaltais, agus toiseach-tòiseachadh a dhèanamh air slighe chun ath Phlana.
Tha sinn air ar mòr-mhisneachadh gu bheil Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit agus am Ministear le chèile ’gar piobrachadh gu bhith a’ dol an-sàs ann an oidhirpean crìonadh na Gàidhlig a thilleadh, agus gu bheil iad fhèin mothachail nach eil cus ùine again seo a dhèanamh. Tha barrachd stòrais againn ’nar sgioba-obrach an dràsta tron Bhuidhean Stiùiridh Eadar-amail agus tha na buill mar tha air slighe air adhart a chomharrachadh gus piseach a thoirt air cùisean. An luib an ath-leasachaidh air ar bun-structair nì sinn cinnteach gun tèid buannachd buinnig às na cothroman a tha a’ fusgladh romhainn. Bidh sinn ag obair còmhla ris an Riaghaltas ach am bi sinn cinnteach gum bi am Ministear ann an suidheachadh clàr-obrach le amasan gu math mionaideach agus dùbhlannach fhoillseachadh nas fhaide air adhart dhen bhliadhna, agus bidh cinn-uidhe gu math cinnteach romhainn.”
Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes Scottish Government
Commitment to Gaelic
Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public agency with responsibility for developing Gaelic, has welcomed two major announcements by the Scottish Government.
Speaking at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye today (Monday, August 3) First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed that an extra £800,000 for Gaelic education has been committed, bringing Scottish Government investment in the Gaelic Schools Fund to £2.15m this year.
The First Minister launched the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund in October last year, ahead of the Royal National Mod. Arthur Cormack, Bòrd na Gàidhlig Chair said: “I welcome the First Minister’s assertion of the continuing impetus in the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring a vibrant, sustainable and prominent future for Gaelic in Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig is committed to working with the Government to achieve this. The additional capital money for Gaelic schools should offer local authorities the opportunity to get on with important projects that will help increase the number of Gaelic speakers, such as the establishment of standalone Gaelic schools in Fort William and Portree. It should give parents in all areas the confidence to ask for a Gaelic school in their community.”
Mr Cormack also welcomed the Government’s support for a re-focusing of effort to attract more people to learning Gaelic. Speaking in Stornoway earlier today, Minister for Gaelic Michael Russell and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said immediate action is necessary to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers. Ms Hyslop and Mr Russell said that the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig will work closely over the next three months to identify the critical steps required to deliver such a challenging outcome. By the end of this year Mr Russell will publish an action plan of radical steps which will deliver an increase in Gaelic speakers and users.
Mr Cormack said: “As principal advisers to the Scottish Government on Gaelic matters, Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the announcement from Michael Russell and Fiona Hyslop today that the Scottish Government will work with us to attract more people to learning Gaelic. Bòrd na Gàidhlig acknowledges the need for decisive action and the opportunity to refocus our efforts on Gaelic learning and put forward fresh proposals, with the clear support of the Scottish Government, is a welcome step in ensuring the fullest possible delivery of the current National Plan, and in laying the groundwork for the next one.
It is hugely encouraging that the Cabinet Secretary and the Minister have both expressed a clear desire to ensure urgent action is taken to reverse the decline in numbers of Gaelic speakers, and have acknowledged that time is not on our side. The Interim Senior Support Team at the Bòrd has increased our capacity and is already making progress in terms of identifying where adjustments need to be made. Along with our restructuring, this will ensure that all the resources at our disposal will achieve the best possible outcomes for Gaelic. We will work closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that an action plan can be published by the Minister later this year that will contain ambitious proposals and clear outcomes.”
Monday, 3 August 2009
Friday, 31 July 2009
FARPAISEAN CHON-CHAORACH – SCOTTISH NATIONAL SHEEPDOG TRIALS ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA is delighted to announce it is to broadcast coverage of this year’s Scottish National Sheepdog Trials as part of the second series of ‘Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach’, Sheepdog Trials.
The Trials take place from Thursday 6th – Saturday 8th August, at Cocklicks Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire in the Scottish Borders.
The highly popular ‘Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach’ is produced for BBC ALBA by mneTV. The 12 part series will go out in the New Year on Tuesday 5th January. It covers both the big, high pressure events including the Scottish Nationals and the Internationals, as well as smaller local trials like those at Balquhidder, Atholl & Weem and on the islands of the scenic Hebridean circuit.
Cocklicks Farm has successfully hosted the Scottish National trials before, in 1999 and 2003. This year, 50 dogs will take part on each of the three days, their handlers guiding them towards the chance to hold one of 15 places in the Scottish Team. The top dogs will go forward to the International Sheepdog Trials at Lowther Park in Cumbria on Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September.
The best triallists and their dogs from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales will then compete for the title of Supreme Champion 2009.
Presenters Catriona MacPhee and Donald MacSween will be following competitors and their dogs at the trial. Viewers will also get the chance to assess Catriona and Donald’s skills at Dog whispering and see if our TV people can put what they have been presenting into practice.
Presenter Catriona MacPhee said: “I love coming to the Nationals. The competition is really fierce and the course stretches both the dogs and handlers, all vying to be the best in Scotland. And it’s also great because we get to see familiar Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach faces all in one place.”
Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach is prodcued for BBC ALBA by mneTV and will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Tuesday evenings from 5th January 2010.
The Trials take place from Thursday 6th – Saturday 8th August, at Cocklicks Farm, Annan, Dumfriesshire in the Scottish Borders.
The highly popular ‘Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach’ is produced for BBC ALBA by mneTV. The 12 part series will go out in the New Year on Tuesday 5th January. It covers both the big, high pressure events including the Scottish Nationals and the Internationals, as well as smaller local trials like those at Balquhidder, Atholl & Weem and on the islands of the scenic Hebridean circuit.
Cocklicks Farm has successfully hosted the Scottish National trials before, in 1999 and 2003. This year, 50 dogs will take part on each of the three days, their handlers guiding them towards the chance to hold one of 15 places in the Scottish Team. The top dogs will go forward to the International Sheepdog Trials at Lowther Park in Cumbria on Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September.
The best triallists and their dogs from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales will then compete for the title of Supreme Champion 2009.
Presenters Catriona MacPhee and Donald MacSween will be following competitors and their dogs at the trial. Viewers will also get the chance to assess Catriona and Donald’s skills at Dog whispering and see if our TV people can put what they have been presenting into practice.
Presenter Catriona MacPhee said: “I love coming to the Nationals. The competition is really fierce and the course stretches both the dogs and handlers, all vying to be the best in Scotland. And it’s also great because we get to see familiar Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach faces all in one place.”
Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach is prodcued for BBC ALBA by mneTV and will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Tuesday evenings from 5th January 2010.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
DAVID MACBRAYNE TO RESTRUCTURE SUPPORT FUNCTIONS
Press Release from April 2009
David MacBrayne Ltd, the parent company of Scotland's main ferry
operators, NorthLink Ferries Ltd (NFL) and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) is
being restructured as part of its preparations for the re-tendering later
this year of their current contracts which end in 2012 and 2013
respectively
Under the proposed changes, which start to come into effect from April 1,
2009, the new DML Group's role will be to address policy and strategy
matters, and a number of staff who provide support in areas like Finance
will work across the group.
Chairman Peter Timms said: "These changes have been under consideration
since the creation of NFL and CFL and are an essential part of our plans
to ensure the group is in the best possible shape to win the next round of
tenders. This is the latest stage of the process begun in 2006 when the then
Caledonian MacBrayne was restructured in preparation for the Clyde & Hebrides
Ferry Services tender, following our successful NorthLink bid to operate the
Northern Isles services, and will allow us to concentrate on delivering the
ferry services to the best of our ability for the remaining duration of the
respective contracts."
As part of the restructure, Lawrie Sinclair, currently Managing Director
of CalMac Ferries Ltd, will be appointed Group Chief Executive and CFL
Operations Director, Philip Preston and NFL Chief Executive, Bill Davidson
will be appointed Managing Directors of their respective companies. In
addition, non-executive Director David McGibbon will be appointed Deputy
Chairman of David MacBrayne Ltd.
David MacBrayne Ltd, the parent company of Scotland's main ferry
operators, NorthLink Ferries Ltd (NFL) and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) is
being restructured as part of its preparations for the re-tendering later
this year of their current contracts which end in 2012 and 2013
respectively
Under the proposed changes, which start to come into effect from April 1,
2009, the new DML Group's role will be to address policy and strategy
matters, and a number of staff who provide support in areas like Finance
will work across the group.
Chairman Peter Timms said: "These changes have been under consideration
since the creation of NFL and CFL and are an essential part of our plans
to ensure the group is in the best possible shape to win the next round of
tenders. This is the latest stage of the process begun in 2006 when the then
Caledonian MacBrayne was restructured in preparation for the Clyde & Hebrides
Ferry Services tender, following our successful NorthLink bid to operate the
Northern Isles services, and will allow us to concentrate on delivering the
ferry services to the best of our ability for the remaining duration of the
respective contracts."
As part of the restructure, Lawrie Sinclair, currently Managing Director
of CalMac Ferries Ltd, will be appointed Group Chief Executive and CFL
Operations Director, Philip Preston and NFL Chief Executive, Bill Davidson
will be appointed Managing Directors of their respective companies. In
addition, non-executive Director David McGibbon will be appointed Deputy
Chairman of David MacBrayne Ltd.
NFUS AND NSA TAKE TO THE ROAD ON SHEEP TAGGING
NFU Scotland and the National Sheep Association’s Scottish Region are to take to the road in August and September, hosting nine meetings across the country to explain the EU proposals on sheep movements and electronic identification with the nation’s sheep farmers.
European Regulation 21/2004, due to come into force from the end of this year, will make it obligatory for all Scottish sheep keepers to electronically tag sheep born after this date and keep a record of each animal’s individual identity every time they move. NFUS and NSA Scotland believe the new rules will bring no real benefit and the proposals are soundly opposed by the whole Scottish sheep sector.
Pressure to change the proposals has started to bring rewards and a number of concessions to the proposed regulations were secured recently.
With the joint lobbying effort in Brussels continuing, NFUS and NSA Scotland have agreed that the time is right to meet with Scottish sheep producers to discuss the concessions achieved to date and to confirm the direction that they want discussions to take in the coming months.
NFU Scotland Vice-President Nigel Miller said:
“There has been a lot said and done about changing Europe’s damaging proposals on sheep movements and electronic tagging and the time is right to go out to producers on how things stand. With the autumn sheep sales just around the corner, it is worth reminding producers that this year's lamb crop is unaffected by the regulation, and that only sheep born after 1 January 2010 run the risk of getting caught up in an unnecessary sea of cost and bureaucracy.
“The purpose of these meetings is to explain to farmers where we have got to in our negotiations and how, as things stand, the regulation would affect lamb crops born next year and beyond.
George Milne, Development Officer for the NSA in Scotland said:
“Amendments to the regulation agreed to date will make the implementation of new regulations on sheep movements and EID slightly easier on sheep farmers, but stops short of overcoming the real issues of on farm management and recording of breeding sheep.
“Both organisations have put tremendous time, effort and resource into lobbying against the proposals. I would urge all Scottish sheep producers to make the effort to come along to one of these meetings. It will give them an appreciation of where we have got to in our attempts to change this damaging regulation, and it will give NFUS and NSA Scotland an appreciation of where farmers want us to focus our efforts in the coming weeks and months.”
European Regulation 21/2004, due to come into force from the end of this year, will make it obligatory for all Scottish sheep keepers to electronically tag sheep born after this date and keep a record of each animal’s individual identity every time they move. NFUS and NSA Scotland believe the new rules will bring no real benefit and the proposals are soundly opposed by the whole Scottish sheep sector.
Pressure to change the proposals has started to bring rewards and a number of concessions to the proposed regulations were secured recently.
With the joint lobbying effort in Brussels continuing, NFUS and NSA Scotland have agreed that the time is right to meet with Scottish sheep producers to discuss the concessions achieved to date and to confirm the direction that they want discussions to take in the coming months.
NFU Scotland Vice-President Nigel Miller said:
“There has been a lot said and done about changing Europe’s damaging proposals on sheep movements and electronic tagging and the time is right to go out to producers on how things stand. With the autumn sheep sales just around the corner, it is worth reminding producers that this year's lamb crop is unaffected by the regulation, and that only sheep born after 1 January 2010 run the risk of getting caught up in an unnecessary sea of cost and bureaucracy.
“The purpose of these meetings is to explain to farmers where we have got to in our negotiations and how, as things stand, the regulation would affect lamb crops born next year and beyond.
George Milne, Development Officer for the NSA in Scotland said:
“Amendments to the regulation agreed to date will make the implementation of new regulations on sheep movements and EID slightly easier on sheep farmers, but stops short of overcoming the real issues of on farm management and recording of breeding sheep.
“Both organisations have put tremendous time, effort and resource into lobbying against the proposals. I would urge all Scottish sheep producers to make the effort to come along to one of these meetings. It will give them an appreciation of where we have got to in our attempts to change this damaging regulation, and it will give NFUS and NSA Scotland an appreciation of where farmers want us to focus our efforts in the coming weeks and months.”
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
CELTIC’S IMPENDING MATCHES ON BBC ALBA
CELTIC V DINAMO MOSCOW EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST ON BBC ALBA
CELTIC V SUNDERLAND LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA is delighted to announce that it will be the only channel in the UK to broadcast exclusive coverage of Celtic’s UEFA Champions League third round qualifier against Dinamo Moscow.
It has been agreed that Wednesday’s match at Celtic Park, with a kick off time of 7.45pm, will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Thursday 30 July at 10pm. No television channel in the UK will have the rights to a live broadcast and BBC ALBA will be the only channel providing coverage of this match.
Wednesday’s game against Dinamo Moscow will be the first competitive match for Celtic at home under Tony Mowbray since his return to the club as manager.
BBC ALBA will also broadcast live coverage of Celtic’s pre-season match against Sunderland taking place on Saturday 1 August, with a kick-off time of 3pm.
Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “Our coverage of the SPL brought something new to Scottish fans last season and this Celtic double bill brings football back to BBC ALBA with a flourish. It sets us up perfectly for the return of SPL football on the channel when the new season kicks off.”
The programme packages will also provide an in-depth feature interview with Celtic Manager Tony Mowbray, split into two parts, one for each of the above games. The interview will cover Tony Mowbray’s previous spell at Celtic as a player and his ambitions and aspirations for Celtic as manager.
Wednesday’s game will also feature an exclusive interview new £2million signing Danny Fox looking to the season ahead under his new manager, with Saturday’s programme taking a look ahead to Celtic’s trip to Moscow the following week.
Celtic v Dinamo Moscow - Thursday 30 July at 10pm, on BBC ALBA.
Celtic v Sunderland - Saturday 1 August at 3pm, live on BBC ALBA and repeated at 10pm Saturday 1 August and 2.25pm Sunday 2 August.
BBC ALBA provides as-live coverage of one SPL match every Saturday throughout the season as well as a package of live SFL matches.
Coverage on BBC ALBA is being provided in association with mneTV and is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110.
CELTIC V SUNDERLAND LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA is delighted to announce that it will be the only channel in the UK to broadcast exclusive coverage of Celtic’s UEFA Champions League third round qualifier against Dinamo Moscow.
It has been agreed that Wednesday’s match at Celtic Park, with a kick off time of 7.45pm, will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Thursday 30 July at 10pm. No television channel in the UK will have the rights to a live broadcast and BBC ALBA will be the only channel providing coverage of this match.
Wednesday’s game against Dinamo Moscow will be the first competitive match for Celtic at home under Tony Mowbray since his return to the club as manager.
BBC ALBA will also broadcast live coverage of Celtic’s pre-season match against Sunderland taking place on Saturday 1 August, with a kick-off time of 3pm.
Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “Our coverage of the SPL brought something new to Scottish fans last season and this Celtic double bill brings football back to BBC ALBA with a flourish. It sets us up perfectly for the return of SPL football on the channel when the new season kicks off.”
The programme packages will also provide an in-depth feature interview with Celtic Manager Tony Mowbray, split into two parts, one for each of the above games. The interview will cover Tony Mowbray’s previous spell at Celtic as a player and his ambitions and aspirations for Celtic as manager.
Wednesday’s game will also feature an exclusive interview new £2million signing Danny Fox looking to the season ahead under his new manager, with Saturday’s programme taking a look ahead to Celtic’s trip to Moscow the following week.
Celtic v Dinamo Moscow - Thursday 30 July at 10pm, on BBC ALBA.
Celtic v Sunderland - Saturday 1 August at 3pm, live on BBC ALBA and repeated at 10pm Saturday 1 August and 2.25pm Sunday 2 August.
BBC ALBA provides as-live coverage of one SPL match every Saturday throughout the season as well as a package of live SFL matches.
Coverage on BBC ALBA is being provided in association with mneTV and is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110.
RESPONSES IN TO COUNCIL ARTS AND CULTURE QUESTIONNAIRE
More than 500 responses were submitted to the questionnaire on Arts and Culture published by Argyll and Bute Council earlier this year.
The questionnaire was devised to help inform the ongoing Best Value Review of the Arts and Libraries service.
Among the things the exercise aimed to find out were:
What people accessed in terms of arts and culture provision
Where people access activities
Barriers to accessing arts and culture provision
Whether there were any obvious areas of unmet demand
What people’s priorities were regarding the Council’s activities
Residents in Helensburgh and Lomond, not surprisingly, were the most likely to have accessed activities outwith the area.
Within Argyll and Bute, the most commonly attended events were visual arts events and exhibitions, ceilidhs, traditional music concerts, films and school productions.
In terms of the numbers of respondents expressing demand, the activities where demand is highest in Argyll and Bute is art classes and workshops. Respondents’ participation was high in this area, but there is still scope for additional provision.
Across the area, geography was the biggest barrier to accessing activities. Forty-seven per cent of respondents identifying ‘distances involved’ as being a significant factor. This figure rose to 61% of respondents from the Atlantic Islands.
In terms of people’s priorities, the Council activities which respondents were most enthusiastic about were:
Supporting grants for community activity
Supporting arts programmes in local halls
Supporting voluntary arts organisations
Supporting voluntary museums
More arts activities for children/young people
Increasing the range of events
Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Arts, Culture, Leisure and Sport, Councillor Douglas Philand, said the questionnaire had been successful in highlighting a number of issues.
“The geographical coverage was good, with responses coming from across the whole of Argyll and Bute,” he added.
“This exercise has been very useful in terms of finding out what people think we do well, and what things they think might be done better.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the questionnaire. When conducting a review of a particular service, as we are doing at present with Arts and Libraries, it is vital to find out what our residents feel should be the highest priorities.
“We now have a very good basis on which to look at ways of improving the provision of - and access to - arts and culture across Argyll and Bute in the future.”
The full results of the survey are on the Council’s website at http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/commlife/arts/artsquestionnaire2009/3278422
They were published shortly after a new web portal for the arts and cultural sector in Argyll went on-line at www.argyll-arts.co.uk.
The portal has been developed over the last twelve months by HI~Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands & Islands, with support from Argyll and Bute Council.
It features a comprehensive guide to festivals, galleries, arts organisations and venues in the region together with news releases, reviews, features and downloads.
Councillor Philand said: “This is a truly innovative scheme and shows what can be achieved by working together. I know it will be welcomed by everyone connected with the arts both practitioners and audiences.
“It not only brings together, for the first time, information about arts events in Argyll and Bute, but also highlights opportunities for learning, news and features about new ideas and developments. I’m sure that the new site will prove very popular.”
The questionnaire was devised to help inform the ongoing Best Value Review of the Arts and Libraries service.
Among the things the exercise aimed to find out were:
What people accessed in terms of arts and culture provision
Where people access activities
Barriers to accessing arts and culture provision
Whether there were any obvious areas of unmet demand
What people’s priorities were regarding the Council’s activities
Residents in Helensburgh and Lomond, not surprisingly, were the most likely to have accessed activities outwith the area.
Within Argyll and Bute, the most commonly attended events were visual arts events and exhibitions, ceilidhs, traditional music concerts, films and school productions.
In terms of the numbers of respondents expressing demand, the activities where demand is highest in Argyll and Bute is art classes and workshops. Respondents’ participation was high in this area, but there is still scope for additional provision.
Across the area, geography was the biggest barrier to accessing activities. Forty-seven per cent of respondents identifying ‘distances involved’ as being a significant factor. This figure rose to 61% of respondents from the Atlantic Islands.
In terms of people’s priorities, the Council activities which respondents were most enthusiastic about were:
Supporting grants for community activity
Supporting arts programmes in local halls
Supporting voluntary arts organisations
Supporting voluntary museums
More arts activities for children/young people
Increasing the range of events
Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Arts, Culture, Leisure and Sport, Councillor Douglas Philand, said the questionnaire had been successful in highlighting a number of issues.
“The geographical coverage was good, with responses coming from across the whole of Argyll and Bute,” he added.
“This exercise has been very useful in terms of finding out what people think we do well, and what things they think might be done better.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the questionnaire. When conducting a review of a particular service, as we are doing at present with Arts and Libraries, it is vital to find out what our residents feel should be the highest priorities.
“We now have a very good basis on which to look at ways of improving the provision of - and access to - arts and culture across Argyll and Bute in the future.”
The full results of the survey are on the Council’s website at http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/commlife/arts/artsquestionnaire2009/3278422
They were published shortly after a new web portal for the arts and cultural sector in Argyll went on-line at www.argyll-arts.co.uk.
The portal has been developed over the last twelve months by HI~Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands & Islands, with support from Argyll and Bute Council.
It features a comprehensive guide to festivals, galleries, arts organisations and venues in the region together with news releases, reviews, features and downloads.
Councillor Philand said: “This is a truly innovative scheme and shows what can be achieved by working together. I know it will be welcomed by everyone connected with the arts both practitioners and audiences.
“It not only brings together, for the first time, information about arts events in Argyll and Bute, but also highlights opportunities for learning, news and features about new ideas and developments. I’m sure that the new site will prove very popular.”
NEW FACE OF BBC ALBA
Scotland’s Gaelic digital television channel has a new presenter with Moira MacDonald set to make her debut as BBC ALBA’s on-screen Continuity announcer.
Moira MacDonald (24) originally from Fort William but moving to Inverness at the age of four, will deputise for regular presenter Fiona Mackenzie who will be on placement over the summer months filming as a presenter for Air an Rathad, the motoring show produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA.
Following a year at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Moira moved to Glasgow during which time she worked at Glasgow Gaelic School and at Deiseal Ltd, who devised and manage the Ulpan Gaelic language learning course. Moira has also spent some time with An Comunn Gàidhealach, organisers of the Royal National Mod and with mneTV where she worked on the Ceòl Country music series.
Alan Esslemont, Head of Content at BBC ALBA, said: “We are delighted to have secured Moira for this role on BBC ALBA. Moira has previous experience in front of the camera and being continuity presenter for a summer placement will allow Moira to develop her presenting skills further. Moira will learn a lot from working closely with Fiona Mackenzie who remains as the channel’s permanent presenter.”
Moira MacDonald said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I am very much looking forward to working as part of the BBC ALBA team over the summer. Fiona Mackenzie makes it all look very easy and I hope to be as successful as she has been in the role since the channel came on air last September.”
Following a period of training Moira will be seen on-screen for the first time on Saturday 8th August introducing a programme schedule with highlights including Ann an Còi5, where young Gaelic speakers present five minute programmes on topics they’re passionate about; Na Drobhairean, a Scottish History Series on the drovers and drove roads of Scotland; Seachd, The Inaccessible Pinnacle and Fonn mo Bheatha music and chat programme presented by Cathy Ann MacPhee with guest Julie Fowlis.
Moira MacDonald (24) originally from Fort William but moving to Inverness at the age of four, will deputise for regular presenter Fiona Mackenzie who will be on placement over the summer months filming as a presenter for Air an Rathad, the motoring show produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA.
Following a year at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Moira moved to Glasgow during which time she worked at Glasgow Gaelic School and at Deiseal Ltd, who devised and manage the Ulpan Gaelic language learning course. Moira has also spent some time with An Comunn Gàidhealach, organisers of the Royal National Mod and with mneTV where she worked on the Ceòl Country music series.
Alan Esslemont, Head of Content at BBC ALBA, said: “We are delighted to have secured Moira for this role on BBC ALBA. Moira has previous experience in front of the camera and being continuity presenter for a summer placement will allow Moira to develop her presenting skills further. Moira will learn a lot from working closely with Fiona Mackenzie who remains as the channel’s permanent presenter.”
Moira MacDonald said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I am very much looking forward to working as part of the BBC ALBA team over the summer. Fiona Mackenzie makes it all look very easy and I hope to be as successful as she has been in the role since the channel came on air last September.”
Following a period of training Moira will be seen on-screen for the first time on Saturday 8th August introducing a programme schedule with highlights including Ann an Còi5, where young Gaelic speakers present five minute programmes on topics they’re passionate about; Na Drobhairean, a Scottish History Series on the drovers and drove roads of Scotland; Seachd, The Inaccessible Pinnacle and Fonn mo Bheatha music and chat programme presented by Cathy Ann MacPhee with guest Julie Fowlis.
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