A £400,000 fund has been established to promote and develop Gaelic arts across Scotland. The Gaelic Arts Strategic Development Fund will tackle three main areas of activity: audience development, the encouragement of showcase projects and the development of technical skills. A number of artists? residencies and traineeships is likely to be established and details of funding criteria will be announced in the summer.
Money will also be available to increase the support and marketing available for Gaelic arts with the intention of extending their reach and scope across the country and further afield. The scheme, jointly funded by the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Executive?s language development agency, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, will be co-ordinated by Proiseact nan Ealan/The Gaelic Arts Agency and implemented through the Gaelic Arts Strategic Development Forum (GASD). Speaking at the launch of the fund, Jim Tough, Head of Arts at the Scottish Arts Council, said, ?We recognise that the Gaelic language needs to be not only sustained but also developed as an active, creative language in the mainstream of Scottish cultural life. We believe that the arts have an essential role to play in this process.?
Published: 31-05-2004