A major Gaelic Arts Conference will take place on the 8th and 9th May 2007, in An Lanntair, Stornoway. The conference is being organised by Pròiseact nan Ealan (PnE) in conjunction with the GASD Forum, (Gaelic Arts Strategic Development) - a collaboration of key Gaelic arts organisations working together to strategically develop the Gaelic arts for the future.

The conference is the first of its kind in ten years and comes at a time when the Gaelic arts and the language itself are at a turning point. With the National Gaelic Language Plan, the emergence of Creative Scotland and the impending Culture Act, not to mention the new digital Gaelic language TV channel just around the corner, the Gaelic arts need to move forward together strategically.

The conference will provide a unique opportunity for Gaelic arts practitioners, administrators, and promoters to come together to talk, listen and network. The event will offer a range of stimulating and inspiring speakers from Scotland and beyond as well as various breakout groups on current subjects including funding, audience development, training and promotion as well as the role and function of new media. There will also be an opportunity to help create a new Gaelic cultural framework to engage with and guide the National Plan and Creative Scotland. The programme will showcase some wonderful examples of new Gaelic arts work, an exhibition of art created through GASD residencies and a Cèilidh on the Tuesday night.

Arthur Cormack, Director of Fèísean nan Gàidheal said: "We hope that the conference will not just be a 'talking shop' - although talking is always a positive thing - but will highlight and showcase some of the worthwhile projects funded by GASD over the past two years, as well as the work being done by various Gaelic arts organisations. I have no doubt that the Gaelic arts engender positive attitudes towards Gaelic, and research has confirmed that they are often the motivation for people to learn the language. This conference is timely given the recent publication of the National Plan for Gaelic and the undertaking within that to devise a strategy for the further development of the Gaelic arts."

Malcolm Maclean, Director of PnE said: "The Gaelic arts are a growth sector and this is an opportunity for anyone involved in Gaelic arts and culture to help shape the future. The conference conclusions will form the basis of Gaelic arts development strategy for the next five years but we hope the event will also be a new form of fèis. The showcase will be a chance to experience some of the exciting work being done and to meet others involved in the Gaelic arts from across Scotland".

The event is aimed at all those working in the Gaelic arts sector. All arts forms will feature and delegates from rural and urban communities will have an opportunity to engage in discussion and debate. Artists, arts organisers, tutors and educators, arts centre managers, community groups and all with an interest in the Gaelic arts should attend.

GASD Audience Development Manager, Kirstie Anderson, comments: "This is a real opportunity to look at where the Gaelic Arts have come from in the last 10 years, where we are now and where we intend to go. Large scale research was commissioned by GASD last year into the impacts of and demands for the Gaelic arts, following on from a similar piece of research carried out in 1996. This allows us to measure the growth of the Gaelic arts over the last 10 years, and offers a solid awareness of where we stand right now. The conference will open this up and allow everyone to join the debate and help move the Gaelic arts forward together".

Tickets are £15 including lunch, and advanced booking by 4th May is essential as places are limited. Booking forms can be downloaded from www.gaelic-arts.com  and bursaries are available. Alternatively contact Marisa Macdonald, at Pròiseact nan Ealan (01851 704493, Marisa@gaelic-arts.com ), or Iona MacDonald at Fèisean nan Gàidheal (01478613355, iona@fesisean.org ). More information and list of speakers to be announced over coming weeks.

The conference is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Arts Council.

Gaelic version

GLÈIDH ÀITE AN-DRÀSTA AIRSON PRÌOMH CHO-LABHAIRT NAN EALAN GÀIDHLIG

Bidh prìomh Cho-labhairt de na h-Ealain Ghàidhlig san Lanntair, Steòrnabhagh, air 8 is 9 Cèitean 2007. Tha a' cho-labhairt air a cur air chois le Pròiseact nan Ealan (PnE) còmhla ri Fòram GASD, (Leasachadh Ro-innleachdail nan Ealan Gàidhlig) - co-obrachadh de bhuidhnean ealain bun-mhaoinichte Gàidhlig a tha ag obair còmhla airson ealain Ghàidhlig san àm ri teachd a leasachadh ann an dòigh ro-innleachdail.

'S i a' cho-labhairt a' chiad tè de seòrsa ann an deich bliadhna agus tha i a' tighinn aig àm nuair a tha ealain Ghàidhlig is an cànan fhèin aig crois-rathaid. Le Plana Nàiseanta Cànan na Gàidhlig, tighinn Alba Chruthachail agus Achd a' Chultair air fàire, gun iomradh a thoirt air an t-seanal ùr didseatach TBh Gàidhlig a tha mun oisean, feumaidh ealain na Gàidhlig gluasad air adhart gu ro-innleachdail.

Bheir a' cho-labhairt cothrom sònraichte dha luchd-ealain na Gàidhlig, rianadairean agus adhartaichean a thighinn còmhla a bhruidhinn, a dh'èisteachd is a chumail eadar-cheanglaichean. Bidh raon de dh'òraidichean brosnachail is togarrach à Alba agus bhon taobh a-muigh aig an tachartas a thuilleadh air caochladh bhuidhnean sgaraichte a' deasbaid chuspairean ghnàthaichte mar a leanas: maoineachadh, leasachadh luchd-amais, trèanadh is adhartachadh agus dòigh-obrachaidh is dleastanas nam meadhanan ùra. Bidh cothrom ann cuideachd frèam cultarach Gàidhlig, a dh'obraicheas le Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig agus Alba Chruthachail, a chur air dòigh.

Thuirt Art Carmac, Stiùiriche Fèisean nan Gàidheal: "Tha sinn an dòchas nach e dìreach 'bùth bruidhneach' a bhios sa cho-labhairt idir - ged a tha còmhradh an-còmhnaidh buannachdail - ach gun comharraich i agus gum foillsich i cuid de na pròiseactan luachmhor a mhaoinich GASD thairis air an dà bhliadhna mu dheireadh, a thuilleadh air an obair a tha caochladh de bhuidhnean-ealain Gàidhlig a' dèanamh. Chan eil teagamh sam bith agam nach eil na h-ealain Ghàidhlig a' cruthachadh faireachdainnean taiceil a thaobh na Gàidhlig, agus tha rannsachadh air dearbhadh gur iad, mar as trice, a tha a' brosnachadh dhaoine gus an cànan ionnsachadh. Tha a' cho-labhairt seo a' tachairt ann an deagh àm ri linn foillseachadh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig o chionn ghoirid agus an dleastanais a th' ann ro-innleachd airson tuilleadh leasachaidh de na h-Ealain Ghàidhlig a dhealbh."

Thuirt Calum Maclean Stiùiriche PnE: "'S e roinn a tha a' sìor fhàs a th' anns na h-Ealain Ghàidhlig agus 's e fìor chothrom a tha seo dha neach sam bith a tha an sàs ann an ealain is cultar na Gàidhlig cuideachadh le bhith a' toirt cumadh air an àm ri teachd. Bidh toraidhean na co-labhairt nam bun-stèidh dha leasachadh nan Ealan Gàidhlig airson nan còig bliadhna a th' air thoiseach ach tha sinn cuideachd an dòchas gum bi an tachartas na chruth ùr fèise. Bidh am foillseachadh na chothrom eòlas a chur air cuid den obair bhrosnachail a thathas a' dèanamh agus na thachartas airson coinneachadh ri feadhainn eile a tha an sàs sna h-ealain Ghàidhlig bho air feadh Alba."

Tha an tachartas a' cuimseachadh air na h-uile a tha ag obair ann an roinn nan ealan Gàidhlig. Bidh a h-uile cruth ealain ann agus gheibh riochdairean bho coimhearsnachdan dùthchail is bailteach cothrom air a dhol an sàs ann an còmhradh is deasbad. Bu chòir dha luchd-ealain, eagraichean ealain, tuitearan is luchd-foghlaim, manaidsearan ionadan ealain, buidhnean coimhearsnachd agus na h-uile aig a bheil ùidh sna h-ealain Ghàidhlig an tachartas seo a fhrithealadh. Thathas a' brosnachadh luchd-poileasaidh is rianadairean maoineachaidh a bhith an làthair gus guth an luchd-ealain a chluinntinn.

Thuirt Kirstie Anderson Manaidsear Leasachaidh Luchd-amais GASD: "'S e deagh chothrom a tha seo sùil a thoirt air an adhartas a tha na h-ealain Ghàidhlig air a dhèanamh anns na 10 bliadhna mu dheireadh, air far a bheil sinn an-dràsta agus air far a bheil sinn an dùil a dhol. Chuir GASD làn rannsachaidh air adhart an-uiridh mu bhuaidh is iarrtasan airson nan ealan Gàidhlig, a' leantainn bho rannsachadh co-chosmhail a chaidh a dhèanamh ann an 1996. Tha seo a' toirt cothrom dhuinn fàs nan ealan Gàidhlig thar nan 10 bliadhna mu dheireadh a thomhas, agus tha e a' tabhann mothachadh làidir air far a bheil sinn an-dràsta. Fosglaidh a' cho-labhairt seo a-mach agus bheir i cothrom dha na h-uile pàirt a ghabhail san deasbad agus cuidichidh i le adhartachadh nan ealan Gàidhlig".

Cìs leabhrachaidh £15, a' gabhail a-steach lòn. Feumar leabhrachadh ro 4 Cèitean oir tha àitean cuibhrichte. Gheibhear air foirm leabhrachaidh a luchdachadh a-nuas aig www.gaelic-arts.com  
agus tha bursaraidhean rim faighinn. Faodar fios a chur gu Marisa NicDhòmhnaill aig Pròiseact nan Ealan (01851 704493, Marisa@gaelic-arts.com ), no gu Iona NicDhòmhnaill aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal (01478613355, iona@fesisean.org ). Tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus liosta òraidichean ri fhaighinn sna seachdainean ri thighinn.

Tha a' cho-labhairt maoinichte le Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean agus Comhairle nan Ealan Gàidhlig.