Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop is the only representatives of Traditional music in this year’s National Lottery Awards. Hopefully you will help them with your vote! http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/category/7
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop would like your support and vote. The Workshop has been short listed in the Best Arts Category for this year’s National Lottery Awards. Out of 640 nominations, the judges have picked ten Arts projects from around the UK for the public to vote on.
The Workshop, only established in 2003, raises money for regular traditional fiddle tuition in local primary schools in five local schools, and also puts on free schools concerts and come and try sessions. They also subsidise classes for adults and children at three local community venues. What has given them a wider impact in local communities than most clubs is that they have arranged regular concerts of top quality (and often internationally known) musicians to play in many local venues, not only their own village. These concerts have often been sell outs, and have clearly established that there is a need, and a demand, for more good quality live music in the area. Another strand of their work has been to establish a local Fèis.
A weekend for youngsters earlier this year was put on in conjunction with the local outdoor centre, and 30 children had the time of their lives. From what the children said, they loved the mix of fiddle, clarsach, accordion, highland pipes, Gaelic song, step dance and general Gaelic mayhem -and they were wildly enthusiastic about the outdoor pursuits. The Workshop brought their rural area into national prominence on the traditional music scene when they scooped the Best Community Project in the BBC/Hands Up for Trad Awards, and were recently ‘Highly Commended’, taking second place, in the TFN Annual Charity Awards in their Community Action sector.
The National Lottery Awards began in 2004 as part of the 10th Birthday celebrations for the National Lottery to celebrate and recognise the difference that these projects have made to people, places and communities all across the UK. They have proved such a success that they are now an annual feature of the National Lottery good causes calendar. Each year hundreds of entries are received from a wide range of charities, community and voluntary projects, as well as dedicated individuals who all have a unique story to tell. Last year over 100,000 public votes were received which has shown there is great support and pride for local projects.
More information about the Workshop can be found at www.fiddleworkshop.co.uk , and you can vote at http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/category/7 or by phone to 0845 386 8058 (calls cost no more than 1.5p!). Closing date 3rd August. Every vote counts, so please help us by spending a minute and a penny!
