RSAMD National Centre for Research in the Performing Arts - 25 years of the Fèisean

 

The aim of this study is to map out the story of people who have taken part in Fèisean, and to ascertain how their participation has influenced their life, their career, and crucially, their attitude to the Gaelic language.

No single research methodology could achieve this aim, and so this report deliberately brings together two very different approaches. Data gathered from a survey of Fèis participants is presented here alongside very personal case studies drawn from extended interviews with Fèis people. If respondents to our survey are representative of Fèis participants generally, then there seems little doubt that the Fèisean have provided a positive enriching experience for the majority of participants.

The evidence from the surveys is overwhelming in this regard:

• 76% of respondents reported a positive influence on their motivation to learn Gaelic
• 79% of respondents reported a positive influence on their attitude to Gaelic
• 87% of respondents reported a positive influence on their motivation to play or learn a musical instrument or take part in Gaelic singing, drama or traditional dance
• 50% of respondents reported a positive influence on their choice of study or career
• 61% of respondents reported a positive influence on their intention to stay in, return or relocate to the Highlands and Islands
• 86% of respondents reported a positive influence on their attitude towards the arts in general.

The survey also indicates how the movement feeds and renews itself: according to the results of the survey, 1 in 5 learners go on to take part in the Fèisean in another role, a very positive indication for the continuing sustainability and growth of the movement.

Many of the findings of François Matarasso are confirmed, nearly 10 years after his study Northern Lights: The Social Impact of the Fèisean (Gaelic festivals). Increased confidence, interpersonal skills, community cohesion and economic benefits are all recurring themes.

Case study interviewees emphasise the importance of the movement in introducing young people to music – in some cases, introducing them to an instrument around which they would build a career. They also underline the role of the Fèisean in initiating and fostering friendships and, perhaps most strikingly, highlight the part that the Fèisean have played for them in encouraging and enabling an interest and pride in Gaelic, especially in families where the language was one generation from being lost, or where Fèisean were the first contact with the Gaelic language.

Download the full report here, above right.