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Culture, heritage and Gaelic development

Making the most of our unique culture and heritage.

Supporting development through Culture and Heritage

We work directly with cultural organisations, such as Fèisean nan Gaidheal (FnaG), to support opportunities for youth and community participation in Gaelic culture related music and drama. FnaG currently works with 45 separate Fèisean organisations, many in our most fragile areas.  

Our islands, towns and Inverness city boasts many high quality venues, arts centres and performing arts facilities. Our growth clients include Mareel in Shetland; Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre in North Uist; and the Highland’s largest theatre facility Eden Court.

We also work with Regional Screen Scotland (RSS) which brings outreach art provision to remote areas, including the much loved Screen Machine.

 

Culture (1)

Inspiring Scotland’s Creative Communities Cultural Funding Programme

Open to applicants from 1st July 2020, the Creative Communities Cultural funding programme will distribute up to £600,000 to support communities to develop new initiatives involving culture and creative arts for the period October 2020-June 2021.

Inspiring Scotland is working with Scottish Government to deliver the Creative Communities Cultural funding programme. The programme has been developed to deliver aspects of the new Culture Strategy for Scotland.

Inspiring Scotland will also provide a number of community organisations with development support to progress ideas to the point where they can be more fully funded over the course of a second year. To find out more about the one-to-one advice surgeries, funding criteria, application process and contact details, visit the Inspiring Scotland website. 

Go to Inspiring Scotland's website

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The CUPIDO project

Community organisations working in heritage across our region are part of the Cupido project designed to look at business models to commercialise the cultural sector. Our communities are working with St Andrews University on transnational digital activities. Co-funded by the Interreg North Sea Region Programme 2014-20, the project opens up knowledge and expertise from 16 partners in seven countries.

Heritage and Tourist sectors have been greatly affected by COVID-19 and continue to face challenges. However, there's also been a huge creative digital response with many now reaching audiences through virtual tours, galleries, live events and social media.

Find out more about the Cupido project, discover upcoming virtual events and a whole host of resources available to help cultural businesses not only survive in the current climate but achieve growth too. 

Find out more 

 

 

 

Feisean Nan Gaidheal

Gaelic development

Supporting Gaelic is at the heart of our remit for economic and social development in the Highlands and Islands. We have a significant legacy of support that has helped create and sustain the impact of numerous organisations enabling Gaelic to flourish - from partner agencies such as Comunn na Gàidhlig and An Comunn Gàidhealach, to the University of the Highlands and Islands, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Fèisean nan Gàidheal and others.

Find out more

Callanish

Connecting heritage and technology

Discover new ways to experience technology...

We've been working with the community guardians of local heritage sites on investment projects to make the best use of digital technology. Whether its recording vital details of historical artefacts, or looking at how we can give visitors a more immersive experience, technology is bringing our culture to life in new ways.

Rural life in Carloway; the Calanais Standing Stones, in the Outer Hebrides; the Highlanders’ Museum collection and the history of illicit whisky in Speyside are all part of a project using technology to open up new ways for visitors to experience history.

Find out how

The screen machine mobile cinema lorry

Communities and the big screen

Screen Machine is an 80-seat air conditioned, digital mobile cinema which brings the latest films to our rural region and is supported by HIE.

The Screen Machine website

Links to our cultural and heritage partner organisations

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Culture Strategy

A Culture Strategy for Scotland

The Scottish Government published its Culture Strategy for Scotland in February 2020. It is underpinned by actions to support the sector, build new partnerships and help communities develop and celebrate their own culture.

Scotland is a place where culture is valued, protected and nurtured. Culture is woven through everyday life, shapes and is shaped by society, and its transformative potential is experienced by everyone. Scotland’s rich cultural heritage and creativity of today is inspired by people and place, It enlivens every community and is celebrated around the world.

By investing in and strengthening culture, we are investing in the future cultural, social and economic success of Scotland.

View the strategy

Getting your project started

Find out how we can help.

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