20 February 2014: Gaelic Implementation Group

Minutes of Meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 20 February 2014 at 10.30 am.

Present:

Mr H Fraser (Chair)
Mr C Fraser
Mr C Macaulay
Mr J McGillivray
Mr K MacLeod
Mr A M Millar
Mr F Parr
Mrs M E Paterson

In attendance:

Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr K A Murray, Gaelic Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport Service
Ms M A Macleod Mitchell, Gaelic Development Officer, Education, Culture and Sport Service
Miss J Maclennan, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Mrs F MacBain, Committee Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office

Also in attendance:

Mr A Cormack, Chief Executive, Fèisean nan Gàidheal

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Group.

Business

Preliminaries

1.  Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr G Farlow, Dr A Sinclair (OCB) and Mr J Gordon.

2.  Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

3.  Good News

A list of Good News items was tabled and, after various issues were highlighted, the Group NOTED the Good News.

4.  Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 – Draft First Annual Implementation Report 2012-13 for Bòrd na Gàidhlig

There had been circulated Report No GIG/1/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing a draft of the First Annual Implementation Report in relation to the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16, for approval.

This was the first annual implementation report detailing progress being made under the five themes of the 2012-16 GLP and how it tied in with the aims of the National Plan. The report was a statutory requirement under the Gaelic Language Scotland Act 2005 and, prior to being forwarded to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for approval, would be updated with the latest Gaelic education statistics, translation projects and resources in schools.

During discussion, the following points were raised:-  

• report, as it was a Council approved Statutory Plan, should be presented to a meeting of the full Council to report the work that was being undertaken;
• following a suggestion that Bòrd na Gàidhlig should be approached to discuss ways of raising the profile of Gaelic at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, it was suggested that efforts should firstly be made to increase the profile of Gaelic at the Black Isle Show and the Moy Game Fair;
• the impact of the implementation of the 600 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare, as it related to GME, should be reported to the next meeting of the Group; and
• given the increasing number of BBC Alba viewers, it would be helpful if there was a means of communicating the report to them. In this regard, it was suggested that a press release should be issued once the 2012-13 Implementation report had been approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

After commenting on the Draft Annual Implementation Report as detailed above, the Group AGREED:-

i. the Final Annual Implementation Report for submission to Bòrd na Gàidhlig with the inclusion of updated 2013-14 Gaelic education, translation work and education resources support data;
ii. to bring a report on implementation of the 600 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare, as it related to GME, to the next meeting of the Group;
iii. to issue a press release on the GLP Implementation Report after its approval by Bòrd na Gàidhlig;
*iv. TO RECOMMEND to the Council that the finalised Implementation report be    included on an agenda for a full Council meeting; and
iv. to investigate ways to increase the promotion of Gaelic at the Black Isle Show and the Moy Game Fair.

5.  Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16, Theme 3 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Arts, Media and Heritage” – Implementation Report

There had been circulated Report No GIG/2/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing Members with an update on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16 Theme 3 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Arts, Media and Heritage”.

The report summarised a variety of projects being undertaken to meet the requirements of Theme 3, as follows: BBC Alba; LearnGaelic.net; Fèis Rois; Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Residency Programme; Celtic Media Festival; the 2014 Inverness Royal National Mod; and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia.

During discussion, Members welcomed the diverse range of projects that were underway, highlighting several that were of particular interest. It was suggested that Members of the Gaelic Implementation Group, as well as Inverness Members be invited to the event in the Inverness Town House on 7 March 2014 to welcome the young people from Dalbrae Academy, Mabou, Cape Breton who were studying Gaelic.

Having requested that the Mischa Macpherson Trio be congratulated on behalf of the Group for their success in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards which had taken place in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 19 February 2014, the Group AGREED:-

i. to continue support for high profile activity and engagement for the Inverness Royal National Mod in 2014;
ii. continuing collaboration with Fèis Rois;
iii. continuing engagement with the National Gaelic Arts Strategy;
iv. that the Council continue to work with partners to host high profile Gaelic-related arts, media and cultural events in Highland to provide economic benefits within the Council area;
v. to maximise the use of the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Residency programme in association with our joint Memorandum of Understanding;
vi. to provide support for the visit in March of school pupils from Dalbrae Academy in Mabou, Cape Breton under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia;
vii. to work towards a renewal of the MoU with Nova Scotia around the Royal National Mod in October 2014;
viii. to request that all Members of the Group be invited to the event in the Inverness Town House on 7 March 2014 to welcome the young people from Dalbrae Academy, Mabou, Cape Breton who were studying Gaelic; and
ix. to congratulate, on behalf of the Group, the Mischa Macpherson Trio for their success in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards.

6.  Fèisean nan Gàidheal Presentation

There had been circulated Report No GIG/3/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing a brief overview of Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s activities and the ongoing partnership work between the Fèisean movement and Highland Council.  The Report also introduced Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

Mr Cormack gave a presentation outlining the priorities of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, namely to support local Fèisean, Gaelic language development, developing skills and providing opportunities, such as courses, ceilidh trails, drama schools and Blas. Fèisean nan Gàidheal was a service-providing umbrella organisation, with 21 of their 44 Fèisean taking place in communities within the Highland Council area. Statistics showed 38,000 people had been reached by Fèisean in 2012-13, with around £1.7m being spent in the Highland Council area as a result.

Gaelic permeated all aspects of Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s work, with 6 Fèisean being entirely in Gaelic and a multitude of other projects being bi-lingual, including drama and music in schools. After explaining the various funding sources, Mr Cormack introduced Fèisgoil, a new Gaelic Arts and Language Service for Education and the Community, which aimed to provide a wide range of Gaelic-related opportunities, including help with the Scottish Government policy for learning languages, the 1+2 Initiative. In the Highland Council area, Fèisgoil was piloting 10 weeks of Gaelic lessons in 7 Primary Schools  in both Lochaber and Caithness. Feedback to date had shown the positive impact on the children and teachers that had resulted from learning Gaelic through music and song.

In summarising, appreciation was expressed for the Highland Council’s continued support for the projects, many of which contributed towards the Council’s Programme, and Mr Cormack hoped that continued funding would be forthcoming from the Council and elsewhere.

During discussion, Members emphasised the value of Fèisean nan Gàidheal and suggested it was important their work was brought to the attention of all Council Members. It was confimred that once Fèisgoil had completed the 10 weeks of Gaelic tuition in schools in Lochaber and Caithness, the project would be evaluated and reported back to the Group. It was considered important that all similar projects, such as Fèisgoil, Gaelic Learners in Primary Schools and the new 1+2 Initiative, were linked and co-ordinated.

Turning to the Blas Festival, Mr Cormack explained that the highest number of events held to date had been in 2013. Attendance at the first Blas Festival event in Dingwall had been lower than expected but it was hoped that, in future, this would be rectified as the event gathered momentum. Whilst Blas continued to extend its venue base each year, the exact number of events and festivals that could be arranged each year for each location varied depending on continued funding.

Having commented on the presentation, the Group AGREED:-

i.  that Officers evaluate the Fèisgoil Primary School pilot programme in the Highland Council area;
ii. to continue collaboration on projects including the Blas Festival in pursuance of the implementation of the Gaelic Language Plan and the Service Delivery Contract; and
iii. to scope partnership working that might be possible to support, and maximise the impact of, the Mod Fringe 2014 in Inverness.

7.  Highland Homecoming 2014

There had been circulated Report No GIG/4/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing an update on Highland Homecoming – a suite of events being organised in Highland, in association with Eventscotland’s National Homecoming 2014 celebrations.  Liaison on this initiative was being undertaken between the Gaelic Team, the Council’s Events Officer, Tourism Development Officer and Public Relations staff.

As part of a summary of the report, it was explained that discussions were ongoing with event organisers to ensure Gaelic received prominence as an integral part of Highland Homecoming events, as well as the Royal National Mod.

A request was made that the Gaelic Development Manager assist with investigating possible sources of funding for the Gaelic Chapel Restoration Trust being set up in Cromarty.

The Group AGREED that:-

i. officers ensured that Gaelic had the highest possible profile within Highland Homecoming events, which would form part of Homecoming Scotland 2014; and
ii. the Gaelic Development Manager discuss with Mr C Fraser possible means of support for the Gaelic Chapel Restoration Trust.

8.  Gaelic Creative Writing Initiative for Highland Pupils

There had been circulated Report No GIG/5/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members of the first phase of the Gaelic Creative Writing in Schools Initiative which took place between September and early October 2013.  This project was undertaken in pursuance of implementing targets in the Gaelic Language Plan.  The Report also highlighted the proposed second phase of the Creative Writing Programme which also included a completion based on the theme Homecoming, in recognition of this year being Homecoming Scotland 2014.

Many Gaelic Medium schools had participated in the Creative Writing Workshops that had been led by Donald S Murray, an author, poet, journalist and secondary school teacher. Evaluation forms had shown a 98.8% success rate. The second phase of the project would culminate in a competition for all Gaelic Medium Primary Pupils and Secondary Pupils studying Gaelic, with the winners to be announced during the Inverness Royal Mod in October 2014.

The Group AGREED to receive a further Report on the second phase of the Gaelic Creative Writing project.

9.  MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2014

There had been circulated Report No GIG/6/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members of developments to date in relation to this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards (STMA) which were to take place in Inverness, and would be broadcast live on BBC Alba, in December 2014.

The STMA was an annual event that was held at different venues around the country with the aim of highlighting Scotland’s Gaelic and traditional music in all its forms. It had been broadcast live on MG Alba for the last six years as a bilingual presentation in Gaelic and English and was one of the most viewed broadcasts on MG Alba, with viewing figures in excess of 500,000. In 2014, the STMA would take place in Inverness and was expected to be of great benefit to the Highlands.

Having welcomed the Trad Awards to Highland, the Group AGREED to continue to work with MG ALBA and Hands Up for Trad to ensure that the event was highly successful and provided a significant profile for Gaelic locally and nationally.

10.  FilmG Presentation

There had been circulated Report No GIG/7/14 dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing information on the FilmG project which was based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and which had provided hugely successful collaborative arts and media projects for Highland Schools.

It had been intended that the FilmG Project Director, Flòraidh Forest, and two pupils who were participating in the project would make a presentation. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they were unable to attend the meeting as planned and Members suggested that they could attend a future meeting to present their project.

The Group AGREED that:-

i. the Council continued to support FilmG by encouraging schools to participate and by providing Gaelic Team liaison and support where appropriate; and
ii. the presentation on FilmG be provided to the Group at a future meeting.

The meeting ended at 11.40 am.