National Islands Plan: annual report 2024

Arts, Culture and Language

Strategic Objective 11 – Support arts, culture and language

Commitment 11.1 Invest in our cultural and historic resources, to ensure that islanders are encouraged to engage with, and participate in, arts and culture.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• Many continuing projects such as Ceolas, Feisean nan Gaidheal, An Comann Gaidhealach, the Heritage Forum and centres such an Lanntair, Kildonan Museum, Taigh Chearsabhagh, Sabhal Mor Ostaig Urras Oighreachd Gabhsainn contribute to this objective.
• Working with partners, in line with the refreshed “Scotland The Perfect Stage – Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035”, EventScotland will act as the lead agency for the refreshed strategy and continue to raise Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage by supporting and securing a portfolio of events and developing the events industry. EventScotland will continue to maintain constant awareness/alignment with wider Scottish Government and VisitScotland initiatives that focus on the islands.
• In the light of challenging budgets, the Scottish Government has reluctantly decided not to fund future Themed Years. The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with our public bodies and sector partners, including sectoral leadership groups, to support the ambitions set out in the national tourism strategy, “Scotland Outlook 2030” and the refreshed National Events Strategy “Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024-2035”, to help diversify the Scottish visitor and events economy.
• Creative Scotland receives funding from Scottish Government to support cultural organisations across Scotland including in island communities.

Major Events

EventScotland continues to support a wide range of events on islands during the 2024-25 season, with over £102,000 funding from both the National and International Event Programme Funds. The details for the 2024 events are set out in the table below:

Local Authority- Orkney Islands Council

• 2024 Orkney Folk Festival: £15,000

Local Authority- Argyll and Bute Council

• 2024 Tiree Music Festival: £17,500
• 2024 Oban Festival of the Sea: £15,000
• 2024 Tiree Wave Classic - Year 40: £20,000
• 2024 Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally: £12,000
• 2024 Oban Winter Festival: £7,500

Local Authority- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

• 2024 HebCelt: £15,089

Total amount awarded: £102,089

In addition, EventScotland continues to offer advice and guidance to the event sector, and those events which have been supported previously through its owned channels. These include island events such as Orkney International Science Festival, St Magnus International Festival and the Tall Ships Festival which took place in Shetland in 2024.

The potential of the refreshed National Events Strategy to positively impact on all of Scotland’s islands has been recognised through the specific analysis conducted during the consultation on the strategy, preceding the formal publication in May 2024. This is set out in the National Event Strategy – Review and Refresh – Island Communities Impact Assessment.

The Scottish Government will continue to enhance Scotland’s reputation as The Perfect Stage for events, right across Scotland, by working alongside the Event Industry Advisory Group, VisitScotland, Local Authorities and other partners to implement the Events Strategy and ensure events continue to deliver economic and social benefit, right across Scotland.

In 2024-25 we invested over £23 million in our National Performing Companies, all of whom are committed to ensuring their activity is accessible to, and enjoyed by, Scotland’s island communities.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra was a lead partner in the Nordic Music Days event that took place in November 2024. Errollyn Wallen (composer) based in Orkney performed with the RSNO as part of the festival, performing the UK premiere of a piece entitled Northern Lights, and Arctic Edgelands saw RSNO viola player Katherine Wren exploring cultural connections between Scotland and the North Atlantic region. Katherine joined forces with musicians from Shetland and Greenland for a concert full of stories.

Scottish Opera engaged 1,877 people on the islands throughout their 2023-24 season, either as an audience member or as a workshop participant. Sold-out concerts took place on Seil Island, Mull and at An Lanntair in Stornoway, and there were audiences of 720 at Scottish Opera pop-up performances across the Orkney Islands.

The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) toured five different shows to smaller venues for island residents to attend throughout the year, ensuring they were able to see their national theatre perform on their doorstep and offering affordable tickets for these performances as part of our “Theatre for a Fiver” scheme. NTS also toured primary schools with their Theatre in Schools Scotland initiative, giving primary school children the chance to experience a high-quality theatre experience in their own school, whilst negating any travel costs for the schools which can be a barrier to attendance. To further widen participation in the arts, NTS offered the opportunity for Arran residents to see their award-winning show “June Carter Cash: The Woman her Music and Me” for free as part of their “First Nights” scheme which is aimed at those who have never attended a live theatre performance before.

This activity has clear benefits not just for levels of cultural engagement but also for islanders’ health and wellbeing, as demonstrated to great effect in Scottish Ballet’s activity. Scottish Ballet’s Dance Health team continued discussions with NHS Orkney and local partners around social prescribing pathways. A block of six Elevate Dance for MS classes were delivered on Orkney from February – March 2024 with 41 participants living with MS. Awareness raising sessions were also delivered to NHS Western Isles staff and local neurological support groups, to offer fully subsidised access to their Dance for Parkinson’s and MS online classes.

Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland supports eight organisations through the Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO) (GIA) programme which are based in island locations with investment in the financial year 2023-24 totalling £2,221,668.

The Touring Network (Highlands and Islands) supports organisations in island communities, as well as on the mainland. They received £120,000 in 2023-24.

The table shows 2023-24 funding allocations to island-based RFOs.

Local Authority(LA)- Na h-Eileanan Siar

• An Lanntair: £ 403,333.00
• Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust: £ 101,667.00

Local Authority(LA)- Shetland Islands

• Shetland Arts Development Agency: £ 250,000.00

Local Authority(LA)- Highland

• ATLAS Arts: £ 150,000.00
• Feisean nan Gaidheal: £ 466,667.00

Local Authority(LA)- Orkney Islands

• St Magnus International Festival: £ 166,667.00
• The Pier Arts Centre: £ 266,667.00

Local Authority(LA)- Argyll and Bute

• Comar: £ 416,667.00

In addition, the Youth Music Initiative Formula Funding (GIA) to each local authority area supports activity on islands (awards to Highland, Argyll and Bute and North Ayrshire include activities on the mainland as well as on islands)

In 2024-25:

Local Authority- North Ayrshire Council

• Formula Funding Year 22: £ 190,347.00

Local Authority- Orkney Islands Council

• Formula Funding Year 22: £ 61,008.00

Local Authority- Shetland Islands Council

• Formula Funding Year 22: £ 75,024.00

Local Authority- Highland Council

• Formula Funding Year 22: £ 487,157.00

Local Authority- Argyll and Bute Council

• Formula Funding Year 22: £ 195,748.00

Local Authority- Comhairle Nan Eilean-Siar

• Formula Funding Year 22: £87,110.00

Historic Environment Scotland

The Scottish Government delivers support for the Historic Environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the lead public body for the protection and preservation of historic sites in mainland Scotland and the islands.

Historic Environment Scotland delivers around £14 million of grant funding each year to individuals, groups and organisations for projects benefitting the historic environment.

There are several HES projects which are live or were completed in the islands during 2024-25. The details below show the project name, grant recipient, grant programme, grant amount and date awarded:

Grant Programme- Archaeology

• The Knowe of Swandro, Rousay - Phase 2: The Knowe of Swandro –, £28,890- 6 August 2021

Grant Programme- HESF

• Moy Castle: Mull Historical & Archaeological Society, £26,736- 1 November 2022
• Cullipool Conservation Village: The Isle of Luing Community Trust, £25,000- 1 November 2022
• Sheila’s Cottage: Mull Historical & Archaeological Society, £9,000- 22 December 2022

Grant Programme- HERG

• Duart Castle Phase 9, 10, 11: Duart Castle Partnership, £282,326- 17 November 2022
• Rothesay Pavilion: Argyll & Bute Council, £500,000- 8 May 2024

Grant Programme- Partnership Fund

• Scottish Islands Regional Framework for Archaeology (SIRFA): Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, £28,948- 29 March 2023

Grant Programme- Small HEG

• Saving St Kilda Kirk: The Church on the Edge of the World: National Trust for Scotland, £97,544- 14 June 2024

Grant Programme- HEG Express

• Re-thatching the Norse mill and kiln buildings: The Norse Mill Society, £6,400- 14 June 2024

Grant Programme- Express HEG

• Essential Repairs to Ulva House: North West Mull Community Development Company, £24,999- 20 June 2024
• Kilkivan, Killean and Kilchenzie Churches - Emergency Works: Addison Conservation and Design, £16,912- 20 June 2024
• Rock, paper, chisels - A celebration of Luing’s Slate heritage past and future: Isle of Luing community Trust, £4,621- 22 August 2024
• Sanday Wreck: Dating, additional research and reporting/archiving: Wessex Archaeology, £21,000- 17 October 2024

Grant Programme- HEG Large

• Barra and Harris Unearthed: developing place-based digital heritage interpretation in the Hebrides: University of the Highlands and Islands, £187,300- 3 September 2024

Commitment 11.2 Support, develop and promote the creative talents of islanders, and ensure that the culture of Scotland’s islands has a wide audience both nationally and abroad.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• Projects such as Ceòlas, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, An Comunn Gèidhealach, the Heritage Forum and centres such an Lanntair, Kildonan Museum, Taigh Chearsabhagh, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn will continue contribute towards the delivery of this objective.
• MG Alba has recently expanded its FilmG short films contest to Nova Scotia, creating links between young Gaelic speakers in Scotland and Canada. The Scottish Government continues to foster these connections between Scotland’s island communities and international counterparts through programmes such as Seachdain na Gàidhlig, Nova Scotia’s Mìos nan Gàidheal, and the Mòd.
• EventScotland will act as the lead agency for Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035 and will continue to raise Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage by supporting and securing a portfolio of events and developing the events industry. EventScotland will continue to maintain constant awareness/alignment with wider Scottish Government and VisitScotland initiatives that focus on the islands.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has created a range of resources which are well utilised by island schools to support and develop creative talent. For example, digital access to their Still I Rise project enabled engagement for 90 pupils from Orkney, 95 pupils from Shetland, 15 pupils from Harris, and 36 pupils from Lewis. Scottish Opera carried out creative education projects at island schools including Sgoil an Rubha (New Garrabost), Shawbost and Breasclete Primary Schools (west side of Isle of Lewis), and at Lionel, a village school in the Ness area of the Isle of Lewis.

Creative Scotland

In September 2024, Creative Scotland held the second Buain event at Grinneabhat, in the west of Lewis. This is a Gaelic language led networking and development event which was well attended by local artists as well as those who travelled from the mainland. This is part of our Gaelic Arts development work, funded by the National Lottery.

Announced in December 2024, the latest round of Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance supported Kathryn Spence from Shetland with £81,766 for an immersive dance piece. A year before that, in September 2023, Deepness Ltd, Na h-Eileanan Siar, was awarded £110,842 for “Dementia the Musical”, which toured during Autumn 2024.

Screen Scotland have supported the development of the film An t-Eilean (The Island) with £500,000 through the Broadcast Content Fund.

Visual Arts and Craft Maker Awards - All six island local authority areas (with Highland supported to cover the Western Isles, and South Ayrshire leading the application for East and North Ayrshire) are partners in the Visual Arts and Craft Maker Awards programme which support individual development opportunities. The investment from National Lottery funding totals £34,000.

Culture Collective programme (GIA) - Islands Culture Collective (led by Shetland Arts covering Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles) was awarded £498,240 and Aiseirigh (SEALL, Skye) received £494,240 to support island-based artists, communities and culture. While projects were finalised during 2024, activity is likely to continue through mainstreaming of the work into the core programmes of the two organisations.

The Islands Culture Collective produced Even Here, Even Now manifesto in 2024. In the same year, artist residencies in Arran and Cumbrae were supported through a targeted Culture Collective (GIA) award to North Ayrshire Council totalling £99,652.

Funding support to applicants whose base postcode is not an island location may also support island culture. North Ayrshire Council’s Place Partnership with Creative Scotland (National Lottery £200,000) included funding for the Islands Arts Co-ordinator who works to support development on Arran and Cumbrae. This programme led to the development of the Culture Collective project mentioned above.

In November 2024, the Scottish Government issued its formal response to the report of the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic. Among the group’s 45 recommendations were 6 which related to the arts, culture and media sectors within island communities. Each of these recommendations have been accepted. They commit the Scottish Government to work alongside partners such as Creative Scotland, MG ALBA, VisitScotland, NatureScot and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to enhance the learning, training and employment opportunities which exist for Gaelic speakers within Scotland’s islands. The implementation of these recommendations will occur alongside the ongoing work of organisations like Ceòlas, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, An Comunn Gàidhealach, the Heritage Forum and centres such an Lanntair, Kildonan Museum, Taigh Chearsabhagh, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn.

Historic Environment Scotland

In 2024-25, Historic Environment Scotland have increased and strengthened their permanent staffing resource on Lewis and have developed a works depot that has allowed them to employ more local people and retain local knowledge around traditional skills such as, thatching.

Historic Environment Scotland have actively collaborated with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) around several key projects including recruitment campaigns in both Orkney and Shetland and supporting skills and knowledge development in Shetland through a project encouraging appropriate interaction with heritage assets.

In 2024-25, Historic Environment Scotland continued to work closely with Orkney Islands Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to deliver the multi-million-pound Orkney Gateway programme of investment across the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Historic Environment Scotland has funded half of the Project Manager post employed by the Council to develop the project, with the successful candidate starting in post in November 2024.

Historic Environment Scotland have continued working in close partnership with Urras nan Tursachan on the new visitor infrastructure and collaborative visitor experience at Calanais. Historic Environment Scotland have also been able to strengthen their links with other key tourism stakeholders in support of a cohesive visitor experience across multiple sites and attractions/experiences in the Western Isles.

Commitment 11.3 Support all of Scotland’s indigenous languages and dialects in ways that are relevant to the communities where these are spoken.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• The Scottish Languages Bill, introduced to the Scottish Parliament in November 2023, will give Gaelic and Scots official status within Scotland. It emphasises proportionate, community-based delivery on behalf of the languages.

The Scottish Languages Bill is currently being progressed through parliament. Its overarching aims are to give Gaelic and Scots official status within Scotland, strengthen Gaelic and Scots education, introduce new Ministerial strategies in support of the languages, and to elevate the role of community development within Gaelic policy through the establishment of Areas of Linguistic Significance in places where the language has particular strengths.

The measures within the Bill build on the progress achieved for Gaelic over the last 40 years through the re-introduction of Gaelic Medium Education, the development of Gaelic broadcasting and the introduction of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. It will do this while recognising the distinct challenges facing the language in the present. For the first time, the Bill makes statutory provision for the Scots language.

Commitment 11.4 Ensure that the commitments in this plan are informed by and aligned with the commitments in the National Gaelic Language Plan, working closely with Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• The Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan outlines its alignment with the National Gaelic Language Plan. The Scottish Government Islands Team is represented on the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Implementation Group. This meets twice yearly and is a forum for ensuring our policy area fulfils the commitments of both the National and Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plans.
• We will continue to work closely with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, including in relation to the development of a new National Islands Plan.

The Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan 2022-2027 commits the Scottish Government to align its wider work with the strategic aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan. This is supplemented through the Scottish Government’s regular contact with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, whether through their monitoring of our Gaelic Language Plan, or the Bòrd’s own meetings with different teams within government.

Commitment 11.5 Ensure that the effect on Gaelic language development is considered from the outset in island-specific policies and initiatives and that these link to statutory Gaelic language plans.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• The Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan has corporate service aims to ensure the equal prominence of Gaelic and encouragement to use Gaelic in communications.
• Representatives on the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Implementation Group ensure their policy areas are mindful of the language and that, where possible, policies serve to advance Gaelic.

The Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan 2022-2027 commits the Scottish Government to consider the effects of its policies on Gaelic language development. This is achieved through our Gaelic Implementation Group which includes representation from the Scottish Government’s Islands Team, the wider Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate and Marine Scotland.

The report of the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic considered the role of government policies in specific Gaelic-speaking island communities – Na h-Eileanan Siar, Skye, Tiree and Islay. In November 2024, the formal response to the report was issued with the government accepting most of the group’s recommendations as well as its central premise that Gaelic was an asset to wider policy within these communities and that policy’s impact on the language had to be consistently borne in mind. These principles are being further brought to bear through the Scottish Languages Bill.

Commitment 11.6 Work with public authorities and community groups in increasing the use and visibility of Gaelic in Gaelic speaking island communities.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• The Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plan contains corporate service aims to ensure the equal prominence of Gaelic in Scottish Government logos and branding, the prominence of Gaelic signage in Scottish Government offices, and commitments to use Gaelic in our public communications and corporate publications. Other Scottish Government agencies, such as Social Security Scotland, provide bilingual material relating to their services and discussions are ongoing with island-based Scottish Government offices to increase their Gaelic provision.
• A number of Gaelic development officers from different organisations are based in island communities with the aim of increasing the use and learning of Gaelic. To help organise their efforts a Gaelic Development Officers Network has been formed with support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

We continue to work towards the commitments of the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan which include ensuring the use of Gaelic in government offices within Na h-Eileanan Siar and supporting Transport Scotland and local authorities in their provision of Gaelic or bilingual road signs.

Through the Gaelic Language Plan, we have also seen a significant increase in the number of government publications issued in Gaelic, with priority given to those which have particular interest to Gaelic communities and could therefore furnish Gaelic language events.

The Scottish Languages Bill’s provisions for Areas of Linguistic Significance are designed to give community groups a greater role in Gaelic development. It is intended that the designation of an Area of Linguistic Significance will lead to the greater use and visibility of Gaelic within such an area.

We are also delighted that in November 2024 Gaelic-speaking poet and author Dr Peter Mackay, who is from Lewis, has been appointed as Scotland’s new Makar. The role of Makar involves taking a leadership role in promoting poetry nationally, as well as producing work relating to significant national events.

Mr Mackay was appointed by the First Minister for a three-year term on the recommendation of an expert panel representing Scotland’s literary sector, who acknowledged the importance of the work he does in bringing Gaelic to a wider audience. His appointment is considered a key step in raising the national profile of the language and highlighting its contribution to wider Scottish culture.

Commitment 11.7 Work with relevant authorities to improve Gaelic provision for Gaelic speaking island communities in delivering their functions and services.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• The Gaelic Implementation Group established under the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan is an ongoing opportunity for officials across the Scottish Government to support Gaelic through their work. The Islands Team are represented on the Group.

Through our Gaelic Language Plan, the Scottish Government continues to work with other public authorities to improve Gaelic provision for Gaelic speaking island communities. The main forum for this is the Faster Rate of Progress initiative (FROP). This brings together the 25 bodies most involved in Gaelic development to ensure that the targets required for the language’s preservation and revitalisation are met. FROP is currently chaired by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. Other fora, such as the Gaelic Officers Network and the Gaelic Academic Working Group which are both overseen by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, also help fulfil this commitment.

The measures within the Scottish Languages Bill – most notably the introduction of a ministerial Gaelic Language Strategy – will build on the current system. The strategy, alongside other measures within the Bill, emphasises the need for proportionate delivery of Gaelic services within a public authority’s general functions.

Commitment 11.8 Support approaches that promote the sustainable management of the historic environment.

Implementation Route Map 2024

• Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will continue to provide advice and funding to island projects and research initiatives.
• HES is represented on the Islands Growth Deal Advisory Forum.

Marram Grass

Historic Environment Scotland are supporting communities in the Western Isles through a multi-year research project to assess the impact of harvesting marram grass for thatching on key sections of coastline. This initiative seeks to support vulnerable coastal communities by ensuring that marram grass can be sustainably harvested, safeguarding coastlines while preserving the distinctive and increasingly rare heritage of local thatched buildings. Marram grass, found on coastal dunes in the Western Isles, has long been used as a traditional thatching material. NatureScot is part of the project’s steering group and much of the data gathered contributes to the Dynamic Coast project. The research findings will shape Historic Environment Scotland grants policy, local planning regulations, grazing committee guidelines, and NatureScot’s policies and guidance.

Collections Care

Collections care projects focused on compliance with the Government Indemnity Scheme have been delivered at Iona Abbey and Skara Brae. At Iona Abbey, Historic Environment Scotland successfully installed new humidistat-controlled heating and case alarm systems. At Skara Brae, work was carried out to repair and add desiccant to cases, sealed vents, and improve the heating system. These projects have helped to meet the environmental and security conditions required to display objects on loan from other national institutions in their original environment.