A meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 20 February 2014 at 10.30 am. 

 

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

 

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive

 

Please note that this meeting will be conducted in Gaelic with simultaneous translation to English.

 

Business

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

2. Declarations of Interest

 

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

 

3. Good News

 

 

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

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-01-14 (132kb pdf) 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 2012-16, for approval.

 

The Group is invited to:-

 

i. comment on the 2012-13 Draft Annual Implementation Report; and
ii. agree the Final Annual Implementation Report for submission to Bòrd na
    Gàidhlig.

 

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

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-02-14 (74kb pdf) 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 Group is invited to:-

 

i. comment on progress in implementing the Arts, Media and Heritage Theme
    in GLP 12-16;
ii. agree to continue support for high profile activity and engagement for the
    Inverness Royal National Mod in 2014;
iii. agree our continuing collaboration with Fèis Rois;
iv. agree continuing engagement with the National Gaelic Arts Strategy;
v. agree that the Council continues 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;
vi. agree to maximise the use of the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Residency programme
    in association with our joint Memorandum of Understanding;
vii. agree to provide support for the visit in March of school pupils from Dalbrae
    Academy in Mabou, Cape Breton under our Memorandum of Understanding
    with the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia; and
viii. agree to work towards a renewal of the MoU with Nova Scotia around the
    Royal National Mod in October 2014.

 

6. Fèisean nan Gàidheal Presentation

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-03-14 (38kb pdf) 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 introduces Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, who will provide a presentation to Members.

 

The Group is invited to:-

 

i. comment on the presentation;
ii. agree that Officers evaluate the Fèisgoil Primary School pilot programme in
    the Highland Council area;
iii. agree 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
iv. agree 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 is circulated Report No GIG-04-14 (32kb pdf) 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 Evenscotland’s national Homecoming 2014 celebrations.  Liaison on this initiative is being undertaken between the Gaelic Team, the Council’s Events Officer, Tourism Development Officer and Public Relations staff.

 

The Group is invited to agree that Officers ensure that Gaelic has the highest possible profile within Highland Homecoming events; which will form part of Homecoming Scotland 2014.

 

8. Gaelic Creative Writing Initiative for Highland Pupils

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-05-14 (31kb pdf) 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 highlights the proposed second phase of the Creative Writing Programme which also includes a completion based on the theme Homecoming, in recognition of this year being Homecoming Scotland 2014.

 

The Group is invited to comment on the Report and agree to receive a further Report on the second phase of the Gaelic Creative Writing project.

 

9. MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2014

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-06-14 (33kb pdf) 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 which are to take place in Inverness, and will be broadcast live on BBC Alba, in December 2014. 

 

The Group is invited to:-

 

i. comment on the Report and on the work to bring the Trad Awards to
    Highland; and
ii. agree to continue to work with MG ALBA and Hands Up for Trad to ensure
    that the event is highly successful and provides a significant profile for
    Gaelic locally and nationally.

 

10. FilmG Presentation

 

There is circulated Report No GIG-07-14 (40kb pdf) dated 8 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing information on the FilmG project which is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and which has provided hugely successful collaborative arts and media projects for Highland Schools.  The reports also introduces the FilmG Project Director, Flòraidh Forest, and two pupils who are participating in the project.

 

The Group is invited to:-

 

i. comment on the presentation; and
ii. agree that the Council continues to support FilmG by encouraging schools
    to participate; and by providing Gaelic Team liaison and support where
    appropriate.