Crafty Developments - Gàidhealtachd of Scotland and Nova Scotia
Leasachadh Ceàird - Gàidhealtachd Alba is Alba Nuadh (Gaelic version of press release)
A Highland craft worker will be downing tools and packing her suitcase as she prepares to swap jobs with a fellow craft worker based across the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Breton.
Beth Legg, one of Scotland’s top contemporary jewellers has been selected by pupils from Dalbrae Acadmey in Nova Scotia to come to work with them while at the same time Ardnamurchan High School pupils have invited Kelly Krawchuck, who is a multidisciplinary crafter as well as a student of Gàidhlig language, folklore, and biology from Cape Breton to join them during May and June.
The two month exchange residency project has been organised by The Highland Council and the Province of Nova Scotia as part of the Memorandum of Understanding. It leads on from the highly successful ‘Craft Residencies in the Highlands’ programme which ran in eight areas of the Highlands from 2004 until 2007.
Both craftmakers will have the opportunity to develop their own work in their new surroundings and this new work will tour in both Countries. Gaelic is an integral part of the project and the makers will be encouraged to further extend their language skills by using Gaelic wherever possible. Pupils in both countries will evaluate and monitor the residencies and will communicate with each other through the internet.
Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chairman of the Councils Gaelic Committee said: “I’m very pleased that through the Memorandum of Understanding partnership between the Council and the Province of Nova Scotia we are able to run such an innovative Exchange Residency especially as it contains many elements for which the Council is responsible for, such as Gaelic, crafts/arts and exhibitions. This project is a good example of how these elements have come together primarily to benefit young people and communities in both Ardnamurchan and Dalbrae in Cape Breton. I wish both artists every success during the Exchange Programme.”
Highland Project Co-ordinator Pamela Conacher said: “Last week two groups of young people in Dalbrae Academy and Ardnamurchan High School, came together by video link to select two craftspeople to participate in a 60 day exchange residency. Through discussion and by sharing the interview process they selected textile artist, Kelly Krawchuk to come to the Highlands and jeweller Beth Legg to go to Nova Scotia.
“The young people have the opportunity to be directly involved in the success of the project from start to finish. They thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of interviewing and are now really looking forward to the start of the residencies when they will assist in the running of the programme”. More……..
Craft worker Beth Legg said, “Being awarded this residency is an amazing opportunity for me to develop new work and to experiment with ideas and materials within a school environment. I hope it will allow me to focus on narratives from the shared Gaelic heritage and craft traditions of Nova Scotia and the Highlands. Most importantly it will give me the unique opportunity to become part of a community that has strong links to the place where I grew up and I'm really looking forward to it.”
Eric Favaro, Project Coordinator in Cape Breton said, "Planning the Craft Residency Exchange is providing valuable learning experiences for the pupils of Dalbrae Academy who are steering the project. They are acquiring important skills that will give them a deeper understanding of working in the cultural industries. The entire student body will benefit from having Beth Legg in residence, and she will be
welcomed into the craft community by artists and craft makers who are keen to share ideas and inspirations with her."
Kelly Krawchuck is looking forward to crossing the Atlantic to work in Lochaber. Having had an interest in handcrafts since childhood, Kelly has developed her skills in weaving, knitting, sewing, dying and new media forms such as digital photography and web design alongside her interests in Gaelic culture, biological science, and community development.
She said: “It is very exciting to be involved in this type of programme, giving students the opportunity to explore craft gives them a new way to learn about their culture and possibilities for their future. By coming together, we can not only celebrate our shared heritage, but together can explore ways to work toward sustainability with respect to Gaelic culture, the craft sector, and our individual communities.”