Highland Council to participate in Scotland's Islands 2011

15th January 2010

The Highland Council is to participate in 'Scotland's Islands 2011' - a themed year that will showcase and develop islands life, locally, nationally and beyond through developing tourism, and provide opportunities in the arts, sport and cultural experiences.

Members of the Council's Education. Culture and Sport Committee approved the allocation of £32,250 from the Service's Corporate Discretionary Budget and noted the support of the Eilean a Chèo and Caol and Mallaig Discretionary Wards Budgets subject to the overall funding package being put in place.

Scotland's Islands 2011 will include Shetland Islands Council, Argyll and Bute, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Shetland, Western Islands and The Highland Council participating in the themed year.

An initial implementation plan for Scotland's Islands 2011 is to look at 4 areas of work targeting: between the islands; to the islands; from the islands; and for the islands.

Taking forward the "Between the Islands" aspect of the Year might include:

· Creating a specific budget for inter-island projects.

· Developing a launch event in which all islands are able to participate.

· Organising an "Island Open" visual art competition with associated travelling exhibition.

· Holding an Island Youth Games, perhaps in Stirling in association with Sportscotland and the Institute of Sport.

· Bringing young musicians from the islands together to work and perform, e.g. as a Youth Orchestra.

· Holding an Islands regatta involving traditional boats from different islands.

· Establishing a travelling "Island Market" offering island food, drink and crafts in the style of the continental markets which feature in many towns in the UK.

· Touring the Screen Machine to a wider range of islands than currently.

· Identifying funding (e.g. through Island Leader Programmes) to enable island groups to visit other islands in 2009 and 2010 to develop 2011 events.

The following measures would help to take forward the "To the Islands" aspect of the Year:

· Price promotions by transport operators.

· Special island-hopping promotions.

· Enhancing events and festivals at times when island accommodation has spare capacity.

· Marketing the unique environments and heritage of the islands.

· Showcasing initiatives that reflect contemporary island life and economy.

To help take forward the "From the Islands" aspect of the Year, the following opportunities have been identified:

· Development of exhibitions and commissioned productions that would be held in Scotland, more widely in the UK and abroad.

· An island theme for Tartan Week in 2011.

· Promotional events at the Island Games.

· An Island Artists presence at art fairs.

· Development of island food and drink and craft partnerships for attending high profile trade exhibitions.

· Showcase events at Celtic Connections, the Edinburgh Festival and other major Scottish events.

· Travel grant scheme for island musicians invited to play at international festivals, and to provide comparable opportunities for other artists (writers, poets, film makers, etc).



"For the Islands" measures would include:

· Promoting the islands to potential inward investors in major projects.

· Spearheading retention and attraction of creative industries SMEs.

· Enhancing existing strategic development in language, tourism, and transport.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "We are delighted to be able to support Scotland's Islands 2011 and hope that the project gets off the ground quickly enough for 2011 without any delays.

"We are happy to support another opportunity to promote and develop cultural and sporting activities in our island communities. The higher profile brought about by such events can lead to a wide range of benefit in employment and tourism not to mention the enrichment of life for local people."