Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Creative Scotland are delighted to announce the  appointment of well-known singer, musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy, to the post of Musician in Residence at Sabhal Mòr, the National Centre for the Gaelic language, culture and the arts on the Isle of Skye.

L-R: Mary Ann Kennedy & Mhàiri Killin

Highly regarded, Iona based visual artist, Mhàiri Killin, will also be taking up the post of Visual Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.  The residencies are supported through Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures Residency programme. Creative Scotland’s flagship programme supporting the development of Scotland’s creative individuals.

Venu Dhupa, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said:  “Sabhal Mòr Ostaig makes a huge contribution to the arts in Scotland and is an inspiring place for artists and film makers to work.   It’s great news that Mary Ann Kennedy and Mhàiri Killin will be joining the talented Julie Fowlis, to develop their creative practice and share their expertise through the Creative Futures programme.

“Creative Futures is the largest co-ordinated residency programme in Europe, supporting up to 200 individuals every year, developing the skills, talents and potential of Scotland’s creative practitioners.”

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Director of Development, Fundraising and the Arts, Donnie Munro, said today, “We are delighted to have Mary Ann Kennedy join us at Sabhal Mòr as our Musician in Residence, as part of our multi-disciplinary artists’ residency programme which now features visual arts, drama and literature and is jointly promoted through an innovative and productive partnership between Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Creative Scotland under the banner of the Creative Futures Residency Programme”.

Mr Munro added, “Mary Ann brings a tremendous wealth of experience to the post as a highly respected musician, singer, composer, producer and broadcaster along with an extensive breadth and depth of knowledge of Gaelic language, music and tradition. Her musical abilities, nurtured from an early age and formalised through her successful study and graduation from the RSAMD in Glasgow and the Northern College of Music in Manchester, are further informed through a rich family history immersed in the language, culture and songs of the Gàidhealtachd”

Ms Kennedy’s is the latest in a series of artists residencies and partnerships, based at Sabhal Mòr which over time has featured internationally renowned musicians, writers and visual artists.  These include Iain MacDonald, Allan Henderson and, more recently, the celebrated singer and folklorist Maighread Stewart, writers, Aonghas MacNeacail, Angus Peter Campbell, Alasdair a' Bhocsair,  Rody Gorman, Myles Campbell and Dr Peter MacKay along with visual artists, Francis Walker RSA, Barbara Rae RSA, Marian Leven RSA, Prof Will Maclean RSA, Arthur Watson, RSA, Kate Whiteford RSA, Eòghann Mac Colla, Dr Gill Russell, Dr Norman Shaw, Ross Henriksen, Jessica Ramm and Dr Aileen Stackhouse along with the first Drama Artist in Residence, Artair Donald, a post shared with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The highly regarded, Iona based visual artist, Mhàiri Killin, is also about to take up her residency and she is greatly looking forward to further developing her professional practice working within a multi-disciplinary arts and creative industries environment Gaelic language community.

Ms Killin said "I am very excited about taking up the post of Visual Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig this autumn. The post will allow me to develop my practice against the backdrop of Skye's landscape, language and culture, within the unique and vibrant learning environment which Sabhal Mòr offers. I hope that during the six months I will be able to share my own experience of living and working as an artist on Iona and make some connections with local artists whose practice also resonates with the experience of island life."

Mhàiri will be followed in post by Alex Boyd and SMO is about to advertise a further international visual arts residency opportunity supported by the Jon Schueler Foundation in New York.

In addition, and again as part of the wider Creative Futures programme,  the internationally successful musician and singer, Julie Fowlis, herself an alumni of Sabhal Mòr, has also been appointed as an artist in residence attached to the Tobar an Dualchais/Kist O Riches national conservation, sound archiving and digitisation project which is managed through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Mr Munro, who is also Chairman of Tobar an Dualchais, said that to have someone of Julie’s international standing both as a musician, singer and performer not to mention her recent related academic and research work, is of tremendous benefit to the project and will help enormously to bring further attention to the incredible cultural heritage resource which has been created. Julie is joined by the eminent Scots singer, musician and academic researcher, Chris Wright, who will be working, through the same residency programme, to explore and promote the Scots language and song element of the archive.

Mr Munro said that what has been achieved through the Creative Futures Residency Programme has been of immense benefit to the work of Sabhal Mòr as a National Centre and that through the programme, a critical mass of complementary and interdisciplinary activity has been made possible and has further encouraged the development of complementary and strategic partnerships to emerge with other national centres and organisations, such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Dundee University Visual Arts Research Centre, the RSA in Edinburgh, MG Alba, the Scottish Drama Training Network and Fèisean nan Gaidheal along with strategic partners in the local area such as Seall Arts in Sleat and the Àros Centre in Portree.

’S i Màiri Anna NicUalraig an Ceòladair ùr air mhuinntireas aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Tha e na thoileachas mòr do Shabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Alba Chruthachail an naidheachd fhoillseachadh gur i an seinneadair is craoladair, Màiri Anna NicUalraig, an Ceòladair ùr air Mhuinntireas aig an t-Sabhal Mhòr, a tha na h-Ionad Nàiseanta airson Cànan is Cultair na Gàidhlig.

Cuideachd, bidh Mhàiri Killin, neach-ealain cliùiteach a tha fuireach ann an Eilean Ì, a’ tòiseachadh san dreuchd Neach-ealain Lèirsinneach air Mhuinntireas aig a’ cholaiste. Tha na dreuchdan seo air am maoineachadh tron phrògram chòmhnaidheach, ‘Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail’ (no Creative Futures), aig Alba Chruthachail. Am prìomh phrògram aig Alba Chruthachail a bheir taic do dh’obair dhaoine cruthachail ann an Alba.

Thuirt Venu Dhupa, Ceannard airson Leasachadh Cruthachail aig Alba Chruthachail: 
“Tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a’ cur gu mòr ris na h-ealain ann an Alba agus ’s e àite a th’ ann a bheir togail do luchd-ealain is luchd-film a bhios ag obair ann. ’S e naidheachd fìor mhath a th’ ann gu bheil Màiri Anna NicUalraig is Mhàiri Killin gu bhith ann a-nis còmhla ris an neach-chiùil air leth tàlantach Julie Fowlis, agus gum bi cothrom aca togail air a’ chaidreachas is an coluadair cruthachail a thig mar thoradh air a’ phrògram ‘Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail’.

“’S e a th’ ann an ‘Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail’ am prògram còmhnaidheach as motha san Roinn-Eòrpa, agus e a’ cumail taic ri suas ri 200 neach gach bliadhna, airson gun tig piseach air sgilean, tàlantan is cothroman luchd-cruthachail na h-Alba.”

Thuirt Donaidh Rothach, An Stiùiriche aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig airson Leasachaidh, Togail Airgid agus nan Ealain: “Tha sinn uabhasach toilichte gu bheil Màiri Anna NicUalraig againn a-nis mar Cheòladair air Mhuinntireas, mar phàirt dhen phrògram chòmhnaidheach againn a tha a’ toirt taic do na h-ealain lèirsinneach, dràma, ceòl agus litreachas agus a tha air a chur air adhart tro chom-pàirteachas soirbheachail eadar Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Alba Chruthachail fo bhratach a’ phrògraim chòmhnaidhich, ‘Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail’.”

Lean Mgr Rothach air: “Tha cliù agus am pailteas eòlais aig Màiri Anna mar neach-ciùil, seinneadair, sgrìobhadair-ciùil, riochdaire agus craoladair agus chan e sin a-mhàin ach tha i air leth fiosrach mu chànan, ceòl is beul-aithris nan Gàidheal. Bho aois òig bha i air a piobrachadh gu bhith leasachadh nan comasan ciùil aice agus a thuilleadh air an oideachadh fhoirmeil a fhuair i aig an RSAMD ann an Glaschu is Colaiste Chiùil a Tuath ann am Manchester, chaidh a h-àrach ann an teaghlach far an robh i air a bogadh ann an Gàidhlig, agus ann an dualchas is òrain nan Gàidheal.”

Tha an dreuchd aig Màiri Anna air aon de shreath dhreuchdan luchd-ealain air mhuinntireas is com-pàirteachasan a tha air a bhith aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig thar nam bliadhnaichean le luchd-ciùil, sgrìobhadairean is luchd-ealain lèirsinneach air a bheil aithne eadar-nàiseanta a’ tadhal air a’ cholaiste. Nam measg bha Iain Dòmhnallach, Ailean MacEanraig, agus o chionn ghoirid an seinneadair ainmeil is i na h-eòlaiche air beul-aithris Maighread Stiùbhart, na sgrìobhadairean Aonghas MacNeacail, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, Alasdair a’ Bhocsair, Rody Gorman, Maoilios Caimbeul agus Dr Pàdraig MacAoidh. Cuideachd tha an luchd-ealain lèirsinneach a leanas air a bhith ann: Francis Walker RSA, Barbara Rae RSA, Marian Leven RSA, Proifeasair Will MacLean RSA, Arthur Watson RSA, Kate Whiteford RSA, Eòghann Mac Colla, Dr Gill Russell, Dr Norman Shaw, Ross Henriksen, Jessica Ramm agus Dr Aileen Stackhouse, agus tha a’ chiad Neach-dràma air Mhuinntireas aig a’ cholaiste an-dràsta, Artair Donald, dreuchd a tha faighinn taic bho Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba cuideachd.

Tha Mhàiri Killin, neach-ealain lèirsinneach a tha fuireach ann an Eilean Ì, cuideachd a’ dol a thòiseachadh san dreuchd chòmhnaidheach aice, agus tha i a’ coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri bhith ag obair air a cuid ealain ann an coimhearsnachd is àrainneachd Ghàidhlig far a bheil cothrom aig na diofar raointean ealain is gnìomhachasan cruthachail tighinn còmhla.

Thuirt Mhàiri: “Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri dhol gu Sabhal Mòr Ostaig mar Neach-ealain Lèirsinneach air Mhuinntireas as t-fhoghar. Gheibh mi cothrom tron dreuchd seo mo chuid obrach a leasachadh fhad ’s a tha mi a’ cur eòlas air cruth-tìre, cànan is cultar an Eilein Sgitheanaich, agus mi aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig san àrainneachd shònraichte is thogarrach a gheibh thu aig a’ cholaiste. Tha mi an dòchas sna sia mìosan agam ann an Slèite gum bi cothrom ann innse is sealltainn do dhaoine co ris a tha e coltach a bhith nad neach-ealain a’ fuireach is ag obair ann an Eilean Ì, agus gun coinnich mi ri luchd-ealain ionadail agus iad fhèin ro eòlach air saoghal an neach-ealain air eilean.”

Nuair a dh’fhàgas Mhàiri, bidh Alex Boyd a’ dol dhan dreuchd aice agus tha SMO an impis sanasan a sgaoileadh airson Neach-ealain Lèirsinneach Eadar-nàiseanta air Mhuinntireas a gheibh taic bho Urras Jon Schueler ann an New York.

A bharrachd air seo, agus mar phàirt dhen phrògram Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail, chaidh Julie Fowlis, seinneadair is neach-ciùil le cliù eadar-nàiseanta agus a bha na h-oileanach aig Sabhal Mòr i fhèin na latha, ainmeachadh mar Neach-ealain air Mhuinntireas aig Tobar an Dualchais – pròiseact nàiseanta a tha stèidhichte aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus a tha a’ gleidheadh mìltean de chlàraidhean beul-aithris ann an cruth didseatach.

Thuirt Mgr Rothach, a tha na Chathraiche air Tobar an Dualchais cuideachd, gun robh e na bhuannachd mhòr dhan phròiseact gun robh Julie – aig a bheil ainm eadar-nàiseanta mar sheinneadair agus neach-ciùil agus a tha o chionn ghoirid air a dhol an sàs ann an obair sgoilearach is rannsachaidh – air a dhol dhan dreuchd seo, agus cuidichidh i gu mòr le bhith dèanamh sanasachd air a’ ghoireas iongantach seo a chaidh a chruthachadh gus dualchas na h-Alba a ghleidheadh. Còmhla ri Julie air a’ phrògram chòmhnaidheach, bidh Chris Wright, a tha air cliù a chosnadh dha fhèin mar sheinneadair, neach-ciùil is neach-rannsachaidh sgoilearach a thaobh Albais. Nì esan rannsachadh agus sanasachd air na clàraidhean Albais san tasglann.

Thuirt Mgr Rothach gun robh obair a’ phrògraim Cinn-uidhe Chruthachail air a bhith na buannachd mhòr a thaobh amasan Sabhal Mòr Ostaig mar Ionad Nàiseanta, agus mar thoradh air a’ phrògram chaidh co-obrachadh eadar-raonail a chur air adhart a bhrosnaich obair chom-pàirt is coluadair ro-innleachdail eadar Sabhal Mòr agus ionadan is buidhnean nàiseanta eile, leithid Conservatoire Rìoghail na h-Alba, Ionad Rannsachaidh nan Ealain Lèirsinneach aig Oilthigh Dhùn Dè, an RSA ann an Dùn Èideann, MG Alba, Lìonraidh Trèanaidh Dràma na h-Alba agus Fèisean nan Gàidheal, agus còmhla ri luchd-com-pàirt ionadail mar SEALL ann an Slèite agus Àros ann am Port Rìgh.

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