Highland 2007: Outer Hebrides Community Programme funding awarded

The Highland 2007 Outer Hebrides Community Programme has announced support for five projects in the first round of awards to groups organising events as part of the programme for ‘the Year Scotland celebrates Highland culture’.

Highland 2007 Outer Hebrides Community Programme Approvals

Successful applicants were:

· Ceòlas, South Uist have been awarded £20,000

· Harris Arts Festival have been awarded £4,500

· Facal: The Hebridean Book Festival has been awarded £20,000

· Theatre Hebrides has been awarded £20,000

· Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre, Lochmaddy has been awarded £40,000 capital funding.

Fiona Hampton, director of Highland 2007, said: “We are really pleased with the variety and the geographical spread of events that have had funding approved through the Highland 2007 Outer Hebrides Community Programme. These projects will contribute to the success of Highland 2007 by encouraging people to visit the Highlands and Islands next year and in years to come.”

Highland 2007 aims to promote the Highlands and Islands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of the area’s culture past, present and future. Nationally the project is a partnership between three principal funding agencies: Highland Council, Scottish Executive and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. In the Outer Hebrides, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Western Isles Enterprise are working with Highland 2007 to manage the programme locally.

At the core of Highland 2007 is the Community Programme. It aims to enable community groups and organisations to decide how Highland and Islands culture should be celebrated in their own area in 2007, and to encourage as many people as possible throughout the area to take part. Both capital and revenue funding will be made available during 2006 and 2007 to support projects and events that contribute to the aims and objectives of Highland 2007.

Next Funding Deadline

The next Highland 2007 Outer Hebrides Community Programme funding deadline is 1 September 2006, not for profit groups and organisations with a constitution are eligible to apply. Anyone wishing to submit an application should first discuss proposed details with Meg Rodger the Comhairle’s Arts Development Officer.

Contact and further details

For further information on Highland 2007 and guidelines on the Outer Hebrides Community Programme, please consult: http://www.highland2007.com/ or contact:

Meg Rodger, Arts Development Officer T: 01870 602 425

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk