Great Place Project Ceilidhs January 2020
A series of consultation ’ceilidhs’ will take place throughout the Outer Hebrides in January to provide communities a further chance to contribute to the development of Pròiseact an Fhìor Àite (the Great Place project).
The purpose of the Pròiseact an Fhìor-Àite (Great Place Project) is to develop a heritage and cultural asset strategy for the Outer Hebrides and to identify strategic approaches to support and deliver appropriate heritage-led economic development, identifying infrastructure requirements and priorities.
The two year project is led by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and partners include Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Outer Hebrides Heritage Forum, Scottish Natural Heritage, Outer Hebrides Tourism, An Lanntair, Taigh Chearsbhagh, Urras Nan Tursachan and Historic Environment Scotland, the project is overseen by a steering group with representative from each partner organisation. The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The ‘ceilidhs’ are part of a further round of community consultations where cutting edge strategic logic will combine with cultural traditions to bring together the strategy and action plan for the project. Working with the Great Place project is international, Highlands and Islands based consultancy, StrategyStory, which has an office base in Stornoway and has been co-founded by Professor of Strategy Donald MacLean and former BBC Senior Producer, Kate Hooper. The ‘ceilidhs’ will bring together people from the heritage, tourism and creative industries sectors.
Catherine MacLean, Great Place Project Manager said: “Following the Heritage for People Symposium held in May last year and the extensive meetings held across the islands over the last period, we have now appointed external consultants to begin to draw the strategy and action plan together. I hope as many people as possible are able to attend our consultation ceilidhs.”
Chairman of the Comhairle’s Sustainable Development Committee, Councillor Donald Crichton said, “Heritage is inherent in all that we do across our key sectors in the Outer Hebrides and holds untapped potential. We want to not only consolidate and conserve what we have, but to put culture and heritage at the heart of our vision and aspirations for the future and to innovate and promote it in new ways. By doing so we can unlock the potential for the Outer Hebrides to be a really ‘Great Place’ so that everyone - locals and visitors alike- can benefit whilst drawing in more visitors, developing businesses and attracting significant inward investment throughout the whole of the Outer Hebrides. It is of utmost importance that this strategy and vision is informed by the people of the Hebrides themselves so we’re asking people to join us and contribute to the process.”
Date and times of cèilidhs
Monday 13th Jan, 2pm (Cancelled)
Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, North Dell, Isle of Lewis
Tuesday 14th Jan, 6pm
Pier House Café, Hotel Hebrides, Tarbert, Isle of Harris
Wednesday 15th January, 1pm
Taigh Chearsbhagh, Lochmaddy, North Uist
Friday 17th January 10am – 1pm
HeathBank Hotel, North Bay, Isle of Barra
Further Information
For further information, or to book a place please contact Catherine Maclean, Project Manager
catherine.maclean@cne-siar.gov.uk