Amount Awarded
£21,000
Event Background and Funding
Based in the Outer Hebrides, the Hebridean Celtic Festival is a flagship Scottish cultural event, which has earned an international reputation for quality and cutting edge programming. The music festival features major international performers from across the Celtic nations and beyond, and local, emerging artists.
The success of the festival is due in part to the unique setting of the Outer Hebrides, in particular the main festival arena within the grounds of Lews Castle overlooking Stornoway Harbour. Loyal audiences and the support of hundreds of volunteers each year also contribute to the success of the festival. The distinctive island Gaelic culture creates an event of exceptional quality and character attracting tourists each year.
The festival has now firmly established itself as an international event providing invaluable economic and cultural tourism benefits, but also providing a platform for artists from the Highlands and Islands to showcase the cultural wealth of the Hebrides.
EventScotland has previously supported the festival in 2005 and 2006.
Tourism
The Festival, which was attended by crowds of over 16,000 in 2010 and doubled ticket sales from 2009, is a key driver for tourism in the Hebrides. A survey showed that 41% of visitors travelled to the area specifically to attend festival while 62% of visitors said they would be likely to return to the Islands due to their festival experience.
The festival also drives tourism into other areas of the Hebrides with 41% of visitors staying for 10 days or more, taking in all that the Islands have to offer. Promotion of the Outer Hebrides and its rich culture are fundamental to the Hebridean Celtic Festival marketing campaign.
Business
The event is crucial to many local businesses and, in particular, the catering and hospitality industries; almost 50% of festival attendees are visitors to the island.
The festival collaborated with several local producers - Harris Tweed artisans produced a unique festival tweed; a 15th Anniversary whisky was produced and sold at the festival; and Hebridean Chocolates produced a Festival Whisky Truffle which was retailed before and after the festival.
Participation & Development
The festival cites community involvement as a major player in the success and attraction of the festival. In 2010, the event welcomed 76 staff and 452 volunteers.
The festival places an emphasis on participative programming encouraging confidence in aspiring musicians and providing a platform to showcase their talent. The organisers aim to develop the festival through participation opportunities and education. Youth groups from Orkney, Shetland, Lewis and Harris participated in workshops and music sharing. The outreach programme ensured that the festival reached more remote locations from North of Lewis to South of Harris with workshops, concerts and ceilidhs.
The festival has aims to strengthen the core activity of the event and broaden the programme by introducing a second stage within the main festival arena. Improvements to on-site catering and bar facilities are also being planned.
In 2011, the event is being funded through Scotland’s Island’s as the flagship event.
Environment
The Festival furthered efforts in 2010 to reduce environmental impact by increasing recycling of glass, tin and plastic with the support of a Waste Aware team. In 2009, the festival introduced compostable cornstarch ‘glasses’ which could be disposed of through the local authority anaerobic digester. Building on the success of this, the festival supplied subsequent local events with these materials to foster a more responsible environmental approach.
Social and Cultural
The festival has created firm roots in the community by operating a partnership approach. The festival is a champion of social enterprise and works closely with local groups, organisations, individuals and the wider community.
Committed to developing the skills of local people, the festival recruits a number of volunteers to assist in running the festival who often return to volunteer year on year. However, the most important legacy that the festival can provide is by assisting the cultural aspirations of the future music makers, fostering new, local talent and providing a platform for established performers.
Media
The festival also achieved extensive coverage in print and online media and BBC Scotland, GMTV and STV all ran news pieces on or related to the festival. BBC Radio nan Gaidheal broadcast live from the festival while BBC Radio Scotland broadcast interviews with the Festival team pre-event. The festival team produced two 60-minute music programmes for BBC Alba with four further 15-minute shorts broadcast later on the same channel.
Key Outcomes
A flagship event which showcases the unique Gaelic culture to an international audience
Focus on participation particularly from local people
100% increase on ticket sales since 2009
16,000 attendances
High level of community involvement
Extensive media coverage across all mediums
