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Comunn Féis An Eilein
News
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Feis an Eilein Annual Report
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Mandate:
The mandate of Comunn Féis an Eilein is to promote and preserve traditional Gaelic culture through means that are commensurate with the values of our community and which utilize the strengths of our community and with a particular focus on youth and seniors.
Provision of Leadership and Programs:
Comunn Féis an Eilein has continuously been at the forefront of the movement for the rejuvenation of Gaelic language and culture. We have advanced Gaelic cultural interests through programs, activities, promotions, and cooperation with other Gaelic based organizations. We actively seek to educate our youth about their culture and to increase pride in their heritage. We have achieved an enviable reputation among our peers as being committed to presentation of activities that are firmly based in Gaelic language and culture. We have operated over the past 16 years in an atmosphere of integrity, sound business practices, and inclusion of all you wish to participate in Gaelic cultural programming. We have provided leadership in the preservation and promotion of Gaelic language and culture through activities such as provision of classes in Gaelic language, Scottish accompaniment, fiddle, dance, and piping and through bi-lingual marketing, and archival recordings. We act to raise awareness of Gaelic culture through interviews, participation in community out-reach, and otherwise presenting Gaelic culture as a socially and economically viable and desirable venture, and have increased the profile of Gaelic in our community and in other cultural agencies and in all levels of Government.
Comunn Feis an Eilein is in a unique position to host these events because they have been specifically designed by our membership to fulfill our mandate and vision, and because we have 15 years experience in sponsoring Gaelic cultural events. This is due in part to the large number of native Gaelic speakers who reside in our community and who are supporters of these activities. The knowledge base of these tradition bearers is actively sought out by Gaelic learners from all over the world. We have gained an in-depth knowledge of hosting large scale events and have an enviable cadre of community volunteers.
Defining Excellence:
Comunn Féis and Eilein defines excellence in our field of Gaelic language and cultural promotion and preservation as being successful in delivering our programs with a firm and pervading emphasis on Gaelic language and artistic content. All our events focus on presenting Gaelic cultural programming and engaging in community outreach to strengthen these activities.
In pursuit of excellence within our organizational activities we are working to strengthen the presence and use of Gaelic language by our membership and community and at present are sponsoring evening classes and an innovative, intensive 20 hour per week immersion program in conversational Gaelic. We are also placing more responsibility into the hands of working committees. We believe this will increase the sense of ownership and confidence in each individual and develop leadership skills and build capacity and capability.
Support Received
Much of the success of Comunn Féis an Eilein is due to the generous support received from the community, government, and private donations. We have benefited from the support of the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism and Culture, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, Nova Scotia Provincial Employment Program for Students, Federal Student Employment Program and from various sponsorships including The Cape Breton Post Sponsorship Program.
Community partners include The Nova Scotia Highland Village, Saint Barra’s Parish, Christmas Island Volunteer Fire Department, Grand Narrows Waterfront Development Society, Clan MacNeil, Cape Breton Gaelic Society, Celtic Colors Music Festival, the University College of Cape Breton, and Saint Ann’s Gaelic College. We are working more closely with Comhairle na Gàidhlig-Nova Scotia Gaelic Council to develop and deliver Gaelic language and cultural products and as such enjoy increased opportunities for cooperative management of available economic and human resources.
Our Society has been very fortunate in the level of volunteer participation in our activities. At each one of our concerts 10-15 of our members turn out to assist with every facet of successfully delivering the event. Duties include reception; ticket sales, video and audio recording, parking, security, hospitality, and setting up. After the concerts a céilidh is usually held and the audience gets into the act by helping to transform a concert hall in a dance hall. During the Annual Féis our members are joined by dozens of community volunteers who assist us in hosting this exciting community cultural celebration.
Board Governance:
Comunn Féis an Eilein is a well established Society of 15 years standing. An annual meeting is held each May and includes the Election of Officers, presentation of our Financial Statements, and a review of the year’s activities. We actively seek new members for our board and have welcomed youth in our area as Junior Directors. We are open and responsive to suggestions and input from all who share our goals of promoting and preserving Gaelic language and culture. Many of our initiatives are developed from animated and appreciated discussions relating to innovative means to achieve our goals. We host a huge volunteer appreciation night otherwise known as The Féis Party to express our acknowledgement of the level of volunteerism provided for our activities.
At present we are working to become more efficient in the development and delivery of programming by establishing Committees Terms of Reference which set out the purpose of the committee, their objectives, plan of action, authority, reporting, time frames, resources required to complete their tasks, and evaluation of their activities. This is a linear and logical approach which will result in greater levels of satisfaction and commitment among our membership.
We are eagerly awaiting the delivery of copies of our Strategic Development Plan:
Solas aig an uinneag: A light at the Window which we are confident will assist in greater stability for our organization through the facilitation of long range planning relating to human and financial resources, increased language opportunities, and increased public awareness and support for our aims and objectives.
Goals, Activities, Assessment, and Results
Focus on the Summer Gaelic Events Program
While our Society is active throughout the year in providing Gaelic language learning opportunities for people of all ages, organizing and presenting Social events designed to celebrate culture, and working collectively with other organizations to strengthen Gaelic language and culture, the largest component of our activity remains the organization and presentation of the Summer Gaelic Events Program. This program involves sponsoring bi-weekly Gaelic Activities Camps for Youth, the Summer Music Program which offers individual lessons in piano and fiddle, and group lessons in Gaelic language and dance, the Bi-lingual Gaelic Concert Series, and the Annual 5-Day Gaelic Cultural Festival-Feis an Eilein.
The Summer Gaelic Events Program is designed to strengthen our language and culture through events that are complementary. The Youth Camps introduce children to their language and heritage and the Music Program allows youth and adults to participate in the Gaelic Arts that are the expressions of that culture. These activities also provide rare opportunities for former program participants who have chosen Gaelic language and arts as their career choice at the University level to hone their skills and to receive important employment in their field. The Gaelic concert series is designed to allow opportunities for the performance of the Gaelic Arts especially in providing a professional venue for youthful Gaelic artists to be featured in a program with more established artists and raising awareness of the social and economic benefits that can accrue from the performance of traditional Gaelic entertainment. The Annual Feis is designed to provide intimacy with Gaelic language and culture through the provision of social and educational opportunities for people of all ages, thus increasing awareness and opportunities for individuals to become more involved and interested in that culture.
Goal-to engage in fund-raising and apply to Gaelic Activities Program for Project Funding to assist in presenting the 7th Annual Gaelic Concert Series -Bu Deònach Leam Tilleadh
Activities undertaken 6 Bi-lingual Gaelic-English concerts were presented. Partnerships were formed between Gaelic artists, government agencies, local community organizations, and the private sector.
Assessment the application was accepted and provided first funding for the Gaelic Concert Series. Community members and the visiting public were presented with traditional Gaelic cultural performances by established and emerging professional artists. Results Approximately 50 traditional artists were featured, the base of Gaelic artists was enhanced; these performers received economic and professional benefits including increased visibility.
Goal-to engage in fundraising and apply through the Gaelic Activities Program for project funding to assist in the presentation of the 15th Annual Féis an Eilein
Activities undertaken- Partnerships were developed between government, community, and the private sector to present a five –day Gaelic Festival devoted to the promotion and preservation of Gaelic language and culture.
Assessment –the festival grew in numbers who attended and in the depth of learning opportunities and services provided to youth, seniors, and advanced learners.
Results Approximately 70 Gaelic Resource Personnel provided instruction and knowledge. Increased interest and knowledge of Gaelic language and culture was created, greater visibility of the annual féis, and increased community capacity in hosting large scale projects was achieved.
Goal-to present a Summer Music Program for Adults and Youth
Activities Undertaken We applied to Human Resources Development Canada to hire a student instructor. We also applied to Provincial Employment Program to hire a student instructor. We offered individual instruction in fiddle, piano, and dance to approximately 30 students.
Assessment One student was funded and was hired to provide piano instruction for 20 students. She also assisted with the bi-weekly Gaelic Activities Camp, the weekly concerts and the Annual Feis. A second student hired worked for an extended term assisting in all the above activities as well as developing and delivering the Gaelic language programming for youth.
Results students achieved greater facility in their artistic pursuits. A student’s céilidh was presented featuring the participants in the program who demonstrated the skills they learned in an evening concert devoted to celebrating their achievements.
Goal- to increase Gaelic language learning opportunities
Activities undertaken-We hosted a winter session of 100 hours in Conversational Gaelic utilizing the innovative TIP (Total Immersion Plus) methodology.
We offered 2-full days of Gaelic language instruction for advanced learners during the féis itself.
In partnership with the Highland Village we increased the amount of language instruction offered during the bi-weekly Gaelic Activities Camp for Youth in-part through utilizing the skills of their Gaelic intern, a fluent Gaelic speaker attending Sabhal Mor Ostaig-The Gaelic College on Skye.
We partnered with three other Gaelic Organizations on Cape Breton Island to offer 200 hours of TIP beginning in October of 2005.
Assessment-All these initiatives were extremely effective in increasing facility in the Gaelic language. Student instructors were provided with the opportunity to work in their field of Gaelic language teaching.
Results- TIP was attended by 20-25 students each week including 3 new students, all of whom achieved greater ability to converse in Gaelic
Advanced classes were attended by 14 adults, 30-35 Participants in the youth camps increased language ability through games, song, and other “fun” activities.
45 Gaelic learners from throughout Cape Breton participated in the second session of TIP. All students rated their fluency in the Gaelic language as greatly improved.
Goal-to work with other Gaelic organizations to promote Gaelic language and culture and to develop programs
Activities undertaken -We attended Board Meetings of the Nova Scotia Gaelic Council and assisted in designing methods and securing funding for an innovative Gaelic vocabulary project, membership campaign, and marketing initiatives.
We also partnered with the Nova Scotia Highland Village to present Eilein Nan Og-Island of Youth a Gaelic Apprenticeship Program.
We partnered with the Saint Francis Xavier University Student Celtic Society to sponsor Caidreamh na h’Òige- The Fellowship of Youth a workshop for Youth who wished to become involved in preserving Gaelic.
Assessment much work was accomplished in response to implementing The Strategy for Gaelic Development in Nova Scotia.
Results- increased membership in council, increased community awareness of living Gaelic language and culture, much interest from other minority language sectors.
Eilein Na Og 12 young Gaelic learners participated in the annual féis acting as mentors for younger children. 25 youth ages 15-25 gathered to discuss means to become more involved with Gaelic revitalization.
Goal-to record and archive present-day expressions of traditional Gaelic culture
Activities Undertaken- Audio Recordings of each concert and céilidh were produced on our state of the art stage to 8 channel editing/mixing computer system. Digital video was filmed at concerts, céilidhs, and workshops, and transferred and edited on our video-editing computer.
Assessment 40 hours of professional video and audio recordings were produced.
Results These recordings exist as a record of modern day expression of traditional performances and are suitable for reproduction to be shared with Gaelic learners and musicians and are deposited in our archival collections.
Goal-to undertake renovations to our community hall providing an enhanced concert and learning environment
Activities undertaken- Partnered with the Christmas Island Volunteer Fire Department to apply for funding through programs designed for community cultural facilities
Assessment $75,000.00 Funding was received from ECBC Sustainable Communities Fund, $18,000.00 was received from Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Result the exterior of the building has been completely up-graded including a new entrance that provided greater access especially barrier-free, Storage space for furniture, outdoor patio for increased capacity, and use by other community organizations, purchase of all new tables, seating, and dollies, and air-conditioning installed in concert, classroom, and office space.
Goal-to respond to a call for Expression of Interest in acting as hosts for a concert and workshops during the Celtic Colors Festival
Activities Festival Artists visited 150 children in our local schools and taught songs and games. A Workshop designed for young international artists who are active in the Gaelic cultural medium to explore means of increasing knowledge and skills in the Gaelic Arts was held. Participants in the afternoon workshop designed and presented the evening concert which focused on areas of common interest especially Gaelic language being incorporated into their performances.
Assessment these activities increased the level of Gaelic content in the Festival which was one of the identified goals for the event.
Result- There is now greater dialogue and understanding of issues surrounding Gaelic language and cultural transmission between younger artists from Ireland, Scotland, and Nova Scotia.
Goal- to create greater recognition and awareness of Comunn Féis an Eilein and of Nova Scotia’s Gaelic culture in general in other Gaelic speaking countries
Activities Undertaken- We hosted the Executive director of a Gaelic Dance Festival in Ireland during our féis.
We hosted Media nan Eilein a Scottish Broadcaster to produce a film centering on the 15th Anniversary of Feis an Eilein and the 25th Anniversary of Féis Bharraigh.
Assessment Closer ties were forged between Scotland, Ireland, and Nova Scotia.
Results a 30 minute film was produced. Thar Chuan Is Chaolas has been broadcast on BBC Scotland and will be shown here during Gaelic Awareness Month.
Mr. Risteard MacAodha of Connemara is Executive Director of a music festival there He attended our Feis and as a result invited one of our dance instructors who had attended our classes as a student, to travel to Ireland and participate in the dance festival. Our Society and other Gaelic based organizations assisted her in travel costs to attend.
She has just returned home with new ideas, insights and recognition of the ties that bind our cultures. Mr. MacAodha is working to organize a gathering of Youth involved in Gaelic language. Due to our activities he is now committed to including youth from Cape Breton in the conference.
Goal- to become more experienced and effective as an organization and to begin a process of Strategic Planning for our Society
Activities Undertaken-we attended a workshop devoted to exploring and establishing governance practices for organizations. We have conducted a facilitated strategic planning session which was attended by 25 participants and has attracted 4 additional written submissions. We have met on another 3 occasions to develop the ideas expressed.
Assessment the governance workshop was very valuable in organizing and assigning tasks and responsibilities for our board and has led us to a greater focus on committee work. The strategic planning process has been extremely valuable in focusing our activities and generating consensus within our organization.
Result- a 70 page document has been produced which will help our Society to articulate our current strengths and weaknesses and guide us in planning and preparing for future initiatives
Goal- to utilize the interest and strengths of area youth in our events
Activities we partnered with The Nova Scotia Highland Village Museum to provide experience in community cultural economic development to participants in the Eilein Na Og Gaelic Apprenticeship Program.
Assessment 15 area youth were introduced to presentation of cultural programming and exposed to the economic benefits that can be achieved through the presentation of cultural programming.
Results These area youth gained a deeper understanding of their language and culture and have become more involved in planning and delivery of Gaelic language learning opportunities for youth.
Goal- To Achieve Greater Financial Stability
Activities apply to Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Operating Assistance to Community Cultural Organizations.
Assessment At present due to uncertain finances we are somewhat limited in our ability to develop new initiatives and to build on the success of our past endeavors.
Each year much time is spent trying to obtain funding to operate in the coming year. In achieving financial stability this time and effort would be then spent on development and programming. Stable funding would also encourage support from other government agencies and departments and would have a multiplier effect on our fund-raising activities.
Results the application has been completed and we are awaiting a response
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