Fèisean nan Gàidheal

The National Association of Gaelic Arts Youth Tuition Festivals

Fèisean nan Gàidheal was established in 1988 as the independent umbrella association of the Fèis movement. The organisation offers grant-aid, training programmes, insurance, instrument-bank administration, published resources and many other services to its member Fèisean. This includes a regular newsletter entitled Faileas.

In addition to the Fèisean themselves, nearly 1,500 follow-on classes were supported by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in 2004-5. The total number of young people participating in Fèis activities over the year totalled 4,887.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal continues to support the Meanbh-chuileag Theatre Company, which tours schools with plays focussing on Gaelic culture and history. In addition, we deliver a programme of traditional music tuition in all Highland Council schools as part of the Youth Music Initiative. In 2004-5, 3,515 children saw a Meanbh-chuileag production, and 4,666 took part on the schools tuition, bringing the total number of children involved in Fèisean nan Gàidheal-supported activities to over 13,000.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal's staff has increased significantly in the past few years. The organisation currently employs 12 members of staff; a full-time director, development manager, finance officer and development officer; a part-time training officer; a part-time administrator; a full-time development worker for the Lochaber fèisean; two part-time support workers for area fèisean; two full-time project officers for Meanbh-chuileag, and a part-time collator for the Disclosure process. Fèisean currently provide employment for the equivalent of 11.8 full-time tutor posts, and new funding has enabled organisers to employ part-time administrators to support volunteer activity.