“The rich culture and heritage of Argyll is created through a diverse mix of islands and the uniqueness of each community that inhabits them. Our creative output speaks to the individualism of each island. CHARTS islands development project Ràmh aims to bring Argyll’s islands to the forefront, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Ràmh /Raːv/ named after the Gaelic word for 'oar', will support island practitioners and organisations to undertake new projects, promote existing successes and protect the remarkable heritage which underpins our work.
Air an aon ràmh - on the same oar - working together.”
To support island development, CHARTS has employed an Island Culture Officer. Caitlin McNeill has taken up this role and will work alongside other dedicated and complementary island staff to maximise engagement across demographics within island communities. This will include working with Screen Argyll/Steering Group member Jen Skinner to support development. The core aims of this project are:
Ask island communities in Argyll more about their ambitions - who they are, what they need and what they want to achieve.
Connect individuals and organisations through CHARTS’ extensive network of partner organisations and funders.
Create links where helpful between islands to assist to support a self-sustaining, resilient community of culture, heritage, and arts practitioners.
Bring the incredible work of islanders to a wider audience, considering how we can sensitively help improve local economies and the year-round socio-economic outcomes for island communities.
CHARTS will support island practitioners and organisations to undertake new projects as appropriate and promote existing success, aiming to assist in protecting the remarkable heritage which underpins their work.
In the first half of Ràmh, CHARTS staff will consult with island residents across Argyll to understand how best to support current and future cultural activity. In this way we aim that development will be informed by island residents themselves. This will involve in-person visits and surveys and combine consultation with knowledge exchange opportunities where possible.
Ràmh will engage island groups and practitioners, guided by the consultation exercise, to:
Increase awareness of CHARTS work and the support that network approach can offer.
Create new relationships and micro-networks across communities with shared interests
Bolster existing organisations and run events.
Increase opportunities for young people under thirty years of age, to gain experience and insight into the arts and heritage sector in collaboration with CHARTS Under 30s.
Work with islanders to pinpoint gaps in their island’s cultural offer and cooperatively develop strategies for improving socioeconomic outcomes.
