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New Gaelic Drama Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig



Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, has appointed a new Gaelic Drama Artist in Residence who, himself, was once a student there.
Arthur Donald was brought up on Tiree and has been acting professionally for over 20 years.

He has performed on radio, stage, television and film and is perhaps best known for his regular appearances as Coinneach on the Gaelic soap Machair for over 8 years.  Arthur was an outreach drama worker and trainee director for TOSG, the Gaelic theatre company. More recently he was the Artistic Director of the Gaelic Summer School run by Feisean nan Gaidheal and also runs a Gaelic youth theatre in Glasgow.

Kath MacLeod, Arts Development Officer says:

‘ Arthur’s appointment is a first for us here at Sabhal Mòr. He will be working with students and staff on the campus as well as the local community, and linking with schools in the Gaidhealtachd/ Glasgow/Edinburgh, and the RSAMD.  There is huge potential to work alongside the other residencies here at Sabhal Mòr and in such a vibrant, dynamic centre for Gaelic language and the arts, and the aim of the residency is also to give Arthur the opportunity to develop his own professional practice, which can only enhance the status of Gaelic drama in Scotland.  With the recent appointment of a Gaelic Associate Artist at the National Theatre of Scotland, and the work being done by other organisations such as Eden Court, Fèisean na Gàidheal, MG Alba, Commun na Drama and Local Gaelic Drama groups, it is indeed an exciting time for Gaelic drama development.’

Sabhal Mòr has also just been awarded £25,000 through GLAIF (Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund) for Gaelic Drama development.  This will allow the development of a  postgraduate course for actors/drama practitioners, equipping them with the necessary qualifications to teach Gaelic drama in schools and within the communities;  6 master-classes for schools: three based in the Gaidhealtachd and three in Glasgow /Edinburgh; and two annual workshops, one at SMO and one at the RSAMD.

Professor Maggie Kinloch, Vice Principal of RSAMD added,

” RSAMD, soon to be the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is genuinely delighted to be in this dynamic relationship with Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Together we are committed to a series of strategic developments which provide leadership in the development of the  Gaelic language through drama and song.  The joint appointment of Arthur Donald as Drama Artist in Residence is a major step in ensuring we have the kind of capacity and skills needed to take our work to the next stage of its growth.  This is a key moment in the contemporary life of the Gaelic language and we are proud to be part of it.”

The residency, alongside the Visual Artist, Writer and Musician in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, is funded by Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures Programme.

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