Category: Built and Cultural Heritage

, by Guest Blogger

Meet our Suilven Artist in Residence!

Hello CALL blog readers, I’m Alex Mackay and I’m this year’s Suilven Artist In Residence. I’m spending time throughout the year in the surrounding areas of Suilven creating a new sound work, but before I talk about that allow me to introduce what I do and what drew me to undertake this work. Broadly speaking, I’m a musician. My work takes varying forms; I play in bands, I collaborate with other artists working in different artforms, and I make music as a solo artist. My work for this residency falls into the solo category of my output; my solo work often consists of music made on conventional instruments (both acoustic and electronic), but also involves working with sound gathered from sources outside of traditional music making. Field recording – i.e. recording the sounds of a particular place/space – is a central part of this, and through this I aim to incorporate the sonic qualities of a place into the fabric of the music to create new perspectives on both the musical material and the place the sounds came from. The…

, by Laura Traynor

Oral History Researcher required for Music & Tales project

Oral History Researcher The Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (CALLP) Scheme comprises fourteen organisations working together to deliver twenty-eight projects over a five-year period, with principle funding secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are looking for a self-employed contractor to complete the following work in contract with The Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Scheme’s lead partner. The Soil Beneath Our Feet: Music and Tales of Coigach & Assynt This project, led by Coigach Community Development Company, aims to explore more intangible elements of the interaction between people and place. Music and song has always played a central role in the lives of the people of Coigach and Assynt and this project will bring together these strands to both protect and preserve this cultural heritage. The Gaelic heritage of the area is recognised as a particularly important element to be explored. Oral History of Music & Tales in Coigach & Assynt (£6,500) We are looking to contract an experienced Oral History researcher to record the remembered history and stories associated with the music and song of the area. Using…

, by Laura Traynor

CALL for artists 2019!

Invitation for application for a Suilven Artist Residency The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership CALLP, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, in association with the Assynt Foundation, is issuing this open invitation for expressions of interest to apply for an Art Residency to focus on Suilven, a mountain of distinctive shape and character, and one that is ranked among the most iconic in Scotland. Suilven dominates much of Assynt Foundation’s 44,000 acres of community owned land. Major work has been funded by CALLP to improve and conserve the footpath providing access to the summit of Suilven. The recent and previous human interventions raise many questions and issues of significance for artistic exploration, and creative expression across a broad spectrum of perspectives and disciplines. But there is more to Suilven than the footpath and human interventions, and we are open to proposals that address whatever artists wish to express by whatever form of creative endeavour. Download the artist brief from the link below to find out more about the project and how to apply. The deadline for receipt of applications…

, by Laura Traynor

Have your say on the Clachtoll Broch viewing platform

Historic Assynt have submitted their planning application for the viewing platform at Clachtoll Broch to the Highland Council. Take a look at the plans and submit any comments to the council at the link below. The viewing platform is part of the Clachtoll Broch project, which is funded with thanks to players of the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, SSE Sustainable Development Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, and The Highland Council through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. More information about the Clachtoll Broch Project can be found at http://clachtoll.aocarchaeology.com/ View planning application (you will be redirected to Highland Council Planning Portal)

, by Laura Traynor

CALL for artists!

Invitation for application for an artist residency linked to the Clachtoll Broch project. The Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (CALLP), in association with the Assynt Foundation, is issuing this open invitation for expressions of interest to apply for an Art Residency to focus on the current archaeological excavation, consolidation and interpretation of the Clachtoll Broch. The opening up of the broch to professional archaeologists, engaged volunteers and the wider community raises many questions and issues of significance for artistic exploration and creative expression across a broad spectrum of perspectives and disciplines. This residency opportunity is open to all forms of creative endeavour and is made possible thanks to players of the National Lottery through funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Introduction The major task of removing the rubble from the collapse of the Broch circa 2,000 years ago and subsequent excavation, was undertaken in 2017 as part of the Clachtoll Broch Project, and further exploration and excavation work will occur this summer (from July).  A significant range of finds have been removed from the Broch and are now subject…

, by Guest Blogger

The Soil Beneath Our Feet

Guest blog by Joseph Peach, local musician and Project Manager for the Music & Tales project A living landscape is more than just scenery; it is the interaction between people and place. Stories, music and song reflect these interactions, helping us better understand where we have come from and where we might go. Coigach and Assynt have a wonderfully rich cultural heritage: A gàidhlig speaking area until recently, there were strong traditions of music and song, and a rich oral history. Indeed it produces more than it’s fair share of musicians who are reaching national and international acclaim. The ever-changing modern world poses a threat to oral traditions on a global scale. Simply, the practice of sharing information in this way no longer happens in a way that it once did. The project aims to capture, some of the area’s music, song and tales, while they still live amongst an ageing generation. To celebrate and promote them, and preserve them for future generations. It will create employment opportunities for musicians from the area, professional development and mentorship opportunities for our…

, by Boyd Alexander

Achlochan Coastal Heritage Project Update

  The Achlochan Peninsula in Achiltibuie has seen lots of activity over the past two months, with more to come. In late October a week long archaeological survey took place. The main focus was the ruined broch on the south-east of the peninsula, but the entire peninsula was considered and surveyed with many interesting new sites identified – the full report will be available by the end of this year. The survey work provided an opportunity for local residents to get involved and learn first-hand how professional archaeologists record and assess a site, whilst also hosting visits from 30 Achiltibuie and Lochinver Primary School pupils and 32 Ullapool High School pupils during the week. Work is now almost complete on a new track from the Piping School Café to the shore (for restricted vehicle access) and then on to the Firing Range Target (footpath only). This was undertaken by Scottish Water, and although part of the initial CALL project proposal, has been completed free of charge, providing much improved access to the peninsula and linking in with repair works to…

, by Boyd Alexander

Acheninver Hostel opens with Hearth Blessing

Lucy Graham, Head of Development. Susan Davies, Director of Conservation and Mark Foxwell, Senior Conservation Manager of Scottish Wildlife Trust join new tenants Ruth Bradley and Iain Simpson in ‘blessing of the hearth’, as the Acheninver Youth Hostel re-opens for business!

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