Changing Times in Lochaber

HELEN SEMPLE and ALI MACDONALD report on their combined efforts in Lochaber.

LOCHABER IS a diverse area roughly divided into four main areas; Fort William and surrounding area including north Lochaber: south Lochaber including Kinlochleven; Ardnamurchan; and Mallaig and surrounding area.

Our priorities within the Lochaber area focus on the development of arts opportunities for all young people and supporting community arts groups to progress, apply for funding and consolidate their work. An example of this community group support is the ‘Art Exchange’, a programme of local artists working in pre-school centres and elderly day centres using a variety of art forms.

Arts Development in Lochaber has changed over the past few years. By applying for external funding the arts officers have been able to expand the opportunities for the arts in the area. These funding streams create a structure of project based work where the arts officer acts as project manager and co-ordinator for these.

Currently the main projects in Lochaber are ‘Lochaber Bodymoves’, a dance based creative physical programme throughout the area, and ‘New Dynamics’, a new media artist residency programme including the purchasing of state of the art video editing equipment.
 
These Projects are further enhanced by the work of the Lochaber Schools Cultural Co-ordinator who manages environmental arts programmes and health related projects within schools as part of the Area Children’s Service Forum. The use of locally based arts workers is vital and we provide training when appropriate for young visual artists, musicians, drama workers, and dance artists through our projects.

An exciting priority at present is the imminent Year of Highland Culture in 2007.

In addition, a real priority of the Arts Officer’s work in Lochaber is the holiday activity programmes for children and young people. The Summer Activities 2005 included playscheme activity weeks and a project titled ‘Circus in a Week’.

Both were created to extend the opportunity that young people have in engaging with arts activities. The arts officers were working closely with social services to be able to provide places on these activities for referrals from schools and families in need of extra support and respite.

A funding stream from the Northern Periphery Project has enabled a large music project within Lochaber. The Arts Officers are currently supporting this initiative that links music organisations in Lochaber with some in northern Norway and Sweden.

This initiative is driving forward many of the issues affecting the arts organisations within the area. These include the need for a community arts space for rehearsals, studios, small concerts and recitals, and developing the concept of social enterprise within arts organisations.
 
An exciting priority at present is the imminent Year of Highland Culture in 2007. We are working with individuals and arts groups from a range of disciplines to develop projects specifically for this year. Proposed projects include a network of ‘Treehouse Artist Studios’ in Glen Nevis led by London Fieldworks, a large scale music production working with nearly all Lochaber music and arts based groups, an Environmental Festival in Glen Nevis, and many other community projects and events.

Working the arts development position with the Highland Council as a job-share is a real bonus for the Lochaber community. We work together on many projects and separately on others. By sharing this post we can really work as an arts team and share ideas and resources.

Helen Semple and Ali MacDonald share the post of Arts Development Officer in Lochaber.

© Helen Semple and Ali MacDonald, 2005