HebCelt and Lewis Wind Power are to expand their support for Gaelic culture and youth activities around Stornoway next week thanks to a major new funding boost.
The Culture & Business Scotland Fund, which connects business and culture, has made an investment equal to 50% of Lewis Wind Power’s sponsorship of key festival outreach work.
It means more funding is available for Lewis Wind Power to sponsor community engagement projects including the likes of Gaelic-led morning workshop series An Debrief le Choirstaidh based at the town’s An Taigh Cèilidh.
The free fringe event uses storytelling, craft, Gaelic singalongs, a zine wall, and more to broaden access to Gaelic arts and culture.
Lewis Wind Power is a long-standing supporter of HebCelt Festival, having provided sponsorship for the event for 10 years.
The new announcement builds on Lewis Wind Power’s multi-year sponsorship deal with HebCelt that already includes naming rights for the popular Lewis Wind Power Islands Stage, a key showcase for emerging and local talent, as well as visibility across festival branding, print materials, the well-recognised reusable HebCelt drinking cups, digital platforms, and community events.
Lewis Wind Power, a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB, is the developer behind the Stornoway Wind Farm project which has consent in place for 33 turbines on land to the west of Stornoway, owned by The Stornoway Trust.
Welcoming the news, Chair of the HebCelt Festival Board Iain Macphail said: “Lewis Wind Power’s incredible and long-standing support for HebCelt already plays a vital role in showcasing local talent and creating cultural opportunities.
“Thanks now to the generous support of the Culture & Business Scotland Fund, we are able to expand that benefit into the heart of our community, unlocking new ways for young people, families, and Gaelic speakers to engage with culture creatively.”
Logan Black of Lewis Wind Power added: “HebCelt is an iconic cultural event and Lewis Wind Power is proud to have supported it for over ten years. As well as adding to the cultural and social vibrancy of the island, the festival is pioneering in its delivery of initiatives that connect deeply within the community.
“From Gaelic storytelling to grassroots creativity, this partnership reflects our long-term commitment to the islands and their cultural and sustainable future. We are hugely grateful for the support from the Culture and Business Scotland Fund that will allow Lewis Wind Power to extend that reach and profile even further, building on this exceptional relationship.”
David Nelson, Interim Director at Culture & Business Scotland, said: “We're very pleased to support Lewis Wind Power's sponsorship of HebCelt Festival’s cultural activity, with a strong focus on community engagement.
“Through the C&BS Fund investment, HebCelt can provide greater access to Gaelic arts and culture, as well as enhance the impact of their sponsorship with LWP.”
