Feis Rois digital innovation during coronavirus crisis lands Dingwall-based arts and culture group accolade at Highland Business Women Awards
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Traditional arts organisation Fèis Rois was a winner at the Highland Business Women Awards thanks to its use of digital technology to overcome the challenge of the Covid-19 crisis.
The Dingwall-based group was awarded the digital innovation trophy, which was introduced in recognition of the way north organisations had used the internet to continue to trade and operate despite Covid restrictions.
In Fèis Rois’s case, this saw it move its tutorial lessons and planned May festival online, with viewers logging in from 50 countries.
Journalist Nicky Mar, who hosted the online event, said: “The judges highlighted the impressive use of many digital platforms which allowed Fèis Rois to engage with people around the world and enabled them to do a complete pivot from face-to-face to online.”
Fèis Rois chief executive Fiona Dalgetty was only able to say a brief thank you over the live link, but later said on Twiter: “So proud of the team Fèis Rois. This award is for the 200-plus musicians, the freelance film makers, sound engineers, editors, marketing professionals, audiences and participants – thank you all.”
Mental health charity Mikeysline was named both best third sector organisation and winner of the business resilience award.
Former Dingwall Academy pupil, photographer Alison Gilbert won the excellence in community engagement award and Joanna Mackenzie from Bettyhill was named woman of inspiration and also most enterprising business winner for her joint businesses The Store Café and Clean Bees.
The new business award went to Grazy Days founder Jenny Whyte from Inverness, Meallmore Lodge Care Home at Daviot was named team of the year, and the Highland businesswoman of the year title went to Strath Comms founder Jennifer Macdonald-Nethercott.
