Gairloch Museum renews Sabhal Mor Ostaig ‘understanding’ over treasure trove assets
CULTURAL collaboration between two highly acclaimed Highland institutions will help ensure “treasure trove” collections reach the audience they deserve.
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, welcomed a delegation from Gairloch Museum and renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
It aims to promote cultural collaboration and advance research and engagement around Gaelic language and culture.
RELATED
‘Ugly duckling nuclear bunker turned swan’
Gairloch Museum welcomes new cafe time and bids fond farewell
How Gaelic’s unlikely protector turned back on Tooting
Taking the plunge into Gaelic with a little help from Duolingo
The two have collaborated since 2014. During that time, reciprocal visits were organised, and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig reviewed Gairloch Museum’s Gaelic collections.
In 2015, the two organisations signed an initial MoU to strengthen study of the museum’s resources, recognising that the collections, including the papers of Kay Matheson and Roy Wentworth, “are treasure troves which merit the widest possible engagement and exposure”.
The renewed MoU sets out future projects and activity enabling students and staff to engage directly with these collections, enabling greater access, appreciation and study.
The agreement reflects a shared acknowledgement of the value of placing museum stewardship and interpretation of language materials in dialogue with academic research and teaching in Gaelic.
Dr Gillian Rothach, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig principal, said: “We greatly value our partnership with Gairloch Museum, and the renewal of our MoU opens up exciting opportunities for both our students and staff.
“The museum’s rich Gaelic collection is not only an outstanding resource for research, but also a gateway for anyone interested in exploring Gaelic history. We look forward to the research, exhibitions, and new ideas that will emerge from our continued collaboration with Gairloch Museum.”
Corinna Annetts, curator at Gairloch Museum said: “We highly value the prospect of cooperation between Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and our museum. This is a significant partnership which enables new research and wider sharing of our Gaelic collections.
“We welcome the opportunity to share the Gaelic dialect and culture of our area with a wider community of Gaelic learners and researchers of international reputation and see what new narratives, perspectives and connections will emerge. We look forward to strengthening collaboration through scholarship, knowledge exchange and exhibitions.”
Areas of shared interest range from research into the life and legacies of some of the distinguished Gaels associated with the historic Gairloch Parish, including Am Pìobaire Dall, to the heritage of traditional building skills and associated Gaelic terminology used within the parish. These projects are set to act as a creative catalyst, raising the profile of Gaelic in a region of vital cultural significance.