Highland Folk Museum takes the lead in EU virtual visit as part of EU’s Erasmus+ Programme
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The Highland Folk Museum has welcomed a group of visitors from Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Liechtenstein to learn more about the visitor attraction.
The virtual event formed part of the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme called Our Way Heritage Lives, where rural heritage partners share good practice in adult learning with colleagues in Europe.
The visit saw the High Life Highland (HLH) museum joined by representatives from the Auchindrain Township, the Sheiling Project and Earth Building UK and Ireland for a three-day event.
HLH curator Liz English said: “Our original plan was for this to be an in-person event but due to Covid we had to make it virtual.
"Thankfully we were able to create pre-recorded and live material from the Auchindrain Township, the NTS Glencoe Creel House, The Sheiling Project and the Highland Folk Museum to show our heritage partners in Europe.
“As well as discussions with our Scottish partners on site and virtually with our European neighbours, it was a great opportunity to discuss key issues for our sector, sharing expertise on delivering training in traditional skills as well as engaging local communities.
“Folk museum staff offered a range of experiences, from exploring an abandoned township in Glen Banchor to paddling a coracle on our sawmill pond.”
Ambitions were high as all partners co-wrote a Waulking song – traditionally sung in Gaelic by women fulling cloth – and performed live across Northern Europe, as part of a demonstration by Badenoch Waulking Group.
Waulking was brought to the world’s attention when it featured in the hit TV series Outlander, with the scene filmed at the Highland Folk Museum.
HLH curatorial manager Lorna Cruickshank commented: “The Highland Folk Museum is well placed to host this wonderful opportunity to share Scottish rural heritage to partners across Europe.
“I understand that there has been tremendous feedback with partners keen to set up real life visits as soon as conditions permit.”
The Highland Folk Museum, just off the A86 in Newtonmore, is open every day, until October 31 between 10.30am and 4pm.
