An award-winning Gaelic music and language group is “praying for a philanthropist” to help fund its multi-million pound new home – amid fears it could “dwindle on the vine” without backing.
South Uist-based community body Ceolas is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Having begun in 1996 as a piping and fiddle class for about 50 people, it has grown to become one of Scotland’s leading Gaelic culture, heritage and arts organisations.
The group is now seeking to safeguard its future for decades and generations to come, but has become frustrated in its efforts to move to a purpose-built facility along the road from its small offices in Daliburgh, near Lochboisdale.
Mary Schmöller, development and office manager at Ceolas, said it had a “huge vision and plans” for a plot of land owned by the Church of Scotland.
Speaking to the Press and Journal in her office, she said: “We’re growing and we want to grow more.
“We need jobs in this island. We need to bring our own young people back so that we have a thriving, vibrant community here. Because it’s really getting scary on the islands.
“But there’s limited space to grow – 110, 120 is the max because there’s not enough space and there’s not enough accommodation. So we are at our peak.”
Ceolas hopes to share the new building with music students from the Benbecula campus of Lews Castle College, of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
The group has appointed an officer to drive forward the plans, and has bid for £1million of Lottery funding to develop a £9million scheme, but have been told to go back to the drawing board and revise the plans.
“We would hope to generate lottery and other funding. We’re at the process, we’ve had a scoping exercise done, for a £9million building in July, which we’re putting into the lottery, but basically they’ve said it was too expensive,” said Ms Schmöller.
“They haven’t shut us out completely –they’ve said go away and sort it.”
She added: “What we really need, absolutely need, is a patron.
“Somebody with Uist connections, who loves Gaelic and the music, and would help bring in money. We need a philanthropist.
“We’re hopeful that the ordinary processes of getting capital funds will happen.
“We’re praying for a philanthropist, but if that one doesn’t appear, we will continue in South Uist to provide the summer school, but on the longer term, without a new building, there’s no other scope for growth.
“We’re sort of stuck. Without the backing, it won’t grow, that’s it, and it will dwindle on the vine.
“That’s why it’s so important. We’re looking at it for the next generation, so they can take it on.”