Free Buain Gaelic Arts Gathering returns to Skye for two days

The Buain Gaelic Arts Gathering will return to the Isle of Skye on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September, bringing its first two-day programme to Kilmuir Hall. Attendance is free, but registration through the Creative Scotland website is required.

Now in its fourth year, the Gaelic-led gathering is aimed at Gaelic arts practitioners, producers and organisations, while parts of the programme will also welcome the local community. Film, music, guided discussion and shared meals will frame conversations about Gaelic cultural work and the relationships that sustain it.

Film and music open a wider conversation

One of the central screenings will be Sailm nan Daoine by Skye filmmaker Rob MacNeacail. The film explores Gaelic psalm singing through community, family and the effort involved in keeping a language alive. Local residents are invited to attend the screening, which will be followed by participatory psalm singing.

Composer and performer Pàdruig Morrison will discuss how his upbringing and inherited knowledge of Gaelic traditions have influenced his music. His contribution will also consider the background to Buin, his debut album released in 2026.

The programme is designed around both scheduled sessions and informal exchanges between participants. Creative Scotland’s Karen Dick said the conversations taking place over coffee, during walks and around the table are central to the gathering’s role in connecting Gaelic artists and practitioners.

Discussions span theatre, literature and youth arts

Facilitated sessions will examine several parts of contemporary Gaelic cultural life. Brian Ó h-Eadhra will lead a discussion about support for ceilidh culture, while Flòraidh Forrest will consider how areas of linguistic significance affect Gaelic arts.

Other conversations will focus on theatre with Sean MacLeòid, Gaelic literature with Anna Mhàrtainn, and youth arts with Sophie Stephenson and Eòin Cumming of Fèis Rois. The organisation will describe how its music, creativity and conversation programmes provide opportunities for people to use Gaelic, including activity supported through the Youth Music Initiative.

The local programme also includes a guided heritage walk led by Anna Mhàrtainn. She will share stories connected with the surrounding area before the gathering closes with a community dinner and ceilidh.

Registration and bursary support

Buain is free to attend, with advance registration required through Creative Scotland. The published information does not specify daily start or finish times, and no accessibility arrangements are listed, so prospective attendees should review the registration information before planning their visit.

Fifteen bursaries worth up to £350 each remain available for Gaelic arts workers. They are intended particularly for freelancers, self-employed practitioners and people who need help with travel, accommodation or care costs.

Bursary applicants must have Gaelic fluency at B1 level or above under the Comasan Labhairt ann an Gàidhlig framework. Application details are provided on the event registration page.

Creative Scotland says public transport and shared travel will be used where possible to reduce the event’s carbon emissions, alongside locally sourced food and catering. Attendees arranging their journey to Kilmuir are encouraged to consider public or shared transport.

Source: Creative Scotland News