The Visitor Studies Group

Two Voices, One Message:
Including Gaelic in Interpretation

VSG Seminar
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
11th April 2008

In 2005 the Scottish Government passed the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act, with a view to securing the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to English. This was followed by the National Plan for Gaelic 2007 - 2012, a strategic plan to take forward the promotion of Gaelic in Scotland. These recent developments will have a big impact on museums, galleries and other cultural and natural heritage organisations in Scotland, and the interpretation they provide in their exhibitions, visitor centres etc.

This seminar will investigate some of the challenges and opportunities involved in bi-lingual interpretation, as well as the legislation framework involved through the National Plan for Gaelic. With new requirements to include Gaelic in exhibition interpretation, many organisations will need to carry out consultation and evaluation. The seminar will focus on this through case studies sharing best practice, and including solutions to carrying out consultation and evaluation with limited resources.

Who is it for?

The seminar is aimed at museum, gallery and other cultural and natural heritage professionals, audience researchers, students, and all those with an interest in bi-lingual interpretation and the impact of the new Gaelic legislations. This is particularly relevant to people working in the Highlands, but as there is a national strategy in place it is also relevant to everyone working in Scotland, as well as anyone interested in the challenges involved in including multiple languages in interpretation.

Provisional Programme

• 10.30 Registration & welcome
• 11.00 Dr R M Spearman, Director, CMC Associates
• 11.30 John Phillips, Senior Ranger Ross, Cromarty, Skye & Lochalsh, The Highland Council Countryside Rangers
• 12.00 Katey Boal, Assistant Curator Learning & Access, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
• 12.30 Lunch break & time to explore the venue
• 13.15 Clelland McCallum, Great Glen Way Ranger, The Highland Council
• 13.45 Jenni Fuchs, Visitor Studies Officer, National Museums Scotland
• 14.15 Peadar Morgan, Language Planning Manager, Bòrd na Gàidhlig - followed by round table discussion with all delegates
• 15.15 Time for questions & closing remarks
• 15.30 Event ends

Material will be presented in English

Downloads of presentations from this event are available to fully subscribed VSG members in the members resources section of this site.