Outer Hebrides Community Cultural Event 30 November – 1 December 2007 Pathfinder Programme An overview of progress to date and lessons emerging Bob King Cultural Pathfinder Programme Manager

The Pathfinders: Cultural Champions Outer Hebrides project one of 13 Pathfinder projects across Scotland Programme focuses on community engagement at a “grass roots” level – a common thread which runs through all 13 projects Programme supports Scottish Government strategic objective of “Stronger and Safer” and underpins Government manifesto commitment to (among other things) ensuring that access to, and participation in, cultural activities is as wide as possible.

The Pathfinders: Some common themes Interaction with all citizens (Outer Hebrides, Fife, Edinburgh) Disadvantaged older people (Scottish Adult Learning Partnership, Aberdeen/shire, Glasgow) Vulnerable/minority groups (Edinburgh, Dundee) Rural areas (Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Outer Hebrides, Perth & Kinross) Children and vulnerable families (Highland, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire)

The Pathfinders: Lessons emerging – in general Most lessons have positively thrown up some “good news stories” – while some challenges are also being addressed New models being used by Pathfinder hosts to inform future policy development and delivery having desired effect of engaging local communities, particularly marginalised groups Engaging Community Planning Partnerships

The Pathfinders: Lessons emerging – (1) Outer Hebrides community engagement thus far has –highlighted opportunities to develop current provision in relation to facilities, promotion of cultural activities and education in the richness of local culture and traditions –clearly demonstrated a profound local belief in the importance of maintaining a strong cultural heritage Gaelic language and traditions a real sense of community the conservation of the environment and archaeological history of the islands.

The Pathfinders: Lessons emerging – (2) Glasgow project to date has revealed evidence of small-scale participatory arts activity for older people taking place across city where provision is fragmented opportunities are being addressed to build upon quality, scope, aspiration and outcome project has been welcomed with enthusiasm by participants momentum is beginning to grow towards a more vibrant dialogue between older people and the arts in Glasgow.

The Pathfinders: Lessons emerging – (3) Dundee project has targeted particularly hard to reach, socially-excluded groups in the west and north west of the city has helped to identify what culture means to the people living in these areas has also helped to identify the barriers that prevent people from participating in cultural activities, such as transport and venue admission costs, health and family commitments, etc most valuable lesson to come out of the project to date is clear evidence of people in the target areas enthusiastically embracing a world of culture in which, in their eyes, participation has not hitherto been encouraged due to issues of exclusion.

The Pathfinders: Lessons emerging – (4) Fife scope of the project has grown significantly since the initial evaluation plan was produced anticipate that increased levels of activity by the local authority in local community engagement will ensure creative approaches to local democratic decision-making and Community Planning should lead to meaningful participation of citizens and professionals working together both to inform and make decisions about the final shape and scope of Fife’s first-ever Cultural Strategy, securely anchored in Fife’s Community Planning and review processes.

The Pathfinders: The way forward build on links with Community Planning Partnerships – explore cultural delivery at strategic level evidence from interim and final evaluation reports will be shared widely, in a range of ways – key documents and reports will be held on Scottish Government website; there will be a final commissioned evaluation report; and a conference central government in ongoing discussion with CoSLA and other key stakeholders about best ways to widen cultural access

The Pathfinders: The way forward (contd.) body to be set up with CoSLA and cultural bodies (and linking in CPP interests) to comment on feedback from Pathfinder projects, to help disseminate and apply learning and good practice, and to oversee development of quality assurance framework for local cultural provision developments in Scotland to widen access to quality provision being watched by administrations across the UK and beyond – eg the Antipodeans are asking about the quality assurance work with libraries Pathfinders are in the vanguard: what they discover and achieve will show us (all) the way forward – and we all are watching!