GAELIC culture and youth activities around Stornoway have scored a funding boost.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt) is expanding its support for Gaelic culture alongside Lewis Wind Power.
The Culture & Business Scotland Fund, which connects business and culture and is backed by the Scottish Government, has made an investment equal to 50% of Lewis Wind Power’s sponsorship of key festival outreach work.#
This increase in funding means Lewis Wind Power is now able to sponsor community engagement projects such as the morning workshop series An Debrief le Choirstaidh based at the town’s An Taigh Cèilidh.
The festival aims to broaden access to Gaelic culture and arts with attractions such as Gaelic storytelling, a zine wall crafts and singalongs.
The chair of the HebCelt board, Iain MacPhail, said: “Lewis Wind Power’s incredible and long-standing support for HebCelt already plays a vital role in showcasing local talent and creating cultural opportunities.
“Thanks now to the generous support of the Culture and Business Scotland Fund, we are able to expand that benefit into the heart of our community, unlocking new ways for young people, families and Gaelic speakers to engage with culture creatively.”
Lewis Wind Power is a long-standing supporter of HebCelt Festival, having provided sponsorship for the event for 10 years.
HebCelt was first held in 1996 and attracted an audience of 1,000 people, mainly comprised of locals.
Lewis Wind Power, a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB, is the developer behind the Stornoway Wind Farm project which has consent in place for 33 turbines on land to the west of Stornoway, owned by The Stornoway Trust.
Logan Black of Lewis Wind Power said: “HebCelt is an iconic cultural event and Lewis Wind Power is proud to have supported it for over 10 years.
“As well as adding to the cultural and social vibrancy of the island, the festival is pioneering in its delivery of initiatives that connect deeply within the community.
“From Gaelic storytelling to grassroots creativity, this partnership reflects our long-term commitment to the islands and their cultural and sustainable future.
“We are hugely grateful for the support from the Culture and Business Scotland Fund that will allow Lewis Wind Power to extend that reach and profile even further, building on this exceptional relationship.”
Since the launch of the festival it has become one of the most renowned festivals in Scotland and the lineup for 2025 includes Lauren Collier, Ruairidh Gray, Trail West, The Tumbling Souls, Samba Sene & Diwan, Malin Lewis Trio, NATI, Madison Violet, Lusa, Tide Lines, Eddi Reader, Josie Duncan, Elias Alexander, El Sartel, Cala, Beluga Lagoon and Donnie 'Dòtaman' MacLeod.
David Nelson, interim director at Culture and Business Scotland, said: “We're very pleased to support Lewis Wind Power's sponsorship of HebCelt festival’s cultural activity, with a strong focus on community engagement.”
“Through the Culture and Business Scotland Fund investment, HebCelt can provide greater access to Gaelic arts and culture, as well as enhance the impact of their sponsorship with LWP.”
HebCelt 2025 takes place from July 16 to 19 in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, spanning four full days of music, workshops and community celebration.
For more information visit: www.hebceltfest.com
