A NEW centre to promote the Gaelic language and culture in Inverness has secured funding from the Scottish Government.
The centre, Cultarlann Inbhir Nis, will receive £370,000 in funding from the government to develop a space for Gaelic gatherings, ceilidhs, and exhibitions in the heart of the city.
Funding will go towards creating a space with meeting rooms for language courses, a café, and a shop, and is part of a £4 million package to promote Gaelic initiatives across Scotland.
The Cultarlann is based in what was the East Church building in the city centre.
It will be the first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands and is also intended to be a tourist attraction where visitors can meet Gaelic-speaking staff and learn more about the language and its history.
Census figures published earlier this year show there is a growing demand for a dedicated space for the language in Inverness as there was a 12% increase in the number of people with some form of Gaelic skills in the city compared to 2011.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Gaelic, Kate Forbes, said the language goes “hand-in-hand" with attracting visitors to Scotland and helping grow the economy.
She said: “To strengthen Gaelic, we are supporting projects like Cultarlann which will enable more people to use the language in their day-to-day life.
“Gaelic is a unique selling point for Scotland, which is why promoting the language goes hand-in-hand with attracting visitors and growing the economy.
“The Scottish Government is also supporting the language’s continued growth in the Highlands by working collaboratively to progress the Scottish Languages Bill.
“The Bill will create a system to enable all parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare services and introduce measures to strengthen Gaelic education in secondary school.”
Margaret Mulholland, chair of Cultarlann, Inbhir Nis, said the funding is “wonderful” and will help grow the language in the city.
“We are hugely grateful for this fantastic funding offer. It will enable our plans for a Gaelic Cultural Centre to take a major step forward,” she said.
Mulholland added: “This is a wonderful, iconic building and this funding will enable us to ensure it is properly watertight and to deal with all external essential repairs.
“We are delighted to welcome Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to the Cultarlann. Kate is a great enthusiast for Gaelic and she can see the exciting future the Cultarlann will have in promoting and building Gaelic culture in Inverness and the wider Highlands.”
