The Gaelic Arts Strategic Development Programme (GASD) has announced a stream of new initiatives aimed at enhancing the profile of the Gaelic Arts and artists. A recent promotional campaign attracted more than 50 applications for Artists Residencies, Traineeships and Gaelic Showcase concepts. The Programme is co-ordinated by Pròiseact nan Ealan (PNE), on behalf of the GASD Forum. PNE Director, Malcolm Maclean, said: “We were delighted with the range and quality of the proposals from throughout Scotland. It is clear that there is a great deal of vibrant and exciting work going on in the Gaelic arts across the country and the GASD Forum had some very hard decisions to make. The programme will benefit numerous communities over the coming year and create new opportunities for Gaelic artists.” Seven Artists Residencies to a total of 37 months were approved in response to applications from across Scotland. The GASD Programme is funded by the Scottish Arts Council and Bòrd na Gàidhlig who will invest £400,000 in new strategic initiatives over the next two years. The GASD Programme will provide new funding opportunities for individuals and organisations working in the Gaelic arts and will focus on Audience Development, Skills Development and Showcase Development. It is intended that the programme help to build support for the Gaelic language in the wider community. Jim Tough, Head of Arts at the Scottish Arts Council, said: “The Scottish Arts Council is delighted at this initiative, built through genuine partnership and with the direct input of those Gaelic arts organisations already actively working across a range of communities. This programme underpins many of our ambitions for our Gaelic Arts Policy and reinforces the vital and central relationship of language and the arts to national culture and identity.” For further information, CLICK HERE To visit the Gaelic Arts website, CLICK HERE