Grace Notes Scotland

Registered Scottish Charity (SC40434)
Founded in April 7, 2009.

Our Overall Aims:

Grace Notes Scotland aims to conserve, nurture and promote the traditional folk culture of Scotland, both Gaelic and Scots, and to disseminate the wealth of songs, tunes, stories and widespread tradition that comprises Scotland’s intangible heritage (UNESCO 2003). In ‘handing on tradition to new generations’:

• young people learn to appreciate traditional culture and incorporate it in their lives,
• people of all ages and abilities can participate and gain cultural confidence; and
• all ages benefit from being recognised, appreciated and valued as tradition-bearers.

As Grace Notes Scotland aims to improve access to traditional knowledge at all levels (from amateur to scholarly) the organisation is also committed to planning for the future and to undertaking new programming for general participation and the broadest audience.

Specific Aims:

1. To involve a wide number of people, particularly in rural areas with limited access to any heritage projects, in participation in a range of cultural heritage activities. We aim for exchange among the young, people of all ages and abilities, and especially the elderly, who are custodians of knowledge and skill.
2. To increase the awareness, appreciation and understanding of local and national heritage, particularly language and cultural tradition in the broadest sense.
3. To offer mentoring and training to ensure the continuation of the knowledge, skill, expertise and enthusiasm that will not only conserve cultural heritage but also perpetuate it for new generations.
4. To improve accessibility to heritage skills by producing printed, audio, visual and/or web-based material of all HARVEST projects, such as booklets, displays and teaching packs, which can be distributed and/or purchased by new practitioners.

Grace Notes Scotland was launched with a two-year project
Toradh• HARVEST •Hairst
sponsored by Heritage Lottery Fund