Còrr as fichead bliadhna ga thogail
Thàinig smuain Chnoc Soilleir ri chèile nuair a bha aithisg air fhoillseachadh le Comhairle Ealain na h-Alba aig deireadh an 20mh linn, a thuirt gun robh feum air ionad le ceòl, dannsa agus Gàidhlig ann an Uibhist.
Bhon uairsin, thòisich UHI agus Ceòlas air obrachadh còmhla airson am pròiseact seo a thoirt air adhart. Chuir iad còmhla an cinn, agus chuir iad ri chèile beachd air dè a bha a dhith air an dà bhuidheann agus dè ghabhadh dèanamh ann an Uibhist. Bha iad ag iarraidh togalach a chuireadh air adhart an t-eòlas agus fios a bha aig muinntir Uibhist, a bhitheadh math airson nan daoine, luchd-tadhal agus cuideachd dhan na h-oileanaich a thigeadh ann. Chaidh làrach Chnoc Soilleir a thaghadh ann an 2016. Chaidh an taghadh seo a chuir gu muinntir Uibhist le bhòt agus ann an 2017 thàinig an t-airgead bho riaghaltas na h-Alba airson an ionad sònraichte seo ann an dà cheum.
Twenty years in the making
The ideas and vision for Cnoc Soilleir grew following the publication of a report published by the then Scottish Arts Council at the end of the 20th Century that clearly identified a need for a centre for music, dance and Gaelic culture in Uist.
Since then the partnership between UHI and Ceòlas was formed, to take the project forward and to develop a brief that met their needs, with a vision to to establish a place that promotes and celebrates the islands’ rich natural, cultural and heritage assets for the benefit of students, residents and visitors alike.
In 2016 the site was chosen as part of a wider community vote, and in 2017, we were successful in being awarded funding by Scottish Government that led to the full development of the project including both phases.
A Chiad Ceum
Chaidh a Cheud Ceum de Chnoc Soilleir fhosgladh anns an t-Sultain dhen bhliadhna 2022 agus bhon uairsin tha an togalach air a bhith beò le tachartasan is ceòl bhon choimhearsnachd agus bho ceòladairean à tìr-mòr. Tha Cnoc Soilleir air a thogail airson na feumalachdan sònraichte a tha aig UHI TIIG bho thaobh foghlam agus cuideachd na feumalachdan tha aig Ceòlas bho thaobh tachartasan coimhearsnach le ceòl is cultair. A bharrachd air an seo, tha stiùidio clàraidh, leabhran is tasg-lann, àite taisbeanaidh ann, agus aig meadhan an togalach, tha an Lasag, far a bheil teine mòine. An seo faodaidh sibh tighinn gu tachartasan a ghabhas suas ri 60 de dhaoine.
Tha cuideachd seòmraichean teagasg ann a tha freagarrach airson ceòl, agus tha deagh eadar-lìon anns an togalach air fad.
Gach seachdain bidh an Lasaig làn aig an ‘Cidsin Cèilidh’ agus bidh luchd-obrach is oileanaich Chnoc Soilleir a seinn agus a cluich ceòl an sin. Tha fàilte bhlàth air duine sam bith aig a bheil ùidh ann a bhith a seinn, a cluich, a dannsa no ag èisteachd ri ceòl gach feasgar Diciadain.
Tha Cnoc Soilleir cuideachd air a bhith trang le co-labhairtean, coinneamhan dhan chomhairle agus dhan riaghaltas a tha air buaidh a thoirt air ar beatha anns an dùthaich air fad agus anns a choimhearsnachd againn an seo. Tha cuid dhen na tachartasan againn air a bhith air an sgaoileadh air-loidhne air feadh an t-saoghal
Tha ionad àrc-eòlas UHI TIIG agus Uist Unearthed cuideachd a dèanamh an dachaigh aig Cnoc Soilleir.
Tha Cnoc Soilleir air a thogail airson ’s gu bheil cosgaisean an togalach ìosal agus airson ‘s nach eil e a toirt mòran buaidh air an àrainnachd againn.
Phase 1
The first phase of Cnoc Soilleir was opened to the public in September 2022 and has since begun to make a mark on the local and wider scene as a creative focus and lively venue.
Meaning “the bright hill” the building has been purpose built to offer facilities to meet the needs of both UHI NWH educational programmes, and Ceòlas’ community-led activities and artistic programme. And as a new community asset, the building hosts a bespoke high spec recording studio, a library for archive materials, exhibition space, and at the heart of the building is our flexible communal space, an Lasag, with its welcoming peat stove, that is suitable for events with an audience of up to 60 people.
The facilities include flexible teaching and learning spaces with acoustics suitable for music, and as a university learning centre and part of the UHI network we benefit from super-fast broadband throughout the building.
We host weekly Cidsin Ceilidhs, which are led by the staff and students in the building and open for all to attend either as players and performers, or to listen. We have also hosted government and council meetings as well as conferences for local and national organisations and smaller events based around the community. Events and gigs have been live streamed around the world.
We are home to the local UHI NWH Archelogy team and their innovative project Uist Unearthed. The building has been designed and built to the meet the high PassivHaus energy efficient and environmental standard.
An Darna Ceum
Ged a tha a Chiad Ceum air a bhith riatanach dhuinn airson tòiseachadh air na h-amasan a tha againn, bheir an Dàrna Ceum buaidh mhòr air a phròiseact seo.
Anns an Dàrna Ceum bidh:
• Ionad-èisteachd a tha freagarrach airson seinneadairean, luchd-ciùil agus dannsairean. Gabhaidh an Talla seo atharrachadh agus gluasad airson tachartasan de gach seòrsa.
• Ionad-èisteachd a ghabhas suas ri 200 agus far an gabh na suidheachain cuir seachad.
• Seòmraichean beaga airson luchd-amharc.
• Stiùidio dannsaidh le ùrlar sònraichte agus sgàthain.
• Dà sheòmar teagasg a ghabhas cuir gu feum nan rùmannan do luchd-ciùil.
• Bidh e air a thogail airson na cosgaisean a chumail ìosal gun mòran buaidh a thoirt air an àrainneachd mar PassivHaus.
Ar Lèirsinn airson an Dàrna Ceum.
• Goireas a th’ air a thogail aig an ìre as àirde airson cuireaman.
• Goireas a sheallas ealain na Gàidhlig aig an ìre as àirde, le ceòl, dannsa agus cultar traidiseanta agus cuideachd cultar nas ùra.
• Goireas a bheir buaidh eacanomaigeach ann an coimhearsnachd far a bheil cultair na Gàidhlig làidir agus beò.
• Goireas a bheir misneachd is brosnachadh dhan coimhearsnachd.
• Goireas a bhitheas air fhaicinn air feadh an t-saoghal mar àite soirbheachail agus a bheir daoine a dh’ Uibhist.
Chì sibh am barrachd fiosrachadh mun Dàrna Ceum aig Cnoc Soilleir anns am faidhle ghoirid seo.
Phase 2
While Phase 1 has been essential in allowing us to start to establish and provide facilities for both our partners to flourish and grow, Phase 2 has always been key for the overall transformational vision for the project.
Phase 2 will include:
- Flexible performance hall, with acoustics suitable for music and singing. The hall will have a sprung floor suitable for dance, performance, and ceilidhs.
- Retractable auditorium seating for audiences of up to 200 people.
- Breakout spaces for audience.
- A small dance studio with sprung floor, and mirrors.
- Two additional teaching spaces which can double up as green rooms and rehearsal space
- It will be built to the same environmental PassivHaus standards as phase 1 to minimise impact and running costs.
The vision for phase 2
- A world class facility to enable delivery of high-quality professional performances
- A world class facility to showcase Gaelic arts including traditional and contemporary music, dance and performance
- A world class facility to capitalise on and strengthen the natural resources within a vibrant natural Gaelic community
- A world class facility to inspire and build confidence within the local community
- A world class facility to act as a beacon of excellence to engage with a wider audience, and to attract people to Uist
You can find out more about phase 2 by downloading this short PDF document.
