Issued by Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS)
Five locations across ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp will be bathed in light next month to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of Colmcille/St Columba.
Each site will be spectacularly lit by projections featuring the artwork of artists at 7pm on 7 December 2021.
Eleven artists in total have received funding from Duais Dìleab Chaluim Chille / The Colmcille Legacy Award. This is a national scheme hosted by the Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly in partnership with Bòrd na Gà idhlig and ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp Council, to commemorate the life and cultural legacy of St Colmcille as part of the Year of Colmcille, 1500. Illuminations will highlight the outcomes of the award scheme, showing through artwork the legacy of Colmcille.
‘Illuminations’ will project artwork in the gardens of Hermitage Park (Helensburgh), onto McCaig's Tower (Oban), The Queen’s Hall (Dunoon), The Egg Shed - Scottish Canals (Ardrishaig), and at a site still to be revealed on the Isle of Bute. Illuminations marks the birth date of St Colmcille on 7 December 521 AD, and celebrates the artistic achievements of all of those supported by the The Colmcille Legacy Award.
In June this year, McCaig’s Tower in Oban was lit up by projections featuring Colmcille Legacy Award artists. Illuminations will expand this to show their works for the first time at five locations across the region. Although a huge logistical challenge for the organisers, they hope audiences who don’t traditionally visit art galleries will be able to enjoy the artwork created.
Colmcille 1500 promotes the heritage of St Colmcille, whose abbey linked Ireland and Scotland. The year provided an opportunity to promote the Gaelic languages of Ireland and Scotland. As part of Illuminations, artists also based in Northern Ireland will be holding events on the evening of 7 December 2021.
Jo McLean, Chair of the Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly, Argyll and Isles:
“The Colmcille Legacy Award Scheme in partnership with Bòrd na Gà idhlig and the Council has produced tremendous results and we are delighted to be able to highlight the achievements of Gaelic artists and Gaelic partnerships through Illuminations alongside Colmcille 1500 participants in Northern Ireland.â€
Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp Council:
“Gaelic is fundamental in the history of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp and we are committed to promoting it and the many notable St Columba Trail sites in the area. It’s fantastic to see so many Gaelic artists represented through the Colmcille Legacy Award.â€
An online showcase featuring full details about all of the The Colmcille Legacy Award award winners is available on
CHARTS hope that everyone will be able to enjoy the projections safely: photos and videos will be available from their social media accounts and website.