26 July 2010
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ST. ANNS — The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts has been the foundation for the preservation of Gaelic language and culture since its founding in 1938.
The college is continuing its ambitious campus expansion which began in 2007 with the improvements to the residences and the interactive stations in the Hall of the Clans. The Gaelic interpretative centre offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the culture with hands-on interpretive exhibits.
The college just completed the second phase which included modifications to the administration building to provide a formal entrance to the campus to better help control entry and traffic flow.
"We also completed the expansion to the craft shop on the lower level of the administration building to allow us to showcase our tartan and hand-woven items," said Peggy MacAskill, assistant to Gaelic College executive director Sam MacPhee. "The daily demonstrations by our kiltmakers from 1-3 p.m. are proving popular with our visitors. The kiltmakers use the traditional method, doing all the sewing by hand."
Also as part of the second phase, the weaving building has been moved to the back of the Hall of Clans.
Education remains the main focus of the Celtic College, but in order to reach its growth potential, staff under executive director Sam MacPhee continue to work to further develop the site to meet the current needs of its visitors and students, maintain its international status and ensure sustainability for the college over the next decade.
"Education is our top priority, but we need these other facets to ensure the future of the college. We want people to be able to experience more of the Celtic culture through interactive displays and demonstrations," MacAskill said. "We are now investigating funding sources to continue through to the next phase, which is in the planning stages. The development of exhibits and interactive space will go a long way to making the Gaelic College a tourist destination."
MacAskill said the numbers for this summer's classes are up from last year.
"I don't have the official figures, but the school is busy," she said. "We have also introduced a pilot session that teaches the students how to jam, keep it going and how to play for a square dance. This summer we have seven weeks of classes. "
Disciplines covered under the curriculum for regular studies include great highland bagpipe, highland dance, Cape Breton fiddle, piano accompaniment, Cape Breton step dance, Celtic harp, bodhran, weaving, pipe band drumming, Gaelic language and song and Scottish small pipes.
The college offers weekend programs and is planning three Gaelic workshops scheduled for the fall.
"We are also looking at re-instating the pipe band this fall," she said. "Pipe bands go through cycles where they have to rebuild every few years because students graduate from high school, head off to university or get involved in other activities."
The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts was founded in 1938 as a school devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic language, arts and culture. Students of all ages and abilities from around the world take courses at the Cape Breton campus and online.
Copyright © 2010 The Cape Breton Post All Rights Reserved
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