Funding secured for island voices archive

The funding will support the creation of a permanent digital archive for the ‘Island Voices / Guthan nan Eilean’ project, a 21-year community initiative capturing “slices of life in and beyond the 21st century Hebrides.”

The collection includes more than 500 films recorded in almost 40 languages, alongside extensive web content documenting the project. It will be developed into an important, publicly available UHI Archive resource, which will support and develop research across and beyond the UHI partnership. UHI will contribute £29,955 to the project, bringing the total investment to £72,482.

Co-created with communities in the Hebrides, across Scotland and internationally, the project captures the voices of people sharing their own stories, memories and experiences in their own words. While rooted in Gaelic-speaking communities, the collection reflects a wider, globally relevant story of linguistic diversity and language change.

Launched in April 2026, the project will secure more than 1,000 digital items, including video recordings and associated online materials. Without this work, there is a risk that this unique digital and linguistic heritage, currently held across external platforms, could be lost or become inaccessible over time. The new archive will safeguard the collection to recognised preservation standards and make it freely available to the public.

Alongside the archive work, a programme of public engagement activity is planned throughout 2026, including exhibitions and events in island and mainland locations such as Uist and Glasgow. This will culminate in a public launch in September, marking the project’s 21st anniversary.

A newly released compilation video brings together highlights from across the collection and is already being used to introduce the project to new audiences and support discussions with community partners on upcoming exhibitions and events.

Gordon Wells, Island Voices Archive Manager and researcher, said: “It’s been a unique pleasure and privilege to be a part of building up this body of work over the past two decades and more. Not only does it platform the rich oral heritage of the contemporary Hebrides, but it also makes mutually beneficial and creatively stimulating links with other communities too. 

"The film is a taster, and testament to the willing “no bother!” co-operation of hundreds of participants over the years in this community project, from North Uist to north-east India and beyond. We hope it will stir memories and interest!”

Philippa Currie, UHI Archivist and Information Governance Manager, said: “UHI Archive welcomes this exciting opportunity to work with depositors to create a remarkable resource for the Gaelic Language that will support the work of research and communities the world over.”

By combining academic expertise with grassroots participation, the project also offers a model that could be adapted by other minority language communities in Scotland and internationally.

Further details on public events and the archive launch will be announced in due course.