ArtsPlay Hebrides is based on a pilot project, ArtsPlay, which took place in the Western Isles in 2003.

The aim of the ArtsPlay projects is to bring creative arts skills to childcare workers by employing local artists to work with playgroup leaders in regular sessions in disciplines such as visual arts, drama, music, puppet making and storytelling. This aims to develop children’s creative abilities from an early age.

ArtsPlay Hebrides will continue the project across the whole of the Western Isles for a period of two years from October 2006.

ArtsPlay Hebrides is targeted at pre-school children and the childcare workers in Council registered playgroups, nurseries and childminders using a bank of local artists within the islands. The arts disciplines to be offered are:

• Visual Arts, to include Sculpture, Painting (various kinds), Collage and Puppet making

• Music, to include Instrument and Vocal

• Drama, to include Puppet, Performing, Dance and and movement

• Storytelling

Due to the bi-lingual nature of childcare establishments in the Western Isles, there will be sessions targeting both the Gaelic and English speaking children.

Each session will be monitored both by the artist and by the childcare establishment to ensure that an effective delivery of sessions is maintained.

The longer-term aim of the project is to enable the childcare leaders to present the art forms themselves and to rely less, or not at all, on the local artist sessions.

Ri linn a’ phròiseact ArtsPlay bidh clann agus luchd-obrach nan croileagan a’ faighinn cotrom air sgilean-ealain ionnsachadh. A measg na sgilean bidh ealain leirsinneach, dannsa, ceòl, agus ag innse sgeulachdan.

Theid na sgilean fhoillseachadh agus ionnsachadh anns an dà chànan.

Bidh gach cuid an luchd-ealain agus luchd-obrach nan croileagan a beachdachadh air na buannachdan agus na duilicheasadasan a thathas a foillseachadh ri linn Artsplay.

‘S e amasan na pròiseact gum bi misneachd luchd-obrach nan croileagan air ùrachadh, airson ealain ùr de iomadh seòrsa ionnsachadh dhan a’ chlann.