Douglas Chalmers, Glasgow Caledonian University Douglas Chalmers, Glasgow Caledonian University and and Mike Danson, University of PaisleyMike Danson, University of Paisley

7th Language & Politics Symposium Wednesday 77th Language & Politics Symposium Wednesday 7thth

November 2007November 2007

An t-Samhain 2007 / November 2007

The Economic Impact of Gaelic Arts and Culture within Glasgow: Minority Languages and Post-

Industrial Cities

Issues for us to considerIssues for us to consider (A) What’s wrong with current arrangements and practice? What research is needed to show what needs to

be done?

(B) Are Irish and Gaelic alone sufficient means to ensure their vibrancy and maintenance as community languages?

(C) How far is the sustaining of minority language communities conditional on infrastructure, environment, society, employment, urban renewal, culture, or anything else?

(D) What is the role of education in the sustaining of minority language communities – e.g. developing social skills, cultural identity or linguistic confidence?

(E) How far is the integration of language and culture into the community an environmental issue?

(F) Is the approach to such questions top-down or bottom-up? Whose task or responsibility is it ultimately to sustain a minority language community?

Issues for us to consider 2Issues for us to consider 2

(G) What role can universities and other institutions of higher education play?

(H) With the arrival in Ireland and Scotland of significant numbers of speakers of Eastern European languages, how far has the future role and supporting mechanisms for Irish and Gaelic been undermined?

(I) Where are there communities where minority languages are being successfully sustained? What comparisons may be drawn with Irish and Gaelic, and what lessons are to be learned?

(J) In comparison with Gaelic, where does Scots stand with regard to its being a community language for much of the Scottish population, and what is or should be done for it? And for Scots speakers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

IntroductionIntroduction The changing nature of employment in Glasgow The changing nature of employment in Glasgow

- from industry to services?- from industry to services? The role of the artistic and cultural sectorThe role of the artistic and cultural sector Glasgow’s Gaelic past and future Glasgow’s Gaelic past and future Who supplies what Who supplies what Making the case with figures: work in progressMaking the case with figures: work in progress ConclusionsConclusions

Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring DeclineDecline DeindustrialisationDeindustrialisation

FlexibilityFlexibility Some benefitSome benefit

Disposable incomeDisposable income Personal servicesPersonal services

Primary and Manufacturing to ServicesPrimary and Manufacturing to Services Loss of old heavy industries Loss of old heavy industries Loss of control and policy instrumentsLoss of control and policy instruments Flexible labour marketFlexible labour market

female; low skilled; part time; temporary; low female; low skilled; part time; temporary; low paid; non-unionised; poor progression BUT paid; non-unionised; poor progression BUT

Uneven developmentUneven development RDAs and supply side interventionsRDAs and supply side interventions Cultural and creative industries: re-Cultural and creative industries: re-

imagineeringimagineering City of Culture, Garden Festival, City of Culture, Garden Festival,

Glasgow’s Miles BetterGlasgow’s Miles Better

Employment Change 1981-2009

-150,000

-100,000

-50,000

0 50,000 100,000

150,000

200,000

Managers & senior officials

Professional occupations

Associate professional & technical occupations

Administrative & secretarial occupations

Skilled trades occupations

Personal service occupations

Sales & customer service occupations

Process, plant & machine operatives

Elementary occupations

Employment GrowthEmployment Growth

Industrial structure evolvesIndustrial structure evolves

Sectors Losing Employees - 1994-2004

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Energy & water Manufacturing

1998

2004

Sectors gaining employees, 1998-2004

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Education Health & social work Financial

intermediation

1998

2004

Gaelic in Cultural ContextGaelic in Cultural Context

Post-industrial cities ~ Glasgow, Bilbao, Post-industrial cities ~ Glasgow, Bilbao, Barcelona, …Barcelona, …

Indigenous cultures?Indigenous cultures? MulticulturalismMulticulturalism Competition for funds, attention, supportCompetition for funds, attention, support Context: Economic impact cf. languageContext: Economic impact cf. language

Role of arts and cultureRole of arts and culture

Previous research:Previous research: MyerscoughMyerscough

• Glasgow - European City of Culture 1990 Glasgow - European City of Culture 1990 Glasgow Uni - Centre for Cultural Policy Glasgow Uni - Centre for Cultural Policy

ResearchResearch Glasgow Grows AudiencesGlasgow Grows Audiences

• Extent of Gaelic speakers - implications for size of Extent of Gaelic speakers - implications for size of Gaelic supply/level of demand/future audiences:Gaelic supply/level of demand/future audiences:

Glasgow Gaelic speakers 2001 - 5,731 (9,941)Glasgow Gaelic speakers 2001 - 5,731 (9,941)

Role of arts and cultureRole of arts and culture

MyerscoughMyerscough Glasgow - European City of Culture 1990Glasgow - European City of Culture 1990

• ““When I was a young girl in the 1970s if you came When I was a young girl in the 1970s if you came to Glasgow as tourist, you were probably on your to Glasgow as tourist, you were probably on your way to somewhere else” Liz Cameron (Provost)way to somewhere else” Liz Cameron (Provost)

• Now third most popular tourist destination in UK Now third most popular tourist destination in UK after London and Edinburgh after London and Edinburgh

• 1990 events - 5,580 jobs (at £7,286 per job) and 1990 events - 5,580 jobs (at £7,286 per job) and boosted economy by £14.3m boosted economy by £14.3m

Role of cultural industriesRole of cultural industries

The cultural industries based on local know-how The cultural industries based on local know-how and skills show how cities can negotiate a new and skills show how cities can negotiate a new accommodation with the global market, in which accommodation with the global market, in which cultural producers sell into much larger markets cultural producers sell into much larger markets but rely upon a distinctive and defensible local but rely upon a distinctive and defensible local base…. cultural industries and entrepreneurs base…. cultural industries and entrepreneurs will play a critical role in reviving large cities that will play a critical role in reviving large cities that have suffered economic decline and dislocation have suffered economic decline and dislocation over the past two decades” (Leadbeater and over the past two decades” (Leadbeater and Oakley, 1999)Oakley, 1999)

Impact of recent change Impact of recent change Bòrd na Gàidhlig & Gaelic Language Bill

People thinking about Gaelic plans• Homebase (cf Thomas Cook) Cal Mac

Gaelic digital service coming on line Partnership - BBC/ GMS

• On-line March 2008• 7 hours/ day broadcast (1.5 hours new materials)• 360 degree approach - TV/Radio/ Web

Prominence of Gaelic arts Outwith Glasgow: PNE/ Gasd : Hiort (St Kilda opera);

Glasgow and surroundings: An Lochran - Ceòl ‘s craic; Flower of the West concert

Previous Studies Inverness and Nairn; H & I; ‘GCU on Gaelic economy’

The Value of Gaelic within The Value of Gaelic within GlasgowGlasgow

QuestionsQuestions Supply side Supply side Employment and financial impacts Employment and financial impacts Demand for Gaelic related goods and servicesDemand for Gaelic related goods and services

• TrendsTrends Positive impact of GLAC related goodsPositive impact of GLAC related goods Factors constraining or promoting developmentFactors constraining or promoting development Business promotion activitiesBusiness promotion activities

Survey questionnaireSurvey questionnaire

June 2007June 2007 Individual suppliers - tutors/ artists/ musiciansIndividual suppliers - tutors/ artists/ musicians Cultural industries - BBC/ SMG/IndependentsCultural industries - BBC/ SMG/Independents Cultural aspects of EducationCultural aspects of Education VenuesVenues Celtic ConnectionsCeltic Connections

Interim results: July - August 2007Interim results: July - August 2007

Preliminary points 1Preliminary points 1

Qualitative information positive:Qualitative information positive: Why involved:Why involved:

• ““Spotted an empty niche”Spotted an empty niche”• ““Gaelic language act increasing awareness of Gaelic arts Gaelic language act increasing awareness of Gaelic arts

activity”activity”• ““requirement of public/ private bodies to supply through the requirement of public/ private bodies to supply through the

medium of Gaelic positive”medium of Gaelic positive” Problems identifiedProblems identified

• Competition for funds/ attentionCompetition for funds/ attention Indigenous - has a special placeIndigenous - has a special place Language barriers within general audienceLanguage barriers within general audience Range of product currently available limitedRange of product currently available limited

Preliminary points 2Preliminary points 2

Quantitative information so far:Quantitative information so far: Most individuals make very little (£500 - £5,000/ annum)Most individuals make very little (£500 - £5,000/ annum) Most Gaelic organisations likewise are not great money Most Gaelic organisations likewise are not great money

earners or if do earn money, do not do so consistently earners or if do earn money, do not do so consistently yet (i.e. an Lochran; Fyet (i.e. an Lochran; Fèèisean)isean)

Market still seen as limited (Books; theatres)Market still seen as limited (Books; theatres) A few big hitters:A few big hitters:

• BBC Alba - £2.1m (mostly Glasgow area)BBC Alba - £2.1m (mostly Glasgow area)• Radio nan GRadio nan Gàidheal £3.2m (mostly Inverness area)àidheal £3.2m (mostly Inverness area)

Plus approx £2.8m to BBC from SMGPlus approx £2.8m to BBC from SMG Approx 55 staff in Glasgow area - mostly well qualifiedApprox 55 staff in Glasgow area - mostly well qualified

• Increasing partnerships/ involvement:Increasing partnerships/ involvement: Gaelic Books Council etc An tobar dualchas/ Kist ‘o richesGaelic Books Council etc An tobar dualchas/ Kist ‘o riches

Reach achieved by BBC services

Gaelic speakers’ attitudes to BBC Gaelic services

Tie up with questionsTie up with questions (C) How far is the sustaining of minority language communities conditional on infrastructure,

environment, society, employment, urban renewal, culture, or anything else?

(F) Is the approach to such questions top-down or bottom-up? Whose task or responsibility is it ultimately to sustain a minority language community?

(H) With the arrival in Ireland and Scotland of significant numbers of speakers of Eastern European languages, how far has the future role and supporting mechanisms for Irish and Gaelic been undermined?