GUIR! Showcase

GUIR!, Glasgow Life's Gaelic Arts incubator programme, has been supporting artists to develop new Gaelic work across disciplines since 2018. In this showcase, see work in development from the three 2025 artists - Calum Ferguson, Mischa Macpherson and Lisa Robertson.

This event is free and open to anyone. There will be Gaelic to English translation via headsets.

About the projects, in the artists' own words:

Calum Ferguson

The aim of the project is to create a series of works in response to the Vatersay Land Raids. The Vatersay Raiders, (including my great-great grandfather) were imprisoned in 1908 for occupying the Isle of Vatersay, landless people seeking a life outside deprivation, taken to court by one of the wealthiest landowners in Scotland. Later released after public outcry, a pivotal moment in land reform in Scotland. The project will include a period of extensive research, interviewing folklorists on Barra and historical records with the end goal being to create works which could include immersive installations and sculptural pieces celebrating the influence of the raiders on Vatersay and beyond.

'S e amas a' phròiseict sreath de dh'obraichean a chruthachadh air a bhrosnachadh leis na creach fearainn Bhatarsaigh. Chaidh Na Raiders Bhatarsaigh, (mo sinn-sinnseanair nam measg) a chur dhan phrìosan ann an 1908, daoine gun fhearann a’ sireadh beatha taobh a-muigh bochdainn, air an toirt gu cùirt le fear de na h-uachdarain as beairtiche ann an Alba. Bha iad air a leigeil a-mach às an deidh fearg a' phobaill, àm air leth cudromach ann an ath-leasachadh fearainn ann an Alba. Bidh am pròiseact a’ gabhail a-steach ùine de rannsachadh farsaing, a’ dèanamh agallamhan le luchd-beulaithris à Barraigh agus clàran eachdraidheil leis an amas aig a’ cheann thall obraichean a chruthachadh a’ comharrachadh buaidh nan Raiders air Bhatarsaigh agus nas fhaide air falbh.

Mischa Macpherson

Coming from a place where the land and sea are woven into every aspect of life, on the Isle of Lewis, when I first came to the city, I struggled to find the same connection to nature. But over the years, I noticed the beauty right here on my doorstep—bumblebees drifting between wildflowers, the scent of wild garlic in spring, the steady flow of the River Kelvin, and the quiet glow of the moon over high-rise buildings. These moments of nature are no less significant just because they exist in an urban setting. And in-fact may be even more important.

During GUIR I hope to celebrate wild places within Glasgow’s city centre by composing new Gaelic songs and music inspired by these places hidden within the urban landscape and by reflecting natures through movement and contemporary dance, improvising and responding to the music and themes that emerge, I will explore a visual interpretation of the compositions and deepen the connection between music, place, and storytelling.

A’ tighinn à àite far a bheil am fearann agus an fhairge air am fighe a-steach do bheatha an eilein air eilean Leòdhais, nuair a thàinig mi don bhaile-mhòr an toiseach, bha mi a’ strì ri ceangal sam bith a lorg le nàdar. Ach thar nam bliadhnaichean, mhothaich mi don bhòidhchead an seo air an stairsnich agam – seilleanan a’ tadhal air ’s a’ crònan am measg nam flùraichean a-muigh, fàileadh creamh fiadhaich san Earrach, sruthadh cunbhalach Abhainn Cheilbhinn, agus soillse ciùin na gealaich os cionn nan togalaichean àrda. Tha na mòmaidean sin de nàdar a cheart cho cudromach ged a tha iad a’ tighinn beò ann an suidheachadh bailteil, agus dh’fhaodadh iad a bhith fiù nas cudromaiche.
Aig àm GUIR, tha mi an dòchas àiteachan fiadhaich taobh a-staigh meadhan a’ bhaile-mhòir a chomharrachadh, le bhith a’ sgrìobhadh òrain ùra Gàidhlig agus ceòl air a bhrosnachadh leis na h-àiteachan sin a tha falaichte anns a’ chruth-tìre bhailteil agus le bhith a’ nochdadh taobhan de nàdar tro ghluasad is dannsa co-aimsireil. Le bhith a’ leasachadh agus a’ freagairt air a’ cheòl agus na cuspairean a thig am bàrr, rannsaichidh mi eadar-mhìneachadh lèirsinneach air na sgrìobhaidhean, mar sin a’ doimhneachadh a’ cheangail eadar ceòl, àite agus innse sgeulachdan.

Lisa Robertson

My idea is to create a collection of musical tracks which explore intersectional stories of strength in the face of suppression within a Gaelic speaking context including suppression of women, threats from the climate crisis, the Gaelic cultural/ linguistic crisis and rural depopulation with a particular focus on my local home area in Morvern. I want to embed my music in my natural environment, manifesting that deep connection with nature so central to the traditional Gaelic worldview, as well as honouring the oral tradition and containing the legacy of my local area’s culture. Mairi Macleod was forced off her home in Morven, disconnected from her land, in one of the earliest and most brutal clearances. She had no choice but to move to the city – working with Galway Dance this project will also look at the physical movement from rural to urban, and how we traverse that in contemporary Scotland when we have choices.

Is e mo bheachd cruinneachadh de thracan ciùil a chruthachadh, a bhios a’ rannsachadh sgeulachdan eadar-roinneil de neart is spionnadh mu choinneamh smachd taobh a-staigh co-theacsa labhairt na Gàidhlig, a’ gabhail a-steach cumail sìos bhoireannach, bagairtean bho chùis-èiginn na gnàth-shìde, cruadh-chàs cultarach / cànanach na Gàidhlig agus fàsachadh is di-dhaoineachadh dùthchail, le cuimse shònraichte air mo sgìre dhachaigheil fhìn sa Mhòr-bheinn. Tha mi airson mo chuid ciùil fhighe a-steach don àrainneachd nàdarra, a’ taisbeanadh a’ cheangail dhomhainn sin le nàdar a tha cho deatamach do shealladh cruinneil traidiseanta na Gàidhlig, a thuilleadh air a bhith a’ toirt urram do bheul-aithris agus glèidheadh air dìleab chultarach na sgìre agam fhìn. Chaidh Màiri NicLeòid a’ sgiùrsadh a-mach às a dachaigh sa Mhòr-bheinn, ga sgaradh bho a cuid fearainn ann an aon de na fuadaichean as tràithe agus as brùideile ’s a ghabh àite. Cha robh roghainn aice ach gluasad don bhaile-mhòr. Ann a bhith ag obair le Dannsa Ghaillimh, bidh am pròiseact seo a’ coimhead cuideachd ris a’ ghluasad chorporra bho dhùthchail gu bailteil, agus mar a tha sinn a’ trasnadh sin ann an Alba cho-aimsireil nuair a tha roghainnean againn.