Shetland-Music.com

Shetland Arts' ongoing music development initiative originally commenced in 1999, following a lengthy public consultation aimed at identifying the key factors and priorities considered vital to a sustainable and effective music development infrastructure for the community as a whole.

Following this consultation a report entitled "Developing Music in Shetland" by Katherine Campbell, compiled the findings and the public's aspirations, together with suggested methods of addressing these in a strategic and effective manner.

The focus would be on supporting and further developing existing successful initiatives and practises in the islands and introducing further key elements to meet the objectives set out in the initial report. In short, the continual internal development of the islands music / music 'industry' and the effective external marketing of it.

The report suggested that a "Music Development Officer" should be appointed to manage and further develop the initiative as a whole, and in 1999 local man Davie Gardner took up the post

The initial project period would be for three years with core funding provided by the National Lottery, with additional support from Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Charitable Trust and Shetland Enterprise.

Following the completion of the original project time-scale, funding was secured from local sources, again including Shetland Charitable Trust and Shetland Islands Council, together with national funding via the Scottish Arts Council, which helped maintain the post of Music Development Officer and continue the initiative and the benefits derived to date. The post, and its associated initiatives, continues to be funded on a year-by-year basis.

Today, many of the key headings and initiatives identified in the original report continue to be priority areas for further or continual development. However, many of the individual initiatives employed under these headings have significantly altered over the ensuing years, where demands or ideas have changed or, more importantly, where they have become self-sustaining in their own right outwith the internal project management structure.