Support Us! - Donate

SEALL

Official site for SEALL

Follow SEALL

Uncategorized

Small Halls Big Raffle

by

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

No self-respecting Highland cèilidh would go ahead without a raffle.

Good music, good craic and a chance to win a good prize is all part of great evening’s entertainment.

SEALL is raising funds for its community outreach programme SEALL@Home which delivers performing arts sessions, concerts and workshops to the vulnerable and isolated members of our communities. More information from our Just Giving page HERE.

We will be holding a raffle with some great prizes during the popular Small Halls Festival Big Cèilidh which will be live-streamed online on Saturday 8 November 2020 at 10pm.

The Big Cèilidh takes the form of a concert by nine of Scotland’s best traditional musicians and is part of the Blas Festival and St Andrew’s Fair Saturday, celebrating Scotland’s National Day. More information about the Big Cèilidh and concert tickets, from HERE.

Host for the evening is popular BBC Scotland Take the Floor presenter Gary Innes who will draw the raffle half way through the concert, during the interval at approximately 11pm.

We have 10 lovely prizes ready to be posted out to the lucky winners after they are announced.

The prizes

Gin gift hamper from the Isle of Harris Distillery

The specially curated gift set from the Isle of Harris Distillery combines the elements for enjoying their award-winning Isle of Harris Gin in good company.

A beautiful bottle of Isle of Harris Gin is accompanied by two hand-crafted, matching gin glasses to ensure the perfect pour is made in style.

Presented together within a bespoke gift box, photographic print, and accompanied by suggested serves, this is the ideal way to share our island spirit with friends and loved ones.

Contains on bottle of the Isle of Harris Gin; two Harris Gin Glasses and box; photographic print.

Whisky-themed gift hamper from Torabhaig Distillery

All at Torabhaig Distillery on the Isle of Skye wish the Festival of Small Halls great success in 2020 and are giving away a goody-bag of gifts from the whisky shop.

The 19th century farmstead at Torabhaig in Sleat in the south of Skye is the location of this small, traditional distillery.  When the Visitor Centre re-opens next year, you will be able to enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and visit the café and shop in the courtyard.   

Torabhaig Distillery is set to release its first Single Malt Scotch Whisky which will be called Torabhaig Legacy Series 2017 in February next year.   

Mimosa skin from SkyeSkyns, Waternish

This beautiful hand-tanned skin from SkyeSkyns in Waternish is one of their best sheepskins to date.

The tannery’s Mimosa Collection are crafted from pure Scottish sheepskins, with beautiful soft wool and incredibly soft leather.

Established in 1983, Skyeskyns is the sole remaining commercial woolskin tannery in Scotland. 

Created and developed by Clive and Lydia Hartwell the venture was a dream nurtured for twenty years, ever since Clive first set eyes on the beautiful coastal village of Waternish.

Woollen throw from Skye Weavers, Glendale

A unique and beautiful woollen throw made from 100% Scottish wool and woven on the isle of Skye by Skye Weavers on the Waternish Peninsula.

This throw is made from local wool combining natural greys with a dash of yellow. The yellow was custom dyed for the company and is inspired by a lichen found frequently on Skye’s rocky shores: Xanthoria parietina.

Skye Weavers are a small weaving and sewing business on Skye. On their bicycle pedal-powered loom, they weave a variety of woollen products including scarves, blankets, throws and wraps and tweed.

The team of dedicated cyclists, weavers, warpers, cone winders, designers, menders, seamstresses and fixing-everythingers are Roger, Andrea, Paul, Angie and Alexander.

Ebb and Flow design mug by Edinbane Pottery

A wonderful hand-crafted mug from the talented makers of Edinbane Pottery.

Specialising in woodfired and salt-glazed pottery, Edinbane Pottery was set up by Stuart Whatley in 1971 and the pottery is a popular visitor attraction on Skye.

Stuart has regularly employed a small number of potters from the world over. Each person brings their own contribution, new ideas, experience and even a sense of humour!

All pottery is handmade and individually decorated.

This prize is for a beautiful Ebb and Flow 4″ mug. The design echoes the Island’s deep pools, river flows, rolling landscapes and night skies.

Bed and breakfast for two at the Sligachan Hotel

The dramatic and inspiring setting enjoyed by The Sligachan Hotel has been admired by many for generations. Nestled amongst the Red and Black Cuillins, with the sparkling waters of Loch Sligachan to its front, the hotel has served mountaineers, walkers and lovers of the wild Highland scenery since 1830. Not only a great spot for climbers, the Hotel is located at an important crossroads in the centre of the Island, offering a great opportunity to maximise sightseeing on Skye.

Enjoy the warm welcome, comfortable rooms, relaxing atmosphere and some of the best views on the Island during a one night’s bed and breakfast for two. This stay is for a date of your choice (subject to availability) during 2021.

Kayak taster sessions with South Skye Sea Kayak, Sleat

Discover Skye away from the crowds, journey along stunning coastlines, experience a new perspective and different views of our famous island. Enjoy a picnic on a remote beach, see wildlife and interesting coastlines, all with an experienced guide.

Develop your kayaking skills whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced kayaker, South Skye Sea Kayak offer anything from flat water skills to tide race and rough water paddling.

This wonderful prize is for two exciting half-day kayak taster sessions.

A virtual whisky tasting with Away from the Ordinary

Away from the Ordinary are offering the opportunity to win a place at a luxury digital whisky tasting.

The winner will choose from a number of public Away from the Ordinary virtual tastings, which will be held throughout 2021.  They will receive five carefully selected whisky miniatures, and will attend a tasting of their choice, in the comfort of their home.  

Tastings are led by whisky aficionado Aeneas O’Hara, who talks participants through provenance, tastings notes and the narrative of each malt.  Tastings tend to be conversational, informal but informed, and a lot of fun.

CD stack of Small Halls musicians’ albums

Enjoy the outstanding music of some of Scotland’s greatest traditional artists who just happen to be playing at Small Halls this year.

Inge Thomson, Hamish Napier, Su-a Lee, Angus MacKenzie, Megan Henderson, Ewan Robertson, Seàn Gray, Rachel Newton and Lauren MacColl all feature in this amazing 11-CD bundle of albums.

A trio of books with a Scottish theme

Fiction, fauna and fiddles feature in our fabulous three-book give-away.

An Archive of Happiness by Elizabeth Reeder

A Scots Dictionary of Nature by Amanda Thomson

Malin Makes Music Tune Book

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

Winners will be announced in the raffle draw on the evening of 28 November and be notified by email or post. upon receipt of a valid address, prizes will be posted, including internationally, to winners during the week beginning Monday 30 November 2020.

Please make sure you have entered your name, address and contact email or telephone number on ticket purchase. Winners will be chosen from a random draw at the Small Halls Big Cèilidh online livestream event on 28 November 2020 during the interval at around 11pm. Winners will be called by their ticket number and surname and notified via email.

Please note: there may be restrictions imposed on alcohol shipments to some countries. If you are a winner of one of our prizes containing alcohol and your country has a ban on imports, then an alternative prize will be offered to the same or similar value.

Understanding your tickets

by

Changing from a live event to an online stream requires a few adjustments for events managers and audiences.

This year, Small Halls is being supported by the Blas Festival who are also managing our box office. We are using The Ticket Fairy online ticketing system.

After you have bought your tickets, confirmation will come through in an email with information on it that looks something like this:

Your ticket explained

Your ticket will say it is for the Blas Festival with that festival’s event dates. Don’t worry about this, it’s just the way the box office works.

Your ticket choices will correspond with the concert(s) you have chosen to watch.

The example shows two stream links on the ticket, this is because the customer has bought two tickets. Each link is unique to the customer and may only be viewed once on one device, unless you have bought a festival pass, in which case your link will work for all three concerts.

When you are ready to watch the stream, ie at the doors open time of the concert, simply click on your link from your device and enjoy the show.

For advice on how to get the best from your online concert experience, click HERE

New SEALL chair vacancy

by

Our current chair, Rosie MacDonald, is stepping down after six years of wonderful service and we need a person of creativity, experience and vision to make a strong and meaningful contribution to the future of performing arts on Skye and Raasay.

SEALL usually delivers over 100 performance arts events to venues across the Islands of Skye and Raasay through a year-round programme of concerts, workshops and sessions; two festivals; and two outreach programmes reaching young people and the vulnerable members of our communities.

This is a voluntary position but essential expenses will be reimbursed.

Deadline for applications, which should be sent to Marie Lewis, Creative Director, via email (marie@seall.co.uk) with a covering letter and CV attached, is Monday 30 November at 5pm.

ABOUT SEALL

SEALL is a well-established and trusted performing arts promotion charity based on Skye. For almost 30 years, we have delivered world-class performances to our remote rural communities on, and visitors to, Skye and Raasay through a year-round programme; the Skye Festival (Fèis an Eilein) in the summer; and the Small Halls Festival in November. Our community outreach programme reaches young people and the more vulnerable members of our communities, fostering wellbeing, diversity and inclusion.

SEALL is recognised by the Scottish Government as one of Scotland’s leading rural arts promoters and in 2019 we won the prestigious MG Alba Scottish Traditional Music Award for Best Community Project for our Small Halls Festival.

THE POST

The chair has a strategic role to play in representing the direction, strategy, vision and purpose of SEALL. She or he will ensure that the board functions properly, that there is full participation at meetings, all relevant matters are discussed and that effective decisions are made and carried out by the whole Board and staff.

Ensure the Board functions properly

  • To plan and run meetings in accordance with the governing document
  • To ensure matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner
  • To bring impartiality and objectivity to meetings and decision making
  • To facilitate change and address conflict within the Board
  • To review governance performance and skills
  • To plan for recruitment and renewal of the Board

Ensure the organisation is managed effectively

  • To liaise with the creative director to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs
  • To co-ordinate the Board to ensure responsibilities for particular aspects of management eg personnel, finance, good governance, are understood and met and specialist expertise is employed as required
  • To facilitate change and address conflict within the organisation, liaising with the creative director to achieve this
  • To promote and champion equality, diversity and good environmental practice in all SEALL’s work
  • To ensure the strategies and policies agreed by the SEALL board are met by staff, volunteers and freelance workers
  • To identify potential risks and opportunities facing SEALL and the wider performing arts industry of Scotland
  • To ensure the highest standards of integrity, probity and governance throughout SEALL are understood and met

Provide support and supervision to staff

  • To directly line manage the creative director
  • To sit on appointment and other panels as appropriate

Represent the organisation

  • To communicate effectively the vision and purpose of SEALL
  • To network with comparable organisations maintaining a high profile for SEALL
  • To advocate for and represent SEALL at external meetings and events
  • To be aware of current issues that might affect SEALL
  • To represent the aims and policies of SEALL to the outside world

Qualities and skills required
Arts

  • Experience of working or volunteering within the Arts sector in Scotland
  • Knowledge of the operating environment for charities and other not for profit organisations in Scotland
  • An understanding of the communities and the geography of the Highlands
  • An understanding of the wider performing arts industry in Scotland
  • An understanding of the culture, people and processes of SEALL

Organisational management and governance

  • Understanding the role and responsibilities of a chair
  • Understanding of the roles/responsibilities of a charity board
  • Good leadership skills
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
  • Ability to ensure decisions are taken and followed up
  • Experience of organisational and people management

Please send your application by email, attaching a covering letter and CV, to Marie Lewis, Creative Director, SEALL: marie@seall.co.uk by Monday 30 November at 5pm.

Blazin’ Fiddles

by

  “Excuse my delay in writing to you, but I just wanted to thank you very much for setting aside, at late notice, four Blazin’ Fiddles tickets for my family and me on Tuesday, 20th August.  What  talented musicians and what a wonderful concert it was!  It was also great to get a chance to speak to Jenna in the interval.  It made my son’s day when she spoke with him and signed his CD!  It was my husband’s birthday that day.  He enjoyed himself so much.  It was our first visit to Sabhal Mor Ostaig and we hope we will have the good fortune to return again one day. “