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| Scottish Traditional Music Trust | |
|---|---|
| Name | Scottish Traditional Music Trust |
| Formation | 2013 |
| Type | Charity |
| Purpose | Promotion and support of Scottish traditional music |
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Region served | Scotland |
| Leader title | Director |
Scottish Traditional Music Trust is a Scottish registered charity dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and development of traditional music from Scotland. The Trust operates nationwide from bases in major cultural centres such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Highlands, working with musicians, educators, festivals, and cultural institutions. It engages with folk ensembles, piping societies, fiddle networks, and historical archives to sustain repertoires associated with the Scottish folk revival, Gaelic song, and contemporary traditional practice.
The Trust was established in the aftermath of initiatives associated with the revival movements linked to Hamish Henderson, The Incredible String Band, and the folk club circuits of the 1960s and 1970s, and built on infrastructures created by organisations like Comunn Gàidhlig and the Traditional Music Forum. Early governance drew on expertise from figures involved in the Edinburgh Folk Festival, the Pitlochry Festival, and the piping community centred on the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. Over time the Trust consolidated projects previously run by entities such as the Scottish Arts Council and regional cultural trusts in the Western Isles and Argyll, while responding to policy frameworks set by bodies like Creative Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Trust’s mission foregrounds support for performers associated with the clarsach tradition, the Scottish fiddle repertoire, Gaelic and Scots song traditions connected to figures like Margaret Faye, and dance-accompaniment practices found in ceilidhs across Shetland and Orkney. Core activities include talent development schemes reflecting pathways promoted by institutions such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh’s ethnomusicology programmes, archiving collaborations with the National Library of Scotland, and commissioning new works akin to initiatives run by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble.
Education initiatives mirror models used by the Aberdeen Performing Arts outreach teams and link to community delivery exemplars like the Big Noise programme and the school music partnerships of Perth Concert Hall. The Trust runs teacher-training courses referencing curricular approaches from the Scottish Qualifications Authority and partners with Gaelic-medium education providers such as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Workshops, masterclasses, and in-school residencies involve mentors from networks that include members of Cara Dillon’s circle, stalwarts from the Clanranald piping tradition, and contemporary exponents who perform at venues like The Barrowland Ballroom and Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh.
Key programs emulate national showcases like the Celtic Connections festival and regional series such as the Hebridean Celtic Festival, presenting concerts, competitions, and commissions. Regular events include mentorship strands modelled on the Young Traditional Musician of the Year scheme, touring initiatives comparable to the Proms circuit, and recording projects in collaboration with labels such as Greentrax Recordings and Footstompin' Records. The Trust also curates conferences that attract delegates from archives including the National Museums Scotland and ensembles like Blazin' Fiddles and Capercaillie.
Funding streams reflect a mixed model similar to that of cultural charities funded by Creative Scotland, philanthropic trusts like the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and public support mechanisms linked to the National Lottery. Governance is overseen by a board drawing expertise from sectors represented by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and regional arts offices in Highland Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council. Financial oversight follows best practice recommended by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator with auditing and reporting protocols consistent with other national music charities.
The Trust maintains strategic partnerships with festivals such as Celtic Connections, academic centres including the University of the Highlands and Islands, and community organisations like Fèis nan Òg and the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland. Collaborative projects have linked to broadcasting partners like BBC Radio Scotland and arts venues such as St Magnus Festival and the Tron Theatre. Cross-border collaborations include exchanges with Irish organisations like Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Nordic networks involving institutions in Orkney and Shetland cultural exchanges.
Impact is measurable in pathways created for recipients who have joined ensembles such as Torrox-style contemporary folk groups, alumni who have performed at international festivals including WOMAD and Folk Alliance International, and the digitisation of collections consigned to the National Library of Scotland and regional archives. Legacy outcomes include strengthened networks across community music hubs in Glasgow, higher visibility for Gaelic song through platforms associated with BBC Alba, and sustained apprenticeships that echo traditional mentorships practised by piping families and fiddle dynasties across the Highlands and Islands.
Category:Music charities based in Scotland