CAHG Scotland Annual Gathering – 20 March 2026, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh
CAHG Scotland proposes that our next annual gathering take place on Friday 20 March 2026 — a special event marking the 5th anniversary of CAHG Scotland. This milestone offers us a moment to celebrate achievements, reflect on progress, and look ahead to the evolving landscape of community archives and heritage in Scotland.
Building on the success of CAHG UK & Ireland’s 2025 Conference in Huddersfield, ‘Community voices, community heritage – preserving, sharing & celebrating diverse histories and traditions’, our Scottish event will continue that spirit of collaboration and reflection. With the UK’s recent ratification of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, our proposed theme — ‘Expressing Scotland: Holding the Intangible’ — will explore how we recognise, record and sustain the living, dynamic aspects of our culture.
Proposed theme focus
- How do we archive and hold onto our intangible culture — songs, stories, languages, crafts, practices, and ways of knowing — in a modern, diverse Scotland?
- What does this mean for community archives and heritage groups, and how can we help sustain, represent and celebrate these living heritages?
- How can we recognise both Scotland’s distinct traditions and the new cultural fusions that reflect the richness of contemporary life here?
Proposed contribution types
We invite contributions from:
- Community archive and heritage groups
- Cultural and creative organisations
- Artists, musicians, storytellers and craft practitioners
- Academics, students and researchers working with communities
- Anyone exploring or safeguarding living cultural traditions
Possible formats might include:
- Presentations or talks (10–20 mins)
- Workshops or skills sessions
- Creative demonstrations or performances
Practical details
Date: Friday 20 March 2026
Venue: St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh (TBC)
Expression of interest deadline (suggested): Friday 31 January 2026
Contact: a.wilson@scottisharchives.org.uk
Purpose
This event will celebrate five years of CAHG Scotland and offer a space to share experiences, learning and inspiration. It will also provide a forum to discuss what intangible cultural heritage means for our sector — and how we can work together to ensure that Scotland’s living heritage, in all its diversity, is preserved, expressed and passed on.
How to express your interest
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is simply a short email letting us know how you or your group might like to contribute — nothing complicated or formal. EOIs help us shape the programme before confirming full details.
EOI deadline: Friday 31 January 2026
EOI Email Template
Subject: EOI – CAHG Scotland 2026 Contribution
Hello CAHG Scotland team,
I/we would like to express interest in contributing to the CAHG Scotland Annual Gathering 2026.
Proposed contribution:
[Brief description of your idea, activity, talk, workshop or performance — 2–4 sentences is enough.]Format:
[Talk / workshop / demonstration / performance / other]Who is involved:
[Name(s) of contributor(s) and group/organisation, if applicable]Any practical needs:
[e.g., table, display space, AV, accessibility requirements, etc.]Happy to provide further details if useful.
Best wishes,
[Name] [Contact details]