AMPLIFY consortium takes on the Isle of Lewis: forging tomorrow’s cultural landscape
North Bragar, Isle of Lewis: 20–21 May 2025
Partners from across Europe came together in the stunning landscapes of the Outer Hebrides last week for the second in-person consortium meeting of the AMPLIFY project.
Hosted by Scottish Gaelic arts organisation and AMPLIFY partner: Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the meeting took place at Grinneabhat, a community centre in Bragar, offering the ideal cultural setting for two days of collaboration, creativity, and connection.
With AMPLIFY now six months into its 36-month programme, the gathering was a timely opportunity to reflect, plan, and go deeper into the project’s human-centric approach and technical innovations.
Day 1: Ideas, insights, and island exploration
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Mikel Zorrilla, project coordinator and François Matarasso, who spoke of AMPLIFY’s role in bringing democratic, humanist and inclusive values to the potential of artificial intelligence in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)..
Key highlights included:
- A compelling presentation by Katrien De Moor on the project’s early human-centred insights, exploring the role of community participation in shaping technological innovation;
- A technical deep-dive into an initial piloting activity, led by Pablo César, laying the groundwork for AMPLIFY’s architectural and design framework to provide digital tools;
- Parallel sessions focusing on technical development, social value, and communication strategy;
- Remote contributions from the AMPLIFY communications team –Elena Blagoeva, Eva Sarasola, Francesca Cerretani, Nicolas Madoery and Ben Shirley, ensured alignment across the entire consortium.
Beyond the discussions, participants gained an insight into the joys and challenges of remote island life and the riches of Scotland’s Gaelic heritage.
Day 2: Roadmapping and cultural exchange
Day two saw energy levels high as the consortium dove into more hands-on and practical work:
- Steering Committee meetings, detailed reviews of the AMPLIFY PORTABLE pilot with Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and group sessions with key pilot leads: Fèisean na Gàidheal, the Liceu Opera in Barcelona, Concerts with Babies by Cooperativa Paulo Lameiro in Portugal, and contemporary jazz with Toscana Produzione Musica in Italy.
- The afternoon focused on aligning the consortium’s roadmap towards November, with concrete steps outlined for upcoming technical and creative milestones.
- The day concluded with a memorable evening of Gaelic music and dance, hosted in a neighbouring community hall – an authentic expression of the cultural wealth that AMPLIFY aims to celebrate and connect.
The gathering
In late March 2025, artists, technologists, and researchers from various parts of Europe travelled to Leiria, in central Portugal. Their goal: to spend five days of intensive work laying the foundations for the Music with Babies pilot. During the stay, while enjoying Leiria’s local culture, the group had opportunities to strengthen the vital human bonds formed at the kick-off meeting. But most of their time was spent in the periurban parish of Pousos, on the edge of Leiria, where the group was immersed in work at the base of Cooperativa Paulo Lameiro (CPL), a former shoe factory creatively repurposed into a rehearsal, storage, administrative, and artistic residency space by the original owner’s great-nephew, artistic director Paulo Lameiro. These five days of intense collaboration were made possible by extensive preparation in the weeks leading up to the gathering. The technology partners — Vicomtech, CWI, TUS, and Salsa Sound — adapted existing tools to this pilot’s needs, while CPL prepared Concerts for Babies’ artists and audience members to play their part in the event, all in close collaboration with the NTNU team that ensures AMPLIFY’s human-centric and ethical approach. Work began with Pilot 0 — a session to test and showcase the tools in a real-world environment.
A catalyst for local impact
The consortium visit brought nearly 30 representatives from across Europe to Lewis, generating local economic activity while offering an immersive introduction to the Fèisean (Gaelic Festivals) movement and the enduring vibrancy of their culture. Participants stayed in local accommodations, enjoyed regional cuisine, and engaged with local artists and community members.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, noted the importance of such gatherings:
“This conference demonstrates how the Gaelic language can attract international interest in Scotland to drive economic growth in the country’s island communities. The gathering brings linguistic communities together to deliver cutting-edge innovation in the music sector.”
Media coverage
The meeting attracted interest from both local and national media:
- BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s Feasgar programme featured a special interview with Calum MacMillan: Listen to the full programme here (in Gaelic!).
- Local news outlet We Love Stornoway covered the event in-depth: Read the article here (in English).
Next stop: third AMPLIFY consortium meeting this autumn in Italy! 🇮🇹
