£100 Funding Available for Your Manx Language Event!
Culture Vannin is calling on individuals, groups, and community organisations to get creative and organise their own event for Blein ny Gaelgey – the Year of the Manx Language!
With up to £100 available to help cover the cost of hiring a hall or indoor venue it couldn’t be easier to host your own event to celebrate all things Gaelg – Manx! And there is no need to panic if you are new to the language, your event doesn’t have to be 100% in Manx – but the more language, the better! Even bilingual signs, simple phrases, or Manx songs make a huge difference.
Dr Breesha Maddrell, Director of Culture Vannin said:
“At Culture Vannin we know that the most inspiring ways to bring a language to life often begin in local community halls, classrooms and shared spaces. That’s why we wanted to offer Mini Manx Venue Grants – to give people the chance to turn creative, grassroots ideas into real events that celebrate the Manx language. We hope these grants will empower individuals and groups right across the Isle of Man to make 2026 a year where the language is heard in every corner of Island.”
The opportunities for events are endless but the ever-creative team at Culture Vannin have come up with a few ideas:
- Host a bake sale – with traditional treats, bilingual menus and ingredient cards.
- Creative Community Projects – bring people together to create banners, posters, signs, or artwork featuring Manx words for display in the venue or beyond.
- Concerts or Open Mic Nights – a stage, a hall, and a microphone are all you need to encourage participants to try a few words of Manx, share songs, or perform poetry.
- Sing Your Heart Out in Manx – host a traditional Manx singing workshop or community sing-along with lyric sheets in Manx and English.
- Bilingual Workshops – run a hands-on craft session, cooking demonstration, or storytelling event with bilingual instructions and displays.
- Educational Talks & Presentations – explore Manx history, folklore, or culture either entirely in Manx or through bilingual talks – or give a talk about an aspect of the Manx language itself.
Tiffany Kerruish, Culture Vannin’s co-ordinator for Year of the Manx Language said:
“You don’t have to be fluent to be passionate about Manx. Some of the best ideas come from people who are learning, or who are simply Manx-curious. We know that even with plenty of enthusiasm, ideas need support – and that’s where we hope these new Mini Manx Venue Grants will help turn ideas into events in 2026. We’ve also created a ‘Get Involved’ section on www.yearofmanx.im, packed with tips and advice on everything from applying for funding and carrying out risk assessments, to reaching out to the media and promoting your event.”
Mini Manx Venue Grants are available for up to a £100 towards venue hire for a public event that is delivered during 2026. To apply visit https://culturevannin.im/grantsandawards/grants/mini-manx.
Applications for funding are welcomed in addition to Culture Vannin’s regular grant giving scheme.
