Latest News

An exciting new post is available at the Elphinstone Institute for a Scots/Doric Language Development Worker. The successful candidate will have experience of development work and working with community partners in community and educational settings, plus a track record in engaging with Scots/Doric and a sound knowledge of the wider...

Elphinstone Institute staff were honoured to meet Her Majesty The Queen on Monday, 20 January as part of an official visit to the University of Aberdeen. Patron of the Elphinstone Institute, the Very Reverend Professor Sir Iain Torrance, kindly introduced us to Her Majesty who then congratulated staff on the...

Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Elphinstone Institute

The Elphinstone Institute is privileged to welcome Professor Kwesi Yankah, formerly Minister of State for Tertiary Education in Ghana and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana. The renowned folklorist, politician, and newspaper columnist will be delivering the annual David Buchan Lecture and meeting members of the Senior Management Team. Details...

Our Outreach Talks pamphlet is hot off the press! We can offer talks on a variety of topics, including North-East Scottish Song Traditions; Migrant Experience in the North-East of Scotland; The Sacred Songs of Northern Scotland; Fire Festivals; Exploring The Elphinstone Institute Archives; Musical Traditions of Scotland's Northern Sailors; and...

Welcome to Laura Harrington and Kirsty Campbell, who have started working at the Elphinstone Institute as Festival Leads for NAFCo 2026. Preparations have already begun for the 25th anniversary of NAFCo (North Atlantic Fiddle Convention), and we can't wait to see NAFCo back in Aberdeen where it all began all...

The winner of the Neepie Lantern Competition 2024 is Gareth Dunnett who also won it in 2023. His carving skills are great, and he manages to create a spooktacular neepie lantern. Gareth also attended the Neepie Lantern Howking Workshop which was great fun. Well done Gareth! The runners-up are Niamh and...

Congratulations to the Toulmin Prize winner for 2024

Elphinstone Institute staff at the University of Aberdeen were honoured to welcome Mandy Gull-Masty, Grand Chief of Eeyou Istchee, The Grand Council of the Crees, along with Kristen Moar, and Adario Masty. The three visited because of their interest in Senior Lecturer Frances Wilkins's research on fiddle music in the...

Research to highlight traditional forms of Gaelic singing has now been turned into an exhibition which will tour Hebridean communities in 2024 and 2025. The exhibition has been at Museum nan Eilean in Stornoway since 20th January - and will be on show at the Kinloch Historical Society in Balallan...