2404) "Culture Vannin", Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory (BOT): 40th Anniversary milestone (1982-2022): The Isle Of Man Post (IOMP) has issued a fun and creative collection of six stamps highlighting the activities of Culture Vannin: Date of Stamp Set issue: 04.07.2022:
Culture Vannin:
The Header/Banner showcases "Culture Vannin" in a fun and creative way and includes the six stamps issued in the set and playful fun-filled activities representing Manx Culture.
Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, established in 1982 by the Isle of Man Government to promote all aspects of Manx culture, heritage and language.
It was rebranded in 02/2014, having previously been known as the "Manx Heritage Foundation" (Manx - "Undinys Eiraght Vannin"), since the former title "held connotations more towards the cultural history of the island" which were not felt to be accurate to the organisation's progressive approach to invigorating Manx culture.
Culture Vannin's motto is "Taking our culture forward".
The Foundation's offices are currently based in Fairfield House, St. John's, opposite Tynwald Hill and next to Bunscoill Ghaelgagh (it was previously located at The Nunnery, Douglas).
Activities of Culture Vannin:
Culture Vannin's main aims are:
1) To identify the unique areas of Manx Heritage and Culture and
2) To find practical ways of making them relevant to today's society
3) To support the Manx identity and contemporary Manx culture.
The Foundation sets out to achieve these aims by offering financial assistance through grants or loans, by undertaking and commissioning its own research/publishing, and by offering practical advice and assistance where appropriate.
The Foundation considers Manx culture to include all of the following - crafts, language, history, natural history, music, literature, folk-lore, art, folk dance, architecture, archaeology, industrial development, law and ecology.
Examples of key work carried out by the Foundation includes -
- The awarding of "Reih Bleeaney Vanannan" ("Manannan's Choice of the Year") in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Manx culture. This has been awarded annually since 1987.
- Support of events that celebrate the Manx language, music and dance, including - "Shennaghys Jiu", "Yn Chruinnaght", "Cooish" and "Bree".
- The publication or support for publication of a number of books, CDs and DVDs.
- Commissioning and supporting a number of oral history projects.
The Stamp issue:
Isle of Man Post Office has presented this fun and creative collection designed by Manx illustrator and artist Jay Cover in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Isle of Man's beloved Culture Vannin (1982-2022).
In designing the stamps, the overall aim was to highlight the exceptional and fundamental work that Culture Vannin has undertaken in the revival of interest and support for Manx Language and Culture throughout the last forty years.
The Stamp concepts:
Each stamp represents the six core pillars of Culture Vannin’s work and contains subtle hints and references to Manx culture.
The stamps cover six key topics of cultural support selected by Culture Vannin representatives themselves that best describes and embody the work they have undertaken over the years.
The cultural activities include - archaeology, industrial development, architecture, art and crafts, history and law, language and literature, music, folklore and folk-dance and the number 40 appears to mark their years of activity.
The illustrations draw from Manx cultural iconography and can be combined into one long frieze resulting into many different sequences.
The visual concept of the issue is to portray Culture Vannin carrying the Island’s culture and history to the population of the Isle of Man and the wider world, hence the movement of those depicted in the artworks.
The four colours used are derived from Manx tartan and the stamps present a host of characters in the spirit of enthusiastic and slightly mischievous Manx faeries (or the Mooinjer Veggey in Manx) running to transport Manx culture to the people of the Island.
The individual stamps:
The six Stamps issued in the set.
Stamp 1, Supporting Language & Literature (73p):
One character is shown with a banner reading “Gaelg Aboo” ("hooray for Gaelic" in Manx). Another character is reading a book by T.E Brown, renowned Manx poet and author.
Stamp 2, Supporting Archaeology & Industrial Development (£1.04):
A construction worker, miner and an archaeologist are depicted.
Stamp 3, Supporting History & Law (£1.38):
Tynwald hill, one of Isle of Man’s most distinctive landmarks and the annual meeting place of the world’s oldest continuous parliament is being carried aloft followed by a Deemster wearing his legal wig and robes and holding the key to the government building the House of Keys.
Stamp 4, Supporting Architecture, Arts & Crafts (£1.91):
An artisan and famous Manx artist Archibald Knox are seen carrying the architecturally distinctive Douglas Sea Terminal building. The pencil being carried by a beret-wearing artist features the letters ‘RBV’ which stands for "Reih Bleeaney Vanannan", the highest award for Manx Culture available from Culture Vannin.
Stamp 5, Supporting Natural History & Ecology (2.16):
Assorted birds and a rabbit accompany a farmer riding a famous Manx loaghtan sheep while carrying a herring. The herring was traditionally vital to our fishing industry and has great folk symbolism, the metaphor.
Stamp 6, Supporting Music, Folk-Lore & Folk-Dance (£2.57):
A Manx folk dancer leads a ship-carrying Norseman, to a tune played by the flautist.
Culture Vannin 40th Anniversary First Day Cover:
Each one of the six stamps from this collection is presented here on the First Day Cover (FDC) of this deluxe vibrant citric orange envelope. The FDC is titled - "CULTURE VANNIN - Celebrating 40 Years at the Heart of Manx Culture".
This bold and bright cover features Jay Cover’s fun and original illustrations embodying Manx culture and everything that Culture Vannin represents.
The stamps are cancelled with a special first day of issue postmark dated "04.07.2022."
The FDC is accompanied with an informative issue text about the stories of the stamps, the artist and Culture Vannin.
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Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post on Manx cultural initiatives."
Thank you, Trikha sahab.
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