Amount Awarded
£18,300 (core programme funding was £13,800; Food and Drink funding was £4,500)
Event Background & Funding
Portsoy’s Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is a family-oriented event recognised as an innovative and increasingly important rural community initiative promoting tourism and culture in the North East of Scotland. Established in 1993 as a celebratory event in recognition of the 300th anniversary of Portsoy’s harbour, the event promotes Scottish maritime and cultural traditions and generates a sizeable economic impact for the local area. Visitors can discover, enjoy and participate in the maritime and cultural heritage of the North East. This includes sailing, fishing, history, crafts, theatre, literature and language, music, dance and dancing and food and drink. In addition to £13,500 of funding from EventScotland’s core event programme, the event was augmented through an additional £4,500 sum allocated as part of Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink. This funding contributed toward the provision of a food and drink demonstration area and greater engagement with local food and drink suppliers.
Tourism
In excess of 15,000 people attended the 2010 event, with close to 80% of the total attendance visiting specifically to attend the Festival. With over 60% of visitors staying for three nights, the festival generates in excess of £1.4 million for the local economy.
Business
The event engages a wide variety of local businesses including local food and drink suppliers, goods and services providers as well as hoteliers.
Media
As one of the North East’s flagship events it generates significant local and regional media coverage and significant Scottish coverage. The travel Channel, broadcast in 117 countries, also dedicated event coverage as part of its ‘Flavours of Scotland’ programme.
Participation and development
The festival engages a cross section of the population and attracts visitors with a variety of interests including the arts, crafts and music. There are also opportunities for visitors to the festival to try out sailing and have a go in a coracle. The addition of the Coastal Rowing Championships and the enhanced food and drink activity added another dimension to the 2010 event which has served to heighten expectations for forthcoming years.
Cultural and social benefits
The Scottish Traditional Boat festival organisers have created the Salmon Bothy, which includes a genealogical research facility, a community meeting and events facility and a museum featuring artefacts and information about Portsoy's harbours, the industry and trade and the Salmon Fishing operations. The Salmon Bothy also provides a space for local clubs and societies to meet. The Portsoy Organisation for Restoration and Training PORT, a site which combines the Portsoy Maritime Heritage Facility and the Festival's own Portsoy Fearing Project to educate and teach young people how to build and sail small boats, has recently been restored and won a top regional design award in August 2010.
Key Outcomes
15,000 attendees
60% of visitors stay for 3 nights or more.
38 local food and drink suppliers.
The 2010 received International and National Media Coverage including television coverage in 117 countries.
