What's New

• 14 December 2011

  Seasons Greetings from EventScotland

  

  Looking back over the past 12 months it is clear that Scotland continues to be “The Perfect Stage for Events”., with events like the MOBO Awards, Rally of Scotland, Tall Ships,  Piping Live!, Ricoh Women’s British Open and Celtic Connections to name but a few, and we’ll round off the year in style once again with the world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay leading Scotland's hogmanay celebrations.

  Throughout the year we have also embraced the year of Active Scotland, with a number of successful mass participation events including the Great Edinburgh Run, Inverness Half Marathon and Pedal for Scotland.

  In 2012 Scotland welcomes the year of Creative Scotland, which will celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative vibrancy. We can already look forward to events including Celtic Connections, StAnza, the Fife Jazz Festival and the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art, with many more cultural events to be announced over the coming months.

  It will also be another strong year for sport with the AVIVA International Match, UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, Senior Open Championship and the Adidas TERREX Adventure Race showcasing just a handful of the events taking place.

  This is merely a snapshot of the activity taking place over 2012, with so many other great events lined-up. It is hugely encouraging as we enter the ‘Winning Years’ that there is such a strong programme of events, helping to raise our international profile and delivering important economic benefit across the country as we look forward to 2014.

  I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank every one of our partners for making 2011 such a success. I know I speak on behalf of the team when I say that we are very much looking forward to working will you all again in the new year.

  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

  From Paul and the team at EventScotland

  Image: Traquair House, home to many fantastic events that have been supported through our funding programmes.

  Category: EventScotland News
• 25 October 2011

  Humanitarians wanted for Bard’s award

  

  People from across the world whose work, efforts and deeds pay tribute to Robert Burns – STV’s Greatest Scot ever – are being sought as the deadline for nominations for a major humanitarian award draws closer.

  The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award – launched in 2002 and supported by South Ayrshire Council, EventScotland and VisitScotland – recognises a group or individual who has saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through personal self-sacrifice, selfless service or 'hands on' charitable work.

  The current recipient of the award is Linda Norgrove, the Scottish aid worker who was killed in October 2010 during a US military-led rescue mission to free her from Aghanistani captors and who had worked closely with indigenous local communities in Afghanistan to implement initiatives such environmentally sustainable development, rural enterprise, infrastructure and agricultural improvement.

  Robert Burns Humanitarian Award winners receive the equivalent of 1759 guineas – a sum which signifies the year of the Bard's birth and the coinage then in circulation – as well as a specially commissioned award handcrafted in Scotland.

  Nominees will not only follow in Linda’s footsteps, but also the likes of UNICEF ambassador and actor Ewan McGregor and Bollywood actress and political activist Shabana Azmi who both hold the honour of being RBHA nominees.

  Previous recipients of the award include Habib Malik, Scotland Manager of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and a member Islamic Relief (2010); and Guy Willoughby, Founder and CEO of the HALO Trust (2009), who recently welcomed Hollywood A-lister Angelina Jolie to the trust’s headquarters in Dumfries while husband Brad Pitt was filming in Scotland.

  Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland, added: “The Burns Humanitarian Award is a wonderful celebration of individuals who do a tremendous amount of work in the community and often go unrecognised. EventScotland is delighted to be part of this celebration of their achievements”

  Nominations for the 2012 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award can be made online at  www.robertburnsaward.com until Friday 4 November 2011.

  The winner will be announced at a special awards ceremony at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway in January, which will coincide with the 253rd anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

  Category: EventScotland News
• 12 July 2011

  Weekend success for Scotland

  

  Scotland proved itself as ‘the perfect stage’ for a range of first-class events over the weekend as it played host to some of the best sporting stars and musicians from across the world.

  From Greenock to Inverness, there was something for everyone to enjoy and the locals and visitors alike were entertained from start to finish.

  Luke Donald backed up his World number 1 ranking with a fine victory at the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. The new venue for the national open welcomed over 51,000 visitors across the eventual three days of play and there was plenty for the Scottish fans to cheer about when Scott Jamieson finished in tied for third place and grabbed a last-minute spot in this week’s Open Championship.

  Yet more Scottish cheers could be heard at Braehead arena from 8-10 July when Great Britain defeated Luxembourg in the Davis Cup thanks to the fine performances of Andy Murray, his brother Jamie and James Ward. Andy was brought to tears as he celebrated their victory in front of the sell-out crowd. Their win now gives them a home tie against Hungary in September with the winner being promoted to the second tier of the Davis Cup competition.

  Balado was transformed over the weekend as thousands of music-lovers soaked up the thrilling line-up of artists performing at T in the Park. Coldplay headlined Saturday night while other highlights included Pulp’s reunion, Beyoncé, Artic Monkeys and the Foo Fighters.

  Last but not least, over 60 Tall Ships will leave the port of Greenock today and set sail towards Lerwick, Shetland.  After docking on the west coast where over 120,000 visitors came to marvel at the vessels over the weekend, they set sail around Scotland’s magnificent coastline for the Cruise in Company phase of the event which will see the vessels dock in the Shetland Isles later this month for the third stage of the 2011 Tall Ships Races.

  Find out more about how EventScotland invests in events.

  Category: EventScotland News