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Wilson sets out vision of how Scotland can make the most out of Burns
20/07/2001
Robert Burns is one of Scotland's greatest global assets and more must be done to exploit the cultural and tourism opportunities he offers us. That will be the message from Deputy Scottish Culture Minister Allan Wilson tomorrow (Saturday) when he addresses the World Burns Federation Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Minister will set out his goals for creating a wider celebration of Burns day in Scotland and across the world and to try and introduce more children and young people to the work of Burns. Mr Wilson will also offer some early suggestions of ways in which this could be achieved and called on the "Burns community" to offer their own ideas.
The Minister will address an international audience at the conference. He said:
"Burns' Day is a time honoured and hugely enjoyable occasion and it is important that there is widespread participation. I don't believe we make best use of our greatest cultural icon in promoting Scottish culture and tourism and I am determined to change that.
"Scotland is proud of Burns but we can be prouder and make more of that pride. I set out some hopes a couple of weeks ago about how we might do this. How we could create a wider celebration of Burns and Scotland at home and world wide. I have been pleased with the response. We are now working hard to give shape to the many ideas and suggestions that have come forward.
"But we can look for celebrations in wider ways that can develop our understanding of the poet and his works and place it at the heart of our thinking about how Scotland can develop. We have had some interesting suggestions as to how to do this. I shall share some of them with you - at
this stage they are only gleams in the eye - not yet the 'best laid schemes o' mice and men.' Some of them may excite you and set you thinking - I would be happy to talk further to anyone at any stage about taking them forward.
"It has been suggested that we should inaugurate a Burns Award which would be given for outstanding service to humanitarian causes. It would be an accolade of the highest distinction - its presentation would be a showcase for Scotland - and provide an opportunity not only to mark Burns but the wider contribution of Scotland to humanitarian causes throughout history. The award itself could stimulate the best of Scottish artists and craftsmen to design something fitting - a splendid opportunity to make a connection with modern work.
"Another possibility would be to commission work in less advantaged areas in Scotland that expresses or epitomises some aspect of Burns' work. Plays, paintings, photography, operas, writing, videos - the possibilities are endless. Such work can be an important stimulus to individuals and communities developing new skills and self confidence which can lead them onto new opportunities and challenges. Making this a national initiative could provide a platform for showcasing this work to a wider audience nationally and stimulating the best of our artists to work in the community.
"An aspect of this possibility that attracts me is that it would bring a lot of children and young people into contact with Burns - and give them a living connection. There is more we can do in this area - we hope to stimulate new teaching materials to make him attractive in the classroom - the digitisation of his work and manuscripts could have an important role to play here.
"These are just some initial ideas and there is still a major amount of work to be done to develop them. We are rapidly assembling a team to take this on and I want the Burns Federation to play a keen role."
BACKGROUND
The World Burns Federation Conference takes place between 20-22 July 2001.
News Release: SE1730/2001
20 Jul 2001