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Celebration of the Union of the Crowns
02/03/2003
Education, family entertainment and the promotion of
Scotland's history and culture are at the heart of plans to
commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Union of the
Crowns.
The first events in a programme which will stretch from
now until late autumn were announced today by Tourism and
Culture Minister Mike Watson.
The plans have been drawn up by an Advisory Group
chaired by Edinburgh Lord Provost Eric Milligan.
Initiatives confirmed at this stage include the creation
of a special Union of the Crowns website, a wide programme
of performances at Historic Scotland properties across
Scotland (including an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event), a
schools art competition and a series of high-profile
lectures.
Mike Watson
said:
"This year's anniversary of the Union of Crowns provides
an excellent opportunity to promote Scotland's history in a
manner that can generate great interest within Scotland,
throughout the UK and around the world.
"The Advisory Group have drawn up an impressive list of
events which combine education and entertainment to ensure
Scots and visitors of all ages can learn about the events
of 1603, and commemorate their key place in Scottish and
British history.
"The exciting programme of performances being organised
by Historic Scotland at castles, palaces and abbeys across
the country, as well as the schools art competition, will
help ensure that the 400th anniversary will be marked
across Scotland. I am confident that these events will
enrich the experience of visitors to Scotland this
year.
"I look forward to announcing plans for further high
profile events later this month."
Edinburgh's Lord Provost Eric Milligan added:
"I am delighted to be the chair of the Advisory Group
that has been charged with the responsibility of pulling
together an ambitious programme of events to mark the 400th
anniversary of the Union of the Crowns.
"During the year we will ensure that there is an
opportunity for all our people and for visitors to Scotland
to participate in a whole variety of commemorative events
such as lectures, exhibitions, a schools competition,
historical re-enactments and pageants. The events being
announced today will form the core programme of the many
activities that will be organised over the next few months.
We will also be encouraging other interested bodies and
individuals to apply themselves to be involved in this
important commemoration."
Confirmed events include:
Historic Scotland performance
programme
Four re-enactments and plays have been arranged, to be
performed at venues from Urquhart Castle to Caerlaverock
Castle, from Melrose Abbey to Linlithgow Palace.
On Sundays between April 27 and June 29, 10 performances
of 'The King is o'er the Border' will take place at Castles
at Stirling, Edinburgh, Dirleton, Huntingtower, Urquhart,
Caerlaverock, Huntly and Doune, as well as Melrose Abbey
and Linlithgow Palace.
On Sunday July 6 Stirling Castle will play host to
performances of 'The Beggar's Meal Poke' by Jozef Lozowy
and Lynda Berwick.
As part of Edinburgh's Festival Fringe programme,
Craigmillar Castle will host performances of 'An Audience
with King James VI and I' by Black Raven Living History and
Andy McAlpine Associates on 14-16 August.
Finally, every Monday from June 16 to September 22, the
Black Raven Living History will present 'For St Andrew and
St George' at Edinburgh Castle.
Full details will be announced shortly when Historic
Scotland publish 200,000 guides on events at their
properties.
Schools Art Competition
Organised by Historic Scotland, pupils from Primary 4
through to S1/2 will be encouraged to take part in an Art
Competition to create a painting that symbolises the unity
of Scotland and England. Symbols of both countries, such as
Scotland's crown jewels, will be explored in resource packs
specially produced for the competition and available free
to schools wishing to take part. Full details will be
announced later this month.
The National Archives of Scotland
Exhibition
In conjunction with Historic Scotland, The National
Archives of Scotland are preparing an exhibition of
relevant Union of the Crowns material to be held in
Edinburgh Castle in October.
Lecture Series
Plans are being developed by the University of Edinburgh
for a series of lectures aimed at children / students /
general public.
SCRAN website:
Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN), the
award winning history and culture website providing instant
access to images, sounds, movies and learning resources,
have agreed to develop a website dedicated to the Union of
the Crowns. It will be unveiled before the end of
March.
The Advisory Group, chaired by Eric Milligan, comprises
historian Michael Lynch, Pete Irvine from Unique Events,
and representatives from Historic Scotland, VisitScotland,
Scottish Tourism Forum, CoSLA, Scotland Office and Scottish
Executive.