This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Showcase of Scots culture in America
13/03/2003
More than 100 Scots from all walks of life are to take
part in a cultural extravaganza in Washington DC this
summer.
Musicians, storytellers, craftspeople, dancers,
scholars, cooks, historians, poets and linguists will
take Scottish traditional culture to millions of Americans,
as part of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which
this summer - its 37
th year - will celebrate the traditional living
cultures of Scotland, Mali and Appalachia.
Scottish participation in the festival and associated
events will receive financial backing from the Executive,
VisitScotland, Scottish Arts Council and National Museums
of Scotland and is supported by cultural organisations
across the country.
Tourism and Culture Minister Mike Watson today helped
launch the Folklife Festival programme
Scotland: the People, the Pride, the
Passion.
He said:
"This is international recognition of Scotland's strong
cultural traditions, and the continuing excellence,
vibrancy and variety of these traditions within
contemporary Scotland. For the next few months, our culture
will be uniquely presented to an international audience
through lecture, film, performance, display, demonstration
and exhibition.
"The Executive is committed to promoting modern and
positive images of Scotland overseas and to raising
Scotland's international profile in partnership with
others.
"Scotland at the Smithsonian promises to be an amazing
experience and I congratulate all those involved."
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will run from June
25-29 and July 2-6, with more than one million visitors
expected to attend this outdoor event on the National Mall,
surrounded by the US Capitol, the Washington Monument and
Smithsonian Museums.
Festival performances take place on large and smaller
stages on the Mall, and in addition to day and evening
performances, the Festival features workshops, interviews
and discussion sessions at which participants have an
opportunity to explain and discuss their particular art as
well Scottish culture in general with Festival
visitors.
Smithsonian Curator Dr Nancy Groce said:
"This event will bring the vitality and diversity of
Scotland's traditional culture to the heart of Washington
DC. Through dynamic performances, demonstrations and
educational programmes, 'Scotland at the Smithsonian' will
explain and celebrate the living traditions that make and
sustain Scotland's distinctive culture.
"Our Festival provides a forum for Scots representing a
wide range of talents and traditions to speak directly to
the American public, sharing their enthusiasm about what
makes Scotland Scottish."
In addition to sponsoring the Folklife Festival,
VisitScotland is working in partnership with the
Smithsonian Associates to bring about a series of lectures
and performances on Scotland's culture and history.
Running from March to June, it will include people such
as Ian Rankin, Tom Devine, Lady Clare MacDonald, Charles
MacLean and Brian Taylor.
Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
"We are excited at the prospect of sponsoring the
Smithsonian Associates programme and the Folklife Festival.
Participation in these events provides an excellent
platform for us to target a key group of US travellers. We
are using this opportunity to run an extensive marketing
campaign to encourage the Smithsonian's 57,000 members, and
the wider US audience, to plan a visit to Scotland and
experience our vibrant culture for themselves."
National Museums of Scotland are taking their acclaimed
'Celebrating Scotland's Crafts' exhibition to the
Smithsonian from June 20 to September 12.
The exhibit's 106 present-day objects, produced by
traditional methods, highlight the continuation of
specialised skills and crafts passed down through the
centuries from generation to generation.
Colin McCallum, Director of Marketing and Development at
NMS, said:
"National Museums of Scotland are delighted to be
involved with the Scotland at the Smithsonian initiative.
We are confident that our exhibition Celebrating Scotland's
Crafts will play a great part in communicating the vibrancy
and breadth of Scotland's contemporary culture.
"We trust the exhibition and the involvement of our
curators in the Smithsonian's Associates programme will
help encourage prospective American visitors to come to NMS
and to Scotland in the future. We are also delighted that
Sir Jackie Stewart has agreed to take part in a Scottish
Sports Hall of Fame event."
James Boyle, Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council,
added:
"The Folklife Festival is a wonderful event and a
terrific opportunity to showcase Scotland's musicians,
artists and crafts makers in the United States. We are
therefore delighted to be working with the Smithsonian
Institution and other Scottish partners to help create a
greater appreciation of Scotland's rich and vibrant
culture."
The Scottish Executive has contributed £250,000 towards
the creation and running of the programme, with
VisitScotland and the Scottish Arts Council each
contributing £50,000.
In total, VisitScotland anticipate spending in the
region of £300,000 around the various activities that are
taking place.
The Smithsonian Associates Programme: 'Scotland: The
People, The Pride, The Passion'
The Smithsonian Associates (TSA) is the educational and
cultural outreach programme of the Smithsonian Institution,
the world's largest museum and research complex. TSA's
Resident Associates Program (RAP) has a membership of
57,000 in the Washington area. Each year, RAP stages nearly
1,200 programs. VisitScotland is working in partnership
with TSA to bring about, for the first time, a major series
of lectures, film and performances exploring Scotland's
culture and history that will feature over 50 events
running from March through June.
VisitScotland are the main Scottish sponsors of the
series, and can be contacted for further information on
0131 472 2209. Details of the events can be found at:
http://www.residentassociates.org/rap/idx-scot.asp.
NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF SCOTLAND 'CELEBRATING SCOTLAND'S
CRAFTS'
NMS are taking their acclaimed 'Celebrating Scotland's
Crafts' exhibition to the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries
Building on the Mall from mid June until September. It will
feature more than 100 present-day objects, produced by
traditional methods, highlight the continuation of
specialised skills and crafts passed down through the
centuries from generation to generation. The Scottish Arts
Council, as a key funder, was instrumental in creating the
NMS Crafts Exhibition.