This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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£1.4 million to support events
03/01/2007
The Executive has provided almost £1.4 million of extra funding for 110 sporting and cultural events across Scotland over the last four years.
EventScotland delivers the Executive's Major Events Strategy, taking responsibility for attracting, creating and developing sporting and cultural events through its Regional Events Programme.
These range from arts and culture extravaganzas including Big in Falkirk, The Wickerman Festival in Dumfries and Galloway and The Enchanted Forest in Perthshire.
The Regional Events Programme is designed to complement EventScotland's core business of attracting major international events to Scotland by showcasing specific towns and regions throughout Scotland.
Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"By supporting events that take place outside our major cities, the Regional Events Programme plays an important role in developing domestic tourism across Scotland
"The extra funding which these events receive often serves as a catalyst for them to expand, both in terms of scale and ambition.
"Our vision is to enhance Scotland's international profile as one of the world's foremost event destinations by 2015, increasing visitor numbers to Scotland and maximising all tourism related business for the continued development of the Scottish economy."
The total investment in events referred to is £1,376,792.03.
EventScotland administers an annual budget of £500,000 to support regional events. This fund is distributed as an outcome of two competitive application rounds. Applicants can apply for between £2,000 to £25,000 as appropriate.
The next deadline for applications to the Regional Events Programme is February 2 for eligible events taking place from July 2007 - June 2008.