|
The National Trust for Scotland
|
|
The National Trust for Scotland is a charitable organisation, set
up in 1931 to look after some of Scotland's finest built and natural
heritage on behalf of the people of Scotland. Its roles include
conservation, education and presentation. It is funded chiefly by
membership subscriptions, donations and legacies, and by some commercial
activity.
It looks after:
- More than 100 properties
- Around 185,000 acres of land
- Thousands of archaeological sites throughout Scotland
- 700 acres of garden under intensive cultivation supporting over
13,500 plants species
The National Trust for Scotland makes a substantial contribution
to conserving, presenting and promoting interest in Scotland's heritage.
In addition, properties frequently play host to a range of musical
and other cultural activities.
|
Looking after our past for the future
We need to ensure that collections
important to Scotland are protected and made available to present and
future generations. Collections should include products of our contempory
culture. We recognise that the existing framework lacks consistency and
strategic direction. As a first step in improving this provision we shall
support a national audit of the collections, buildings and other resources
and assets of our museums and galleries, identifying that which is of
national and local importance. In association with this audit we shall:
- Consider how to promote sustainable funding in the museum sector
- Identify criteria to guide the restructuring of the sector
- Encourage the National Museums and Galleries to extend their outreach
roles of making loans and providing curatorial and conservation support
and advice to the non-national sector
- Examine the role and place of industrial museums in the developing
framework
- In the shorter term, work with City of Glasgow Council to examine
the circumstances of the museums and galleries in the City.
>>Actions to conserve, present and promote interest in and knowledge
of Scotland's history and cultural heritage
We shall:
- Initiate a national audit of collections in the museums and galleries,
beginning with the 'industrial' museums
- Support the development of education services, including the production
of digital and other education resources in museums, galleries and sites
in the care of Historic Scotland
- Review the existing statutory framework relevant to museums and galleries,
and consider the case for a comprehensive national framework
- Increase access to collections by means of ICT, including securing
the future of SCRAN
- Review current library legislation to ensure that it is appropriate
to the 21st century
- Support the National Library of Scotland in its aim to become a 'hybrid
library' maintaining its traditional print-based functions while developing
its ICT facilities to meet the demands on a modern library of national
and international importance
- Encourage new partnerships in both public and private sectors, and
further collaboration within the library sector to include the exploitation
of ICT and the development of policies for national collections, particularly
in relation to Scottish material.
 |
'scotland has magnificent scenery; a pristine natural environment;
cultural and historical richness; world famous sporting attractions;
world famous sporting attractions; and beautiful vibrant cities.'
a new strategy for scottish tourism
|
 Promoting
international cultural exchange and dialogue
Given increasing globalisation, Scotland's relations with the other
countries in the United Kingdom, Europe and the rest of the world will
have an increasing influence on our culture. Improved communications have
accelerated the process of cultural interchange. Developing an awareness
of the culture of other countries enables us not only to learn from others,
but also to identify those aspects of our own culture which are particularly
worth celebrating or which can be improved.
Trade and tourism are fundamental to these exchanges and will have significant
impacts on Scotland's future cultural development. The tourism industry
is worth £2.5 billion to the Scottish economy and supports over 170 000
jobs. Scotland's heritage is at present central to our branding, but we
need to consider further how we promote our contemporary culture. As economic
and other international relations develop, there will be many opportunities
to promote Scotland's culture abroad and, associated with this, to present
Scotland as a tourist destination. These should be grasped.
The Scottish Executive's New Strategy for Scottish Tourism, which was
published in February 2000, recognises the value of Scotland's culture.
It identifies a number of actions to promote cultural tourism.
To realise fully the potential and very significant contribution of arts,
culture and heritage to tourism, a Ministerial Group has been established.
It will make recommendations about ways in which this important market
can be developed. It will also consider how to ensure that Scotland can
exploit its advantages to attract international events in all aspects
of culture, including sport.
|
Cultural Festivals in Edinburgh in August
|
|
The Edinburgh International Festival was founded in 1947 as a stage
for peace and unity in Europe after the Second World War. Its focus
is on top acts from opera, classical, and drama worlds. It is now
recognised as one of the most important celebrations of the arts
in the world. A number of other festivals have developed round the
"official" festival.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrates its 50th anniversary
this year. Each year, 200,000 people see the Tattoo, coming from
every corner of the globe (around 35 per cent of the audience is
from overseas), and are joined each year by a worldwide television
audience of over 100m million.
The Festival Fringe has become the largest Festival in the
world with over 1,000 companies from 36 different nations performing
1,523 different shows in 189 different performance spaces over 23
days. Over 70 members of staff work at the Fringe office at the
height of the festival, processing the tickets and enquiries from
Edinburgh regulars and the 500,000 visitors who boost audiences
on the Fringe.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival began in 1983
to promote and celebrate the written word. It took place every two
years growing each time in popularity and success until 1997 when
it became an annual event. Over 70,000 people visited it in 1999,
enjoying an extensive and innovative programme of author events
for people of all ages. In 2000, over 350 nationally and internationally
acclaimed authors will come and take part in around 400 events.
Edinburgh International Film Festival is one of the world's
major film festivals. In 1996 it celebrated its 50th anniversary
and is the longest continually running film festival in the world.
Over a hundred films had their UK premiere in the fortnight-long
festival in 1999.
A 1996 study for Edinburgh City Council identified that together
each year Edinburgh's Festivals contributed £122m to the local economy.
Around a million visitors came from outside Scotland to visit festivals
in the City, and many spend time in other parts of Scotland as part
of their visit. In recent years, the Science Festival, the Jazz
Festival and the Hogmanay celebrations have extended the benefits
of cultural tourism to other times of the year.
|
>>Actions to promote international cultural exchange and dialogue
We shall:
- Promote the establishment of an Internationalisation (Go and See)
Fund to support inward and outward travel by individuals and companies
working in the cultural sector to learn, exhibit, screen or perform
in other countries
- Build upon existing initiatives and joint working by relevant bodies
such as SAC, the British Council, Scotland Europa, Scottish Enterprise,
Scottish Trade International and Scottish Screen to develop opportunities
to promote Scotland's culture abroad
- Maximise the benefits of existing international links, including town-twinning,
to widen cultural access and understanding
- Seek opportunities to promote Scotland's culture abroad
- Set up a Ministerial Task Force to promote cultural tourism as part
of the New Strategy for Scottish Tourism
- Collaborate in joint cultural activity or projects with other European
regions/member states, to access EU Culture 2000 funding and to influence
EU policy for culture
- Ensure that Scotland attracts international events.
|
