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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.