20th August, 2008
Rt. Hon Alex Salmond, MSP, First Minister of Scotland today (Wednesday 20 August) celebrated the role the Edinburgh Festivals play in Scotland’s cultural life and looked forward to the Festivals’ participation in next year’s Homecoming celebrations.

Speaking at an event for the Directors of the Festivals in Edinburgh, the First Minister applauded the Festivals’ plans for Homecoming Scotland 2009 and highlighted the importance of their place in this National cultural programme. The Homecoming Scotland programme features over 100 events taking place across the length and breadth of Scotland.

Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a year long celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given the world. Created and timed to mark the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, Homecoming Scotland 2009 will encourage people of Scottish descent, Scots, and those who simply love Scotland to ‘come home’ in 2009 and join the celebrations.

Plans to take part in the national Homecoming celebration were highlighted across The Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Winter Festivals; Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The First Minister also took the opportunity to announce that the Scottish Arts Council has pledged an additional £250,000 to further enhance the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme to create further innovative cultural activity which extends the appeal and legacy of this national celebration. These new programme elements will be announced around St Andrew’s Day.

The First Minister urged Scots, those of Scottish descent, and those who love Scotland to ‘come home’ and join the celebrations in 2009. He also encouraged Scots at home to extend the Homecoming invitation to friends and family.

Rt. Hon Alex Salmond, MSP, First Minister of Scotland, said:

“Homecoming Scotland 2009 embraces the whole nation. In Edinburgh we have a fantastic range of world class festivals and it’s great that so many of these festivals are already gearing up for next year’s Homecoming celebrations. Every year the Festivals delight and engage thousands of Scots and visitors, and in 2009 we hope the Homecoming message will encourage even more of our global family to join us, enjoy these outstanding events and celebrate Scotland’s contributions to the world.”

Ends

Contact for Homecoming Scotland 2009
Leon Thompson, 0131 472 2312 or 07778 163 085, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to Editors:

Edinburgh Festivals Plans for Homecoming Scotland 2009

Over 100 organisations all over the country are currently planning special Homecoming events and activity throughout 2009. The Edinburgh Festivals are planning some significant and exciting contributions to the celebration.

• Edinburgh International Film Festival (June 17 – 28, 2009)
The renowned Edinburgh International Film Festival will present an enlightening programme of films of all shapes and sizes, drawn from every corner of the world and from every facet of the artistic imagination. In 2009 Scotland’s international filmmaking Diaspora will share their knowledge, expertise and life stories with audiences at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

• The Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August 7 – 29, 2009)
In celebration of Homecoming, The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland’s most iconic events, will embrace some of the world-renowned works by the poet Robert Burns in an emotive performance of pride and passion. Demonstrating the Tattoo’s commitment to showcasing the best of Scottish talent, the 2009 show will feature specially commissioned arrangements to create a key vignette within the Burns themed production. In addition, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will extend its reach beyond the spectacular setting of Edinburgh Castle in a series of 4 satellite events across central Scotland. These new events, created to mark the Homecoming year, will be free to the public. Venues are currently being confirmed and will be announced at the end of the year.

• Edinburgh International Festival (August 14 – Sept 6, 2009)
The 2009 Edinburgh International Festival programme will include the themes of Homecoming and the Enlightenment and set them in contemporary and often surprising contexts. The programme will highlight Scotland’s influence on some of the world’s great artists and artistic endeavours, and will reflect on that extraordinary moment in Scottish history that was the Enlightenment.

• Edinburgh International Science Festival (April 6 – 18, 2009)
The 21st Edinburgh International Science Festival will showcase the great contributions Scots have made to scientific and technological advances, both at home and abroad, in the past and present. For 2009 the programme will be even bigger and better with some stunning science for all ages including fun packed workshops, shows and interactive exhibitions as well as a programme of presentations, talks and discussions on the hottest and most intriguing areas of science and technology.

• Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 15 – 31, 2009)
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world’s largest celebration of the written word in the world will create a series of special events for 2009, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate and debate Scotland’s rich literary and cultural heritage, in particular the importance of Burns and the Scottish Enlightenment.

• Edinburgh Winter Festivals
Illuminated Art Car Parade (November 28th): Be part of the spectacular cavalcade that will celebrate Scotland’s history of invention and culture as part of Edinburgh’s winter festivals. See and electrifying, illuminated art car parade featuring such sights as a Robert Burns Poetry van, a Burke and Hare barrow, a golf car, a whisky truck and a bagpipe truck!

• The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (August 7 – 31, 2009)
The Edinburgh Fringe is unique, as the largest arts festival on the planet and brings thousands of performances to over 240 venues across Scotland's capital city. It has launched innumerable careers and been a celebration of ambition and creativity for over 50 years. In 2009 the Fringe Office will be working closely with Fringe venues and encouraging them to develop the Homecoming theme across their programmes; August will provide the perfect opportunity for Scots, and those with a passion for Scotland, to come home and join the party.

Homecoming Scotland 2009
The Homecoming Scotland programme features more then 100 events and festivals, taking place throughout the year and across the country. Programme information can be downloaded from www.homecomingscotland2009.com.

Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world, and to come home in 2009.

2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's great contributions to the world as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, Great Minds and Innovations, and Scotland’s culture and heritage which lives on at home and through Scotland’s global family.

Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland www.eventscotland.org the national events agency in partnership with VisitScotland www.visitscotland.com, the country’s national tourism agency. Homecoming Scotland 2009 will be delivered in partnership with a wide variety of organisations all across the country ranging from community groups, to professional events and festivals companies to Public Bodies.

The budget for Homecoming is £5 million and the target is for an 8 to 1 return on investment i.e. £40 million revenue additionality.

For more information on Homecoming Scotland and to register for programme updates please visit: www.homecomingscotland2009.com 

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