Highland Quest - the search to find a new musical which will premier at the redeveloped Eden Court Theatre in Inverness during the Highland Year of Culture 2007 - was launched today.

The Quest is open to anyone who can demonstrate a determination to create a musical theatre work which is, at its heart, Scottish, that is designed for a Scottish and Highland audience, and which addresses themes and ideas which are important and relevant to the people of Scotland today.

The Executive is providing £188,000 towards the project and theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh is contributing £75,000.

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said the groundwork was now in place to ensure a great year of celebrations throughout the Highlands in 2007.

The Minister said:

"I'm delighted to announce today as part of the Executive's commitment to celebrations around Scotland's Year of Highland Culture, substantial funding for a number of projects across the Highlands.

"Today we formally launch the first element to the Highland Year of Culture for 2007 'Highland Quest' - a competition designed to find a new Scottish musical.

"It will be the jewel-in-the-crown of the celebrations and the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, which will benefit from a capital injection in 2006/07 of £5 million, will premier the winning musical as its first production following the theatre's redevelopment.

"Thanks to Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the driving force behind the competition, anyone wanting to produce a musical theatre work will have the opportunity to compete to have their work staged during the 2007 celebrations here in Inverness and then for it to tour across the region.

Sir Cameron said:

"I'm delighted that this much needed crucible of Scottish musical theatre talent is being established in the Highlands - an area known for its love of music of all kinds whether performed at home, in local gatherings, and in theatres.

"I'm very pleased to be part of the initiative that will open the new Eden Court Studio. The new facilities in Inverness can act as a launch pad not only for new work but also for the celebration of performing talent in Scotland.

Eden Court Theatre Director Colin Marr added:

"Now we have launched Quest I am really excited about seeing the submissions. It will be intriguing to see how people interpret the theme of 'Scottishness' and their thoughts on the issues affecting Scotland today - some may be very personal, others familiar.

The Minister added:

"I am also happy to formally announce that the site of Culloden Battlefield will be redeveloped as an iconic architectural project and tourist attraction. It will receive £3.75 million from the Executive - part of a wider funding package of £8 million secured by the National Trust for Scotland."

"And the Gaelic College on Skye - Sabhal Mor Ostaig - will receive £750,000 in 2006/07 to support enterprise initiatives for Gaelic arts, culture and heritage and assist in the building of a Centre for Creative and Cultural Industries on its campus.

"We have also recently been in discussion with some of our agencies with regard to Highland 2007 - notably EventScotland, VisitScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.

"As their programmes and promotional plans develop over the coming weeks and months, I am confident that the total level of Scottish Executive support for The Highland Year of Culture in 2007 will increase."

"I am looking forward to seeing all of the projects becoming a reality. The enthusiasm, talent and commitment of everyone involved in these developments as part of the Highland Year of Culture will generate increased trade and tourist revenue for the region, and enrich the lives of people both here in the Highlands and across Scotland."

In total the Executive has committed £9.5 million towards the costs of three major building projects as part of the HYC2007.

£5 million towards the costs of redeveloping the Eden Court Theatre to increase the capacity of the main auditorium, establish a second, smaller theatre as part of the new complex, and provide cinema facilities.

Through VisitScotland, the Executive is contributing £3.75 million towards a new visitor centre at the Culloden battlefield site.

Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye is to receive £750,000 towards overall development costs of £6.4 million for a project that will sustain around 70 direct jobs and a further 20 indirect jobs. It will also create business incubation space for five new business start-ups in addition to the anchor tenants.

Plans for the full programme of events for Highland 2007 are still at an early stage and are being co-ordinated by Fiona Hampton, the Project Director, but in addition to the Highland Quest for a New Musical, there will also be a Highland Year of Culture 2007 Exhibition - "Fonn's Duthchas Land and Heritage".

It will celebrate aspects of Highland culture past and present. The Executive is providing a budget of £402,000 and has developed this jointly with National Museums of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland.