Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture, today (8 August) announced £200,000 support for an additional 21 events contributing to the exciting and varied programme for next year.

The Cross Community Fund offers support to individuals or organisations staging events or managing projects in more than one area within The Highland Council boundary or that attract participants from across the area.

These events will contribute to the world class programme already in place, for the year ahead, adding to more than 80 major events and hundreds of community events already confirmed.

The programme of events spans the entire year of 2007 from January through to December showcasing the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit, encouraging people to come here during the year itself and in the future.

Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, said: “We had an excellent response from organisations throughout The Highland Council area seeking support for their events and projects from the Cross Community Fund and are really pleased that we have been able to support these additional 21 events.

“Each of the six strands of Highland culture are represented by these events and they help to make the Highland 2007 programme of events as inclusive as possible, reaching many different groups of people within our communities in the Highlands.  In this way as many people as possible will benefit from an opportunity to join the cultural celebrations.”

Events and projects offered funding through the Cross Community Fund are as follows:

• Blas Festival
• Highland Constellation
• Highland Artists
• Sport Volunteering Roadshow
• Salt of the Earth / Pinch of Salt
• Between the World & Eternity
• Drama na h-Alba
• A Day and a Night
• The Green Machine
• Tional
• Highland Art Textiles
• Celtic Games
• Highland Open Studios
• George Bain - Master of Celtic Art
• Fada lar Thuath Showcase Tour
• Highland Science Festival
• An Aifreann Gaidhlig
• Gates Open Days
• Junior Highland Games
• Exploring Your Past
• Christian Roots