The launch of a new £1 million funding programme to help organisations to stage events to support a year-long celebration of Scotland’s culture and heritage was announced today, Monday 26th November 2007 . The funding programme launched by Homecoming Scotland, a Scottish Government initiative, aims to encourage Scots and people of Scottish descent to come home to Scotland in 2009.

Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, said: “Homecoming Scotland is an exciting, compelling initiative designed to kindle pride in Scots at home and in the many millions of people overseas who are of Scottish descent or who simply love Scotland. This is the first time that we as a nation have invited Scotland’s global family to come home and it is a wonderful opportunity for us all to use our connections, to spread the message and invite our extended families home in 2009.

“This year-long celebration will benefit our country in terms of additional tourism, which will contribute to our economy. But it’s also an outstanding opportunity to reconnect with the Scottish Diaspora around the world and provide impetus for them to visit their homeland.”

The launch of the ‘Homecoming Scotland Themed Events Programme’ is an opportunity for many organisations in Scotland to access grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 to enhance existing events or create new ones that reflect the Homecoming Scotland themes and objectives.

2009 also marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Homecoming Scotland will work with organisers on an exciting and inspirational programme of events and activities across the country to encourage our extended family around the globe to come home in 2009 to celebrate not only Burns but the many great contributions that Scotland has given the world. The programme design will be guided by Scotland’s unique position as the home of Burns, Golf, Whisky, the Enlightenment and Innovation, and of course as the ancestral home of millions of people of Scots descent worldwide.

The ‘Homecoming Scotland Themed Events Programme’ is one strand of the year-long celebration which will also feature specially-commissioned Signature Events, a range of Partner Events and a Rolling Programme of activity taking place across the country and throughout 2009, starting on Burns Night and ending on St Andrew’s Day.

The new Themed Events Fund will create a programme of year-long activity in 2009 that will:

• Celebrate Scotland’s outstanding contributions to the world
• Engage with and encourage the Scottish Diaspora to visit Scotland in 2009
• Promote pride in Scots living at home and abroad
• Generate additional tourism and revenue for Scotland

Managed by Scotland’s national events agency, EventScotland, in partnership with VisitScotland, Homecoming Scotland aims to instil pride in Scots at home and abroad and help develop economic growth for Scotland.
Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, said: “As Scotland’s national events agency, EventScotland is ideally placed to manage the delivery of Homecoming Scotland in 2009.

“EventScotland has already created a portfolio of world class events, ensuring Scotland capitalises on the growing trend of event tourism, and Homecoming will be an extension of this work. With our public sector and event industry partners we plan to create a tailored programme of events and festivals that will inspire Scots worldwide to come home in 2009.”

The fund will operate on a competitive basis and is open to legally constituted organisations with the ability to deliver excellence in events and meet the project objectives. Applications for funding can be accessed by logging onto the Homecoming Scotland website www.homecomingscotland.com or by phoning 0131 472 2408.  The official deadline for applications is Tuesday 26th of February 2008 at midday.

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Note to News Editors:

• Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland in partnership with VisitScotland.
• VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism agency.
• EventScotland is the national events agency.
• EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.
• For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org
• The aim of the initiative is to invite those of Scottish descent or those who simply love Scotland, as well as people living in Scotland to celebrate Scotland’s outstanding contributions to the world.
• Grant awards can not offer replacement funding and all applications must have the support of the relevant local and sector partners/organisations.
• The deadline for applications is Tuesday 26th February 2008 at midday.  Decisions will be announced on Friday 11th of April 2008.
• Organisations applying to Homecoming Scotland are not precluded from also applying to the EventScotland International or Regional Event Programmes if appropriate.

For further information please log on to www.homecomingscotland.com

For media enquiries, please contact Mila Violaris, Head of Communications, Homecoming Scotland on 07966 17 2009 / 0131 472 2414 or email mila.violaris@homecomingscotland.com or Leon Thompson, Corporate Communications Manager, EventScotland on 0131 472 2312 / 07778 163085.

For funding enquiries, please contact Torquil MacLeod, Funding and Programme Manager, Homecoming Scotland on 0131 472 2408 or email torquil.macleod@homecomingscotland.com