Press release -
All aboard for St Kilda Challenge!
An inaugural yachting challenge to a remote Outer Hebridean archipelago is one of 13 events to be supported by the EventScotland National Funding Programme as part of VisitScotland’s work to deliver the national events strategy Scotland the Perfect Stage.
The St Kilda Challenge and Festival, was granted £10,000 in funding during Round 31 of the programme. Taking place from 9-11 June 2016, members of the national and international yachting and sailing fraternity will take part in this unique and challenging Hebridean event, sailing from Lochmaddy, North Uist, to St Kilda. Throughout the event weekend, there will be a rich diverse onshore programme of cultural, educational and musical events.
St Kilda is one of the few places in the world with Dual World Heritage Status - awarded for its natural and cultural significance. Set amid rough seas, and 66km west of the Outer Hebrides, this archipelago is the most remote part of the British Isles. The last inhabitants of St Kilda left in 1930 but it is still home to Soay sheep (a rare breed), and has its own sub-species of fieldmouse and wren.
National Programme funding supports the strategic development of events which take place outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the aim of driving domestic tourism, economic impact for local communities and media value for Scotland. The fund is administered by EventScotland, a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
The 13 events included in this current round of funding (across no fewer than 10 of Scotland’s local authority areas) will now be in a position to grow event attendance and improve the spectator experience, in keeping with the objectives of the programme.
Adding to activity programmes, extending the public relations/marketing capabilities of events and improving the food and drink offer are among the enhancements to be made through combined funding of over £150,000.
Gus Macaulay, Chair of Comann na Mara / St Kilda Challenge, said:
“Comann na Mara (The Society of the Sea) was formed to establish an eco-friendly aquatic education and marine research facility at Lochmaddy. We have helped organised the event with associated partners and I was overjoyed to hear that we were being awarded £10,000 in the last round of EventScotland National Programme funding.
“I am keen that this money is fruitfully used to ‘futureproof’ the event, by creating a series of mini documentaries about the event which can be shown to clubs, groups and any other interested parties, to give them a taster of what this challenge and festival is all about.
“It’s much more than just a yachting race in the Outer Hebrides, it is a three-day festival which will offer something for everyone, including music and dance, talks and workshops.”
Alan Mackenzie, VisitScotland Islands Manager, said:
“I am delighted that the St Kilda Challenge & Festival has secured this important funding which, in turn, benefits the Outer Hebrides and beyond and allows the event to create an even more attractive proposition to potential attendees.
“Funding delivered through the National Programme is crucial in encouraging people to travel around Scotland, including to the Outer Hebrides, and contributes greatly to the economies of several local authority areas with every funding round.
“Additionally, it helps to promote a positive image of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides to audiences domestically and in neighbouring markets, which is invaluable to the visitor economy.”
EventScotland National Programme Round 31 funded events:
April
- Bonfest (Kirriemuir, 29 April – May 1)
- Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival (Oban, 29 April – May 1)
May
- Oban Live (13 -14 May)
- Burns an’ a’ That! Festival (Ayr, 22)
- Dundee International Design Festival (25 – 28)
June
- St Kilda Challenge & Festival (Western Isles, 9 - 11 June)
- Crail Food Festival (10 - 12)
- Cupar Arts Festival (18 - 25)
- Solas Festival (Tibbermore (Perth),17 - 19)
July
- Musselburgh Riding of the Marches (23 - 31 July)
- Butefest (Rothesay, Isle of Bute, 29 - 31)
August
- Doune the Rabbit Hole (Port of Menteith, 19 - 21 August)
September
- Inverness Loch Ness International Knit Festival (29 September – October 2)
- ENDS -
Picture caption: Lochmaddy, North Uist
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- eventscotland
- st kilda challenge and festival
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
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- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
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Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- Join the conversation at #IAD2016
- Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme
