Press release -
Panning a really good summer of events
Scotland’s events portfolio continues to prosper thanks to EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
Twelve events taking place over the coming months have all received a share of £140,000 of funding from EventScotland’s National Programme Fund to support event delivery and help develop Scotland’s varied and boundary-pushing events portfolio.
From music to food and drink to panning for gold, each event offers something for everyone to enjoy this summer in towns all over the country.
EventScotland’s National Programme Fund is designed to specifically support the strategic development of events which occur outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the aim of driving domestic tourism, delivering economic impact for local communities and generating media profile for Scotland.
Building upon existing event activities, extending marketing reach and enhancing the on-site food and drink offer are just some of the ways national programme funds are often put to use.
Stuart Turner, Head of EventScotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting these 12 events through our National Programme Fund to expand their offer, extend their reach and enhance the experience of attendees and participants.
“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and our National Programme plays a vital role in maintaining this reputation by ensuring we have a vibrant portfolio on annual events that celebrate our wonderful heritage and bringing beneficial impacts to all areas of the country.”
Among those to receive funding is the World Gold Panning Championships in Moffat this August. This is the first time this unique event has been hosted in Moffat and will see competitors from all around the world pan for gold in specially made pools for the chance to become World Champion.
Richard Deighton, Chair of Moffat Gold 2017 SCIO, said: “We would like to thank EventScotland for their generous support, which will be invaluable in ensuring we have the necessary infrastructure needed to run the World Gold Panning Championships 2017.
“This prestigious international sporting event will see gold panners and prospectors from all over the world descending on Moffat from Monday 7 August until Saturday 12 August. Participants will be competing to find gold from native sand and gravel in a record time for the chance to become a World Champion.
“Moffat will be the most vibrant place in southern Scotland, and Hope Johnstone Park will be buzzing with children’s entertainers, a free gold panning school, a variety of stalls, and entertainment each evening. To find out more and to register for the competition, visit www.moffatgold2017.com.”
Other events to receive funding include Ballantrae Festival of Food and Drink, and the East Lothian Battle Weekends: 2017 Pinkie Cleugh, as well as Bonfest, the Dundee Design Festival, Oban Live, ButeFest and Powerboat P1 Scottish Grand Prix of the Sea, who all previously received funding from the National Programme for their event in 2016.
A number of the events will also be celebrating Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017 as part of its partner event programme. The Year builds on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, and the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland.
EventScotland National Programme Round 34 funded events:
- Bonfest, Kirriemuir* 28 - 30 April £12,500
- Dundee Design Festival 24 – 29 May £20,000
- Mhor Festival, Balquhidder 26 – 28 May £4,500
- Oban Live* 2 – 3 June £10,700
- Eden Festival, Raehills Meadows, Lockerbie 8 – 11 June £12,500
- Ballantrae Festival of Food and Drink 11 June £5,000
- Powerboat P1 Scottish Grand Prix of the Sea, Greenock 24 – 25 June £13,000
- ButeFest, Rothesay 28 – 30 July £7,000
- Southern Fried 10 Year Anniversary, Perth 27 – 30 July £8,000
- World Gold Panning Championships, Moffat* 7 – 12 August £10,500
- Amazing Ages!, Fort George* 12 – 13 August £25,000
- East Lothian Battle Weekends: 2017 Pinkie Cleugh* 16 – 17 August £12,000
*Part of Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology partner event programme
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- eventscotland
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.
- The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- 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)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology
- 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is supported by £570,000 of Scottish Government funding.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- For more information visit visitscotland.com/HHA2017 or join the conversation at #HHA2017
