With Highland 2007 going out with a bang recently, attention now switches to the next big event, Homecoming 2009.
Building on such annual events as Tartan Week, Homecoming 2009 is set to be a year-long celebration for Scotland, its expatriates and the estimated 50 million people worldwide who claim Scots ancestry. The pivotal point for Homecoming 2009 is that year marks the 250th anniversary of national poet and international cultural icon Robert Burns.
The Ayrshire man of words will help showcase Scotland as a nation and celebrate not only Burns and his poetry but some of Scotland’s greatest contributions to the world including golf, whisky, The Enlightenment and innovation and Scotland's rich culture and heritage.
Although 2009 sounds a long way away, planning is now well underway to draw up an exciting calendar of events and activities. And central to the forward planning process is funding for themed events to be held throughout 2009.
Applications are now being invited, with awards for successful events ranging from £5,000 to £50,000. The deadline is 26 February 2008.
Guidelines and application forms for Themed Events Programme for the Year of Homecoming 2009 are now available to download from the Homecoming 2009 web site, homecomingscotland.com or from hi-arts.co.uk
Cultural Officer for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Adrian Clark, would be interested to know of any prospective bids and projects - in case there are potential links between projects in the North Highlands.
Projects should be discussed with Torquil Macleod before application (+44 (0)1463 702007) and Adrian can be contacted on +44 (0)1349 885114 at the Dept of Education, Culture & Sport, The Highland Council, Bridgend Community Learning Centre, Ardross Road, Alness IV17 0QA.
See also these related pages:
Ancestral tourism
Gaelic and cultural tourism
Whisky tourism
