Homecoming Scotland 2014

From EventScotland (www.eventscotland.org/news/2012/3/event-fund-announced-for-homecoming-scotland-2014), confirmation that there will indeed be a Homecoming Scotland 2014, following on from the success of the recent Homecoming Scotland 2009:

EVENT FUND ANNOUNCED FOR HOMECOMING SCOTLAND 2014

Early details of the funding opportunities to create Scotland’s Homecoming celebrations in 2014 were announced today (6 March) at the Scottish Tourism Week conference.

Making the announcement, Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism said: “I am delighted that £3 million will be invested in our events industry to create an inspirational programme of events for Homecoming Scotland.

“In 2014 Scotland will welcome the world as we stage two of the biggest sporting events - The Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup. This momentous year also sees Scotland’s next year of Homecoming, giving people even more reason to be in Scotland and to extend their stay.

“Through EventScotland, the national events agency, and its work with industry partners this funding will be used to deliver a series of events that will take place across the country and throughout the year, appealing to visitors from around the world and to the people of Scotland.

“Our national tourism organisation VisitScotland will promote Homecoming Scotland 2014 through its award winning marketing campaigns, inviting ancestral Scots and people who simply love Scotland ‘home’ in 2014.”

The Homecoming Scotland 2014 events programme will be themed around ancestry and the Scottish Government’s Years of Focus (food and drink, active, creative and natural). The Years of Focus have helped to sustain the momentum generated by Homecoming Scotland 2009 by developing additional ways for the tourism and events industries to work together in preparation for 2014.

A call for funding applications to event owners and organisers will be made in the summer, when full criteria and guidelines will be launched.

Homecoming Scotland 2014 is being led by Tom Chambers who joined the team at EventScotland in February as Homecoming Scotland Director. Prior to this Tom was Major Projects Manager with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Adding to today’s announcement, Tom said: “With the funding criteria set to be launched in the coming months, it is important that event industry partners begin to think about the celebrations they can create which will attract visitors to Scotland and enhance Scotland’s profile on the international stage.

“As with Homecoming Scotland 2009 collaborative working will be the key to success in 2014 - building on existing Homecoming partnerships and those established during the delivery of the Years of Focus.”

As well as those events directly funded through Homecoming, a partner programme will be developed to ensure the widest possible involvement of Scotland’s communities in the celebrations. Events included in this programme will benefit from in-kind support from EventScotland and VisitScotland including promotional opportunities and inclusion in online and print-based listings.

(With thanks to Leon Thompson via LinkedIn)

Chris