EventScotland cash boost for Gordon Castle Highland Games
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THE return of the Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair this weekend has been handed a timely funding boost.
Making a welcome return after a Covid-enforced hiatus of two years, the games have been awarded £6100 from EventScotland's National Events Programme, which is designed to aid the recovery of Scotland's events industry from Covid restrictions.
A total of £740,000 has been handed out to 65 live events across Scotland.
Twenty community focused events across the country have received between £2000 and £4000 of funding, while 45 larger scale events which help drive domestic tourism and showcase Scotland as the perfect stage for events have been awarded between £5000 and £25,000 of funding.
Welcoming the awards, Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “It’s great to see many of the mainstays in the cultural calendar back with live programmes and events across Scotland during summer 2022.
“I’m also delighted that the Scottish Government has been able to support this programme with just over £740,000 in funding. With this funding round we are able to support more events than ever before, from community focused events and music festivals to sporting events, boosting the number of events people have the opportunity to attend in their local area.”
VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director Caroline Warburton added: “Our National Events Programme has always played an important role in supporting the development and delivery of events across the country.
"We are delighted to be supporting these events taking place in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside to help support the recovery of Scotland’s tourism and events industry.
“Few industries have the impact events do. They play an important role in our communities, enabling us all to connect, enjoy and share memorable experiences. Having them in our calendar further strengthens Scotland’s position as a world-leading events destination and reinforces Scotland’s place as the perfect stage for events.”
Also enjoying a cash boost from the fund was the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy which received £20,000
Relaunched in January, the National Events Programme supports the development and delivery of live sporting and cultural events that take place outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the Scottish Government providing additional funding for the latest round to support the ongoing recovery of the tourism and events industry.
Changes were also made to allow more events the chance to apply. The previous limit of three rounds of funding to any single event or festival was lifted, while community focused events were also invited to apply, having not previously been targeted for support through this programme. The additional funding and the two changes to the criteria have allowed for more events than ever before to receive support through the programme.
This latest support for Scotland events industry follows the recent Buzz is Back multi-channel events campaign, which ran throughout April and showcased the country’s exciting, exhilarating, and eclectic mix of music, cultural and sporting events to help inspire both visitors and locals to rock out, jump in, stand up and get down at a range of both new and much-loved live events taking place across the country throughout the year.
