Blas Festival Creates ‘Scottish Embassy’ To Mark Programme Launch

The UK’s fastest growing festival is to launch its own ‘Scottish Embassy’. The Blas festival will have an ‘embassy’ agreement with the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. People attending both events will be able to get ‘visa’ rights which include information, advice and ticket price incentives.

The announcement came as Blas launched its 2009 programme at one of its event venues, Glen Ord Distillery in Ross-shire. Blas will deliver over 80 cultural events based around traditional music, Gaelic language and song, food, learning, whiskies and Clans. The festival is a key part of the national Homecoming celebrations and venues ranging from community halls and distilleries to Inverness Airport and Eden Court Theatre will provide the scene for Blas events all over the Highlands.

Featured artists will include top musical talent such as Dougie MacLean, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Blazin’ Fiddles, The Barra MacNeils, and Karen Matheson.

Festival Director Donna MacRae said: “Our Blas ‘Scottish Embassy’ strengthens our links with the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton. Celtic Colours provided the inspiration for the creation of Blas and this cements our partnership. From June visitors will be able to visit our website and access information about Scotland in our embassy. We are also keen to have an embassy set up on the Celtic Colours website with a reciprocal arrangement for them on ours.

“It is a new way to heighten the level of service to our customers. We will also be providing ‘Blassports’ which visitors can get stamped by promoters at each of our events and internet ‘visas’ which provide access to ticket discounts. It all adds to our commitment to culture and our links with the Homecoming Scotland programme.”

The programme was welcomed by Scotland’s Minister for Culture, Michael Russell MSP: “Blas has produced an exciting programme which underlines the depth and variety of Highland culture in both traditional and modern terms. In this year of Homecoming it is great to see the interest from so many countries around the world demonstrating a real appreciation for Scottish culture. I also welcome the ‘cultural embassy’ initiative - these relationships growing between festivals is very exciting.”

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council administration, was at the forefront of the Blas project six years ago when The Highland Council first invited Fèisean nan Gàidheal and the Promoters Arts Network to explore the possibility of creating a community-based, international-looking festival of contemporary traditional music.

He said: “It is really great to see the way this vision has been achieved in such a short period of time. The scale and success of the festival is a tribute to all involved.”

Joella Foulds, Artistic Director at the Celtic Colours International Festival said: “We have very strong cultural links with Scotland and the Blas Festival in particular. We think the added value our two ‘embassies’ will create for festival-goers will be truly appreciated. We look forward to establishing an even stronger partnership with Blas and the Scottish Highlands in the near future.”

Marie Christie, Director of Homecoming Scotland, said: “The Year of Homecoming is all about Scotland re-connecting with its global family and welcoming people back in 2009 to enjoy a celebration of Scotland’s many great contributions to the world. The Blas Festival provides a fantastic platform to experience many elements of contemporary and traditional Scottish culture in the outstanding setting of the Scottish Highlands. We are very pleased to be partnering such an extensive and entertaining programme which will bring enjoyment to locals and international visitors alike.”

One of the festival’s key supporters is EventScotland, the national events agency. Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer, said: “The Regional Events Programme was put in place to give events such as Blas a platform for growth, development and innovation. The 2009 programme, with so many events in a wide number of venues, ensures that Blas is an excellent showcase for Scottish culture and gives visitors and tourists to the area a taste of the Scottish Highlands.”

Renowned performer Phil Cunningham, who hosted the embassy and programme launch said: “I will be performing at Blas and I’m really looking forward to it. Blas has grown so much in such a short space of time and it is remarkable how much variety it offers festival goers.”