Scottish Clan Event Fund aims to capitalise on ‘Outlander effect’

A total of 14 clan and community events across nine local authorities will receive a share of funding through the Scottish Clan Event Fund, an annual funding pot for events adminstered by EventScotland.

Around £52,000 will be allocated through the 2019 grants. It includes £4,740 for the Hawick Reivers Festival which will bring mid-16th century society to life in the Scottish Borders and £5,000 for the Tricentenary Commemoration of the Battle of Glenshiel in the Highlands.

The Scottish Clan Event Fund supports the growth of clan events across Scotland and helps to fund clan gatherings, games and historical re-enactments as well as walks and tours, ceilidhs and festivals. For the 11 events funded in 2018, VisitScotland estimated 47% of those attending were international visitors and the net economic impact was around £1 million.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop announced the funding as she met representatives from the Hawick Reivers Festival. She said: “Scotland’s rich history, heritage and culture appeals to visitors around the world and with up to 50 million people globally claiming Scottish ancestry, we know our clans are a huge draw for tourists.”

“The Scottish Clan Event Fund is helping to build on the benefits of the ‘Outlander effect’, and encouraging international visitors with clan connections to visit Scotland, while also involving people in the local communities.

“From the Highlands to Argyll and down to the Borders, this year’s clans and families events are delving into more areas than ever and will help continue to promote Scotland as a must visit destination.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “The Scottish Clan Event Fund continues to grow in popularity and I’m delighted 14 events have secured funding from the latest round. They will be a fantastic addition to an already vibrant portfolio of events and festivals taking place this year.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and the Scottish Clan Event Fund plays an important role in the delivery of this by ensuring visitors looking to explore their ancestry and connect with Scotland’s heritage are offered an authentic and engaging experience, which in turn positively contributes to our visitor economy.”

The Scottish Clan Event Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s events directorate.

The 14 events funded in 2019 are:

• Clan MacRae International Gathering, £3,000 (City of Edinburgh, Highlands, Stirling)
• Hawick Reivers Festival, £4,740 (Scottish Borders)
• Clan Paisley Society 2019 Programme, £3,681 (Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, Renfrewshire, Stirling)
• Clan Donald Gaelic Arts Week, £4,150 (Highlands)
• Tricentenary Commemoration of the Battle of Glenshiel, £5,000 (Highlands)
• Clan Urquhart International Gathering, £1,000 (Highlands)
• Clan Colquhoun International Gathering, £3,450 (Argyll and Bute)
• Tour of the Innes Land 2019, £4,750 (Moray)
• The International Clan MacDougall Gathering 2019, £5,000 (Argyll and Bute)
• Tartan on the Green, £4,500 (Aberdeenshire)
• International Clan Munro Gathering, £5,000 (Highlands)
• Clan Ewing Gathering, £4,600 (Argyll and Bute)
• Clan MacAulay International Gathering, £2,150 (Highlands)
• Clan Stewart Gathering 2019, £1,000 (Moray)