£15k boost for 15th Burns festival
The Burns an’ a’ That! Festival – Ayrshire’s annual tribute to its most famous son, Scotland’s national Bard – is one of 13 events to be supported by the EventScotland National Funding Programme, as part of VisitScotland’s work to deliver the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.
The Burns an’ a’ That! Festival – Ayrshire’s annual tribute to its most famous son, Scotland’s national Bard – is one of 13 events to be supported by the EventScotland National Funding Programme, as part of VisitScotland’s work to deliver the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.
The festival, which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary, has been awarded £15,000.
The 13 events across 10 of Scotland’s local authority areas are receiving a combined total of £150,000 during Round 31 of the National Funding Programme. The fund is administered by EventScotland, a team within VisitScotland’s Event Directorate.
The National Programme was established to enable the strategic development of events taking place outwith Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the aim of driving domestic tourism and increasing economic impact for local communities throughout Scotland.
Thanks to the funding - and in keeping with the objectives of the National Programme – Burns an’ a’ That! will now be in a position to develop further by extending its programme of activity - in order to grow attendance and improve the spectator experience.
Jill Cronin, Head of Enterprise, Development and Leisure at South Ayrshire Council, which organises Burns an’ a’ That!, said: “The festival is an extremely popular highlight of the regional events calendar and this year, for our 15th event, we are aiming to ensure that it is even bigger and better than before with new events taking place in Ayr, Alloway, Tarbolton and Kirkoswald. We will be encouraging visitors to ‘Visit yer Bard’ as each of these areas boasting Burns landmarks will be showcased with some special events.
"Our headline weekend takes place at Rozelle Park in Ayr and features a launch night ceilidh (Fri 20 May) and Burnsfest! Picnic in the Park (Sat 21 May, 12-10pm). This free family festival celebrates the bard with live music throughout the day and attractions such as the A-Coo-Stick Tent, Burns, Burns, Burns Tipi, The Mercat, Poet’s Pantry, Robert Burns Wine Bar and Beer Garden, Open Studios Artists, Kids an’ a’ that! and more. The weekend concludes with a celebration of The Brigs of Ayr in Ayr town centre (Sun 22 May).”
Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “Funding awards from EventScotland’s National Programme are extremely important as they allow regional events to develop further and create an even more attractive proposition to their target audiences. That means they are not only able to draw increased attendees from their local areas but also from much further afield - promoting an extremely positive image of the venues as visitor destinations and contributing greatly to the region’s economy. I’m therefore delighted that Burns an a That! was selected as a funding recipient and I’m confident that the funding boost and the excellent extended programme this year’s festival boasts will ensure it is a great success.”