Tattoo set to pipe up across Scotland

NEXT year's Edinburgh Military Tattoo is to extend beyond Edinburgh with a series of four free events across central Scotland as part of the Scottish Government's Homecoming Scotland programme.

There will be a series of events at next year's Edinburgh festivals as part of the year-long programme designed to bring people back to Scotland and the themes of Homecoming will be promoted at Fringe and international festival venues.

And it was also announced today that the Scottish Arts Council has pledged an additional £25,000 of funding for the programme, which encourages Scottish exiles and those with an affinity to Scotland to pay a visit.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Homecoming Scotland 2009 embraces the whole nation.

"In Edinburgh we have a fantastic range of world-class festivals and it's great that so many of these festivals are already gearing up for next year's Homecoming celebrations.

"Every year, the festivals delight and engage thousands of Scots and visitors, and in 2009 we hope the Homecoming message will encourage even more of our global family to join us, enjoy these outstanding events and celebrate Scotland's contributions to the world."

Venues for the satellite Tattoo shows have yet to be confirmed, while the main event is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of national poet Robert Burns with specially-commissioned arrangements with a Burns theme.

"The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the summer highlights – a spectacular show that sees Edinburgh Castle transformed into a dazzling stage set," said Mr Salmond.

"That's why I'm delighted that next year it will be widening access and enabling more Scots across the country to be a part of the experience.

"For homecomers this will open up opportunities to explore Edinburgh and beyond and to be a part of the historic extension of the Military Tattoo."

The Homecoming Scotland programme has a budget of £5 million and features more than 100 events taking place across Scotland.

Major General Euan Loudon, producer and chief executive of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: "The Edinburgh Tattoo's 2009 production will reflect the work of Robert Burns and engage visitors from around the world with one of the main themes of Homecoming Scotland.

"We are delighted to be included as a flagship event in the Homecoming Scotland tourism initiative and we expect our involvement will attract a substantial global audience, which will generate in excess of £50m for the Scottish economy."

Jon Morgan, director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said: "In 2009, we will be working closely with Fringe venues and encouraging them to develop the Homecoming theme across their programmes.

"August will provide the perfect opportunity for Scots, and those with a passion for Scotland, to come home and join the party."

Catherine Lockerbie, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: "Scotland has an enormously rich literary heritage and contemporary literary scene which are pivotal features of the Edinburgh International Book Festival each year.

"We passionately believe that inspiring and challenging words and thoughts have never been more important or more in demand, and Homecoming 2009 offers us the opportunity to debate and celebrate the written word in Scotland."