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Cumming wows New York at head of Tartan Day Parade

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Published Date: 05 April 2009
By Marc Horne
ALAN Cumming yesterday led a Caledonian invasion of New York, and spoke about what it meant to be a Scot abroad.
The movie and theatre star was the grand marshal of this year's Tartan Day Parade and relished performing in front of one of the biggest audiences of his career.

Large crowds lined the streets, with many waving Saltires and the Stars and Stripes a
s the procession made its way along New York's Sixth Avenue.

X-Men and Cabaret star Cumming was joined at the Scottish showcase by students from his former drama school, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

The Glasgow-based institution used the occasion to confirm their appointment of Cumming as the president of their new American Foundation.

In that role the actor will work with the RSAMD to launch an appeal for a scholarship fund in the US.

Cumming said: "As an artist, so much of what defines you and makes you unique is where you are from and the environment in which you learned your craft. For me, being Scottish and training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama both define me and make me incredibly proud.

"I am honoured and delighted to be representing my country and spreading the message of the Academy at this year's Tartan Day Parade in New York City."

Culture Minister Mike Russell, who also took part in the parade, described Cumming as a "shining example of Scottish talent" and "a true success story of the RSAMD and a fitting president of their American Foundation".

He added: "The Tartan Day Parade is an impressive and touching sign of affinity from the City of New York for Scotland. I was honoured to be asked by the National New York Tartan Day Committee to represent the Scottish Government and lead the celebrations alongside the Presiding Officer and renowned actor and grand marshal Alan Cumming.

"The message today was one of Homecoming as we invited everyone here to visit Scotland and continue the celebrations through 2009. Working together through these difficult times is a real priority on both sides of the Atlantic."

As well as yesterday's parade in New York, events were held in a host of other cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver.






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  • Last Updated: 04 April 2009 11:25 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
 
1

Observer,,

Glasgow 05/04/2009 01:45:31
Why no comments on this ? How very bizarre. Do we only do doom and gloom - let's hear it for wee Alan he's a star, and New York was ours (if only for a day).
2

Carolyn 1,

05/04/2009 01:57:26
Cummings is virtually unknown to the average American and he's not the personality we would generally associate with Scotland

America adores Sean Connery, and no Scotsman will replace his iconic magnetism
3

Observer,,

Glasgow 05/04/2009 02:03:31
We have more than one man dear, and variety is the spice of life.

4

,

05/04/2009 02:11:54
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5

im brian and so is my wife,

edinburgh 05/04/2009 09:24:16
craig ferguson aka bing hitler is doing great in the usa
the all know the big yin over there,sean is well know as well
sandy lyle ,monty etc are known by the americans as scots who have done great
after all it was a scot who gave them their 2 great pastimes,watching tv and yaking on the phone
6

Scimitar1,

05/04/2009 11:00:06
Not only is he unheard of in NY, he is unheard of here. People such as Ferguson,Manson,McGregor,Butler portray a more positive ,appropriate and typical image ,unfortunately they do not tick the right diversity boxes.

We now promote diversity over talent in the media,take a look at 'river city'- a box tickers dream.

CAST

Black x
muslim x
gay x
foreigner x
lesbian x
English x
gay Gael xx

talent (leave blank)

STORYLINE
Concoct a shallow story around lifetyles/ethniticity/diversity
where everyone gets along swimmingly. Drill the same message,day-in day-out until the plebs swallow it.
7

Douglas,

Bathgate 05/04/2009 11:30:27
#6 Scimitar1: Just a small thing slasher, the use of crosses is strictly forbidden in box ticking exercises.

I'd be interested in learning which polling company you employed to quiz New Yorkers on their knowledge of slightly twee Scottish actors.

Or are you just assuming and probablying.
8

Sandi,

San Diego 05/04/2009 16:38:03
I hope Scotland doesn't spend a whole lot of money on this Tartan Day stuff. Out here on the Pacific coast, we hear absoulutely nothing about it.

9

AndyBhoy,

Vancouver 05/04/2009 18:18:17
#8 I live in Vancouver and can echo your comment. First I heard of it was this newspaper.
10

Tobytoo,

Southington U.S.A. 05/04/2009 21:08:41
I only live 95 miles from New York City and never heard of Tartan Day.
11

,

05/04/2009 21:52:25
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12

,

06/04/2009 02:56:44
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13

EMR,

California 06/04/2009 04:42:03
Despite what Carolyn (#2) says, Alan Cumming is very well known and popular in New York where the parade was taking place. He is a Broadway star.
14

Proud to have Scots blood,

Brooklyn, N.Y. 06/04/2009 05:58:15
Mr. Cumming is a very fine actor indeed. Scotland has
produced some of the finest actors and entertainers
known. Sean Connery is known all over the world and it is true as one blogger mentions, no Scotsman can replace his iconic magnetisim. I don't think any of them would want to. Alan Cumming, Robbie Coltrane, Tilda Swinton, Brian Cox and other marvelous talents from Scotland too numerous to list are familiar names to the general T.V & film viewing public as well. Scotland has given great contributions to the world in her sons and daughters. Writers, scientists,
inventors, medical researchers, artists, the list is endless. What a wonderful people they are.

15

Draco Was a Wimp,

Edinburgh 06/04/2009 08:44:45
That'll be the same Alan Cumming who's so proud of his country that he wouldn't live here in a million years and has recently taken the citizenship of another country? Another plastic Jock hoping to up his profile.
16

Edward,

06/04/2009 12:47:30
The usual detractors!
Regardless of who is leading the parade
I find it a disgrace that there has been no coverage or broadcast of the parade itself.
It is supposed to be a celebration of everything Scottish. But the only mention on the BBC, is on its news website and consined under Politics in Scotland!
Regardless of political affiliation Tartyan day is not political. You can bet if it was something to do with England or London, we would have wall to wall coverage!
This is not an anti English rant, just stating a fact
17

Edward,

06/04/2009 12:52:09
This is the official US Government statement from the US Government website dedicated to the US National Tartan day:
'The National Holiday for all Scottish Americans
Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant and influential role in the development of the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed mightily to the fields of the arts, science, politics, law, and more. Today, over eleven million Americans claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots -- making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. These are the people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th.'

18

Finlang,

Switzerland 06/04/2009 15:10:33
I felt from the outset that the "Tartan Day" notion was destined to semi-oblivion or divebomb altogether from embarrassment as an ill-thought-out concept. Bearing out that notion was First Minister McConnell's ridiculous pinstrip skirt at the 2004 parade in New York City. Did nobody inform him the theme was "tartan"?

Ask around in the US or almost anywhere else outside of the UK what "tartan" is and be prepared for looks of perplexity. On the other hand, the word "Scotland" generally evokes some kind of response, if not always knowledgeable.

For an event focusing on NYC, Scottish-American Day - or just plain Scotland Day - might have more resonance.

19

Carolyn 1,

06/04/2009 15:43:18
13 EMR,California

The problem of a more national recognition of the festivities, is that Manhattan is a small element of a much larger America, with demographics and an identity unique to Manhattan.
New Yorkers are New Yorkers and not too many Scots there.

I think the parade would be very successful in Boston. American freedom started in Boston with the help of Scots. Also, Scots need to realize that New Englanders link Irish and Scots together, even if Irish and Scots do not, which is why Tartan Day is named Tartan Day and not Scottish Day.

http://www.newenglandtartanday.com/

This group in Connecticut has an interesting website, including links to Scotland’s independence, the Articles of Arbroath and a very interesting article by Michael Follon- The Sanitization of Scottish History.

I live in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. We designed our own tartan and celebrate Tartan day and Burns birthday, but we’re a bunch of scientists with bagpipes-lots of pubs and music (but no actors like Cummings). http://www.liammaguire.com/event/86
20

,

06/04/2009 17:01:50
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21

,

07/04/2009 00:34:29
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