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Inverness to stage international Scottish history conference
13th October 2009
Over 30 leading historians from around the world will gather in Inverness from 22 to 24 October this year to discuss and debate Scotland’s contribution to the wider world.
The Scotland’s Global Impact conference forms the centrepiece of Highland Homecoming, the two week festival of arts, culture and celebration from 19 to 31 October.
Opened by First Minister Alex Salmond and chaired by the BBC’s Lesley Riddoch, the conference features a number of controversial speakers, including Eric Richards, author of Patrick Sellar and the Highland Clearances.
He’ll be joined by Time Team’s Dr Tony Pollard and writer and singer Dr Margaret Bennett.
Professor Jim Hunter, Director of the Centre for History at UHI, said: “Over the last 700 years millions of people have left Scotland’s shores, first for Europe and later for further-flung destinations like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. And wherever they have gone the Scots have shaped and sometimes shaken the nations that became their adopted homelands.
“This unprecedented event will reveal much about the people of Scotland, exploring why they left their country over many centuries and unravelling the huge impact this small nation has made on the rest of our planet. It will also investigate the effects of migration to Scotland, from the arrival of the Gaels more than 1500 years ago to the more recent Polish settlers.”
Other well known speakers include award-winning Professor Ferenc Szasz, who will travel from the University of New Mexico to discuss the connected lives of Robert Burns and Abraham Lincoln; Dr Philomena de Lima; and Lt Col Ian MacPherson MacCulloch who comes from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Scotland’s Global Impact takes place at Eden Court Theatre from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 October. Tickets can be booked for individual days or the whole event.
From the 19 to 31 October 2009 a packed programme of cultural events - including arts, music, visits to historic sites in the area, informal talks and seminars - will be on offer around the Highlands as part of Highland Homecoming.
For full Scotland’s Global Impact programme details go to http://www.scotlandsglobalimpact.com
For more information about Highland Homecoming go to http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com
Ends
Did you know that:
• Scotland’s first patron saint, adopted long before St Andrew, was an immigrant from Ireland.
• The man who helped Tsar Peter the Great create the Russian imperial army came from Aberdeenshire.
• Many thousands of Scots settled in Poland long before any Scot set foot in America.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Images available
Principal Partners: Homecoming Scotland, The Highland Council Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Major Partners: Scottish Arts Council, LEADER, EventScotland
In Kind Partner: Ashers’ Bakeries
Event Partners: UHI, University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, University of Glasgow
Homecoming Scotland 2009
1. Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
2. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme’s design guided by Scotland’s unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, Great Minds and Innovations, and Scotland’s culture and heritage which lives on at home and through Scotland’s global family.
3. The budget for Homecoming is £5.5million and the target is for an 8 to 1 return on investment i.e. £44 million revenue additionality.
4. Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland the national events agency in partnership with VisitScotland, the country’s national tourism agency. Homecoming is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.
5. For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit: http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com
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