Scotland has been chosen to feature in the world-famous Smithsonian Folklife Festival this summer.
The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 in Washington DC, and is the world's largest museum and research
complex. It consists of the 16 national museums of the US, a zoo, magazine, press and recording company, and runs an education
and outreach programme, the Smithsonian Associates programme.
The Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage produces an annual Folklife Festival on the National
Mall in the heart of Washington DC.
The Festival is a research-based educational 'museum without walls' devoted to grassroots cultural heritage
and this year's event will focus on Scotland, Mali and Appalachia. It runs from June 25 to 29 and then July 2 to 6.
In addition to more than one million, American TV, radio and press reaches another 40 million people.
Smithsonian Curator Dr Nancy Groce, who was responsible for drawing together the list of Scottish participants
in the Folklife Festival, said:
"This event will bring the vitality and diversity of Scotland's traditional culture to the heart of Washington
DC. Through dynamic performances, demonstrations and educational programmes, 'Scotland at the Smithsonian' will explain and
celebrate the living traditions that make and sustain Scotland's distinctive culture.
"Our Festival provides a forum for Scots representing a wide range of talents and traditions to speak directly
to the American public, sharing their enthusiasm about what makes Scotland Scottish."
Funding support for the Scottish participation in the Folklife Festival has come from the Scottish Executive,
VisitScotland and the Scottish Arts Council.
James Boyle, Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council, said:
"The Folklife Festival is a wonderful event and a terrific opportunity to showcase Scotland's musicians, artists
and crafts makers in the United States.
"We are delighted to be working with the Smithsonian Institution and other Scottish partners to help create
a greater appreciation of Scotland's rich and vibrant culture."
Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
"We are excited at the prospect of sponsoring the Smithsonian Associates programme and the Folklife Festival.
Participation in these events provides an excellent platform for us to target a key group of US travellers.
"We are using this opportunity to run an extensive marketing campaign to encourage the Smithsonian's 57,000
members, and the wider US audience, to plan a visit to Scotland and experience our vibrant culture for themselves."
