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TALENT DEVELOPMENT FOR TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH ARTS

A new round of funding has been announced, to support talented young Scots traditional musicians and dancers.

Arts and cultural organisations across Scotland are invited to apply for a share of £150,000 from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Youth Development Fund to support traditional cultural activity. Organisations can apply for awards of between £5,000 and £20,000.

Administered by Creative Scotland, the fund aims to nurture the talent, skills and ambition of young people (aged 5-26) engaged in traditional Scottish music and dance, specifically in piping, drumming, Highland dance and traditional fiddle playing.

Rucelle Soutar, Chief Operating Officer, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Now in its third year, we are proud to see The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Youth Talent Development Fund, in partnership with Creative Scotland, continue to nurture excellence in traditional Scottish artforms.

“Since its inception in 1950, supporting the future of the arts has been at the heart of the Tattoo. We have been impressed by the incredible talent that exists around the country and are absolutely thrilled to be helping young people from a variety of backgrounds develop their creative skills.

“As we approach our 70th anniversary in 2020, we are very much looking forward to receiving applications for this year’s fund and helping arts groups around Scotland to develop exciting new work with the next generation of extraordinary talent.”

Joan Parr, Interim Director of Arts & Engagement, Creative Scotland said: “We are delighted to continue working in partnership with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (REMT) to deliver this fund, which supports and celebrates the talents of Scotland’s young traditional artists.

“For a third consecutive year, the Fund will provide young people from across Scotland with a wonderful opportunity to progress their skills in traditional Scottish arts, support organisations to create new and innovative work, and increase participation in piping, drumming Highland dance and traditional fiddle playing.”

Notes to Editors

Funding guidance and application forms are available on the Royal Military Tattoo Fund page.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 3 February 2020. Proposed work from selected projects should be carried out between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo first performed in 1950 and is 69 years old. The event has sold out for the last 21 consecutive years. The Tattoo is performed to a live audience of 220,000 annually on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle with a further global TV audience of over 100 million.

Performers from 50 countries have taken part.  In 2010, the event was renamed The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo after Her Majesty the Queen bestowed the Royal title in honour of its 60th birthday. HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is the Patron of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, The Tattoo has donated over £11million to Services and Arts organisations since 1950 from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Charities) Limited – its charitable company.

The Tattoo generates £77million annually for the Scottish economy with a further £30million GBP in FTE.

In 2018, the Tattoo revealed its intent to continue the company’s growth through an ambitious international expansion and doubling turn-over to £20million by 2025. The Tattoo has performed overseas on four occasions, most recently Australia in February 2019.

Find out more on the Tattoo website: https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.

Further information at www.creativescotland.com.

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Media contact

Claire Thomson, Media Relations & PR Officer, Creative Scotland

E: [email protected]

T: 0141 302 1708 | M: 07747 606 146

Image credit: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo