Highland 2007

In March 2003, at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Elgin, the First Minister, Jack McConnell, announced that 2007 would be ‘Scotland’s Year of Highland Culture’.Impressed by the momentum built up during the preparation for the Inverness/Highland bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2008, the First Minister gave his backing for plans to be developed for a year long celebration of Highland culture in 2007.Highland 2007 will develop the existing cultural infrastructure of the Highlands, providing a legacy that will continue on after 2007, significantly contributing towards the benefit of the region in social and economic terms.The aims and objectives of Highland 2007 are as follows - Aims: • To promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past, present and future. • To provide the opportunity for people across Scotland and in key target areas across the world to join in a year long programme of celebrations of Highland culture. Objectives: • To develop and deliver a programme of events for 2007 that enthuses its target audiences and leaves them with memories of a great year of celebrations. • To generate positive economic and social benefits for the Highlands and for Scotland. • To contribute to the work of other agencies in promoting the Highlands as a modern, vibrant and prosperous place to live and to visit through highlighting the wealth of cultural activity in the area. • To establish positive and sustainable partnerships across Scotland to support the development of the cultural infrastructure of the Highlands in 2007 and beyond. • To promote the significance of Highland culture to Scotland, past, present and future, to people living in the Highlands for the purpose of enhancing their awareness of and sense of pride in their local area. • To contribute to the work of other agencies to increase the level of confidence and to develop the skills and capacity of individuals and communities across the Highlands. • To stimulate interest and participation in cultural activity in the Highlands in 2007 and beyond by people in the Highlands, across Scotland and abroad. • To contribute to the development of the social and physical cultural infrastructure of the Highlands. • To support other agencies and initiatives to promote Gaelic language and culture and to increase the number of Gaelic speakers. • To encourage young people to take part in cultural activities in 2007 and beyond through their involvement in planning the Highland 2007 programme and by their participation in projects and events. embed allowScriptAccess="never" enableJSURL="false" enableHREF="false" saveEmbedTags="true" src="http://lads.myspace.com/slides/slideshow_random.swf?u=1 48575071" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="426"