Visit Scotland in 2012 for a Creative Bonanza

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Year-round festivals and events, prize-winning art, architecture and design, world-renowned literature, contemporary music and unique arts and crafts are just some of the creative experiences that visitors can expect when they visit Scotland in 2012, the Year of Creative Scotland.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111202/NY16425)

Scotland's cities offer vibrant, festival experiences against beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage backdrops; Edinburgh for literature and Glasgow for music. Add to that a rich variety of museums, galleries, artisan shopping experiences and a thriving culinary scene and any visitor seeking the buzz of a city vacation will be spoilt for choice.

This year alone, we've opened the doors to five spectacular cultural attractions – the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, The Royal Palace at Stirling Castle, the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and Edinburgh's newly transformed National Museum of Scotland and the National Portrait Gallery which reopens this week.

For those looking to explore further afield, Scotland offers creative activities and events all around the country. Indulge creative instincts in Dumfries & Galloway, where the stunning light of the Solway Coast has inspired generations of painters, or perhaps head for the beautiful Isle of Harris, where the local textile, Harris Tweed has been woven for centuries, in colours inspired by the land.

Launching the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 to a US audience in celebrations of St Andrew's Day, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said:

"Scotland is a dynamic and creative nation, rich in heritage with a wealth of world-class cultural events that draw visitors from across the globe, year round. The Year of Creative Scotland is a chance to spotlight and celebrate Scotland's cultural and creative strengths on the world stage.    

"There will be an exciting and imaginative programme of special events taking place throughout 2012, covering everything from music, drama and dance, to art, textiles and literature, all designed to appeal to young and old alike.  This, coupled with our already vibrant cultural calendar filled with world renowned festivals and top visitor attractions – like Edinburgh Castle or the newly transformed Royal Palace at Stirling Palace and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh – will offer something for all visitors to enjoy, year round."

Start planning your Scotland vacation as Scotland celebrates the Year of Creative Scotland and look out for the growing events programme at www.cometoscotland.com/year-of-creative.

Notes to Editors

• Starting on the 1st January 2012, the Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL. The year will spotlight and celebrate Scotland's cultural and creative strengths on a world stage.  And we will of course welcome people to Scotland who are in the UK for the Olympics. 
• 2013 will be a celebration of the Year of Natural Scotland, and in 2014 Scotland will play host to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles as well as staging a second year of Homecoming in 2014.
• The new St Andrew's Day app is available free of charge in the Apple App store and Android Market. http://www.scotland.org/st-andrews-app/

SOURCE VisitScotland