In 2012 Scotland celebrates its creative and cultural vitality with the initiative Year of Creative Scotland: an entire year of festivals and cultural events, with a rich program of events that will take place especially in cities, in Edinburgh for literature and in Glasgow for music, but that will range from music to literature, from theater to dance and from figurative arts to weaving, in the background of sites of enormous tourist interest, some also UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Edinburgh Castle, the new National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Scottish National Gallery
For those wishing to push themselves beyond the city's borders and explore the beautiful natural landscapes of the country, Scotland offers creative activities and events across the country. The beautiful Harris Islands, for example, are known for the centuries-old harris Tweed weaving, a local fabric that even received the interest of fashion giants of the calibre of Vivienne Westwood and Nike.
Here is a short list of the most important events, useful for you to start planning your next holiday in Scotland:
Celtic Connections (19 January – 5 February): the largest winter festival in Europe, takes place in Glasgow and attracts thousands of musicians from all over the world for 18 days of concerts, entertainment evenings with traditional Scottish music, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and free events.
Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts (20 April – 7 May): the acclaimed Festival provides the exhibition of world-famous contemporary art works in artists’ studios, major museums and various city sites.
The Big Noise (29 July): world-famous conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the renowned Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra Simón Bolívar will perform in a summer evening in the background of Stirling Castle.
Speed of Light (9 August – 1 September): the Arthur’s Seat, the iconic landmark of the city of Edinburgh, will be transformed through an innovative combination of sports and visual arts in the context of the Speed of Light project. The initiative, which will take place during the Edinburgh International Festival, will see an audience of marchers and runners walk the paths of the slope, illuminating it with suggestive schemes of light. Participate also you and do not miss this exciting and original opportunity to test your physical endurance.
