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THE PARTY'S OVER FOR TARTAN DAY - SALMOND MEANS BUSINESS

Alex Salmond: Down to business

Saturday March 15,2008

By Kerry Gill

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SCOTLAND Week celebrations this year will see less razzmatazz and more serious promotion of our country in North America.

The “partying” approach will be toned down and ministers will pursue a distinctly more vigorous approach to selling Scotland, Alex Salmond said yesterday.

The First Minister announced initial plans for Scotland Week and said he would lead his ministers on a whistle-stop tour beginning in Boston and thereafter visiting towns and cities in the US and Canada.

Mr Salmond pledged to moderate the “partying” approach and said the itinerary would include Washington and New York as well as speaking engagments at several universities.

Mr Salmond will speak at Harvard University, attend a reception on Capitol Hill and represent the Scottish Government at the keynote event, the Tartan Day parade, in New York on April 5.

The First Minister admitted yesterday that ministers’ approach would change slightly from previous years.

“There was a slight over emphasis on the party element and maybe a slight under emphasis on other aspects of things,” he said.

“I felt perhaps we had to be a wee bit more hard-headed in some of the things we were doing.

“We’ve got key audiences that we want to get across to - political, economic, business and cultural audiences.”

He unveiled the programme during a speech to the Scottish Council of Development and Industry’s 37th international forum in St Andrews.

The programme of events has been changed from Tartan Week to Scotland Week to ensure that the North American audience associates it with Scotland.

Also travelling with Mr Salmond will be Europe external affairs and culture minister, Linda Fabiani, as well as enterprise, energy and tourism minister, Jim Mather.

Ms Fabiani will start the 5th annual Scotland run in New York’s Central Park as well as visiting Toronto.

“The history and common values that we share with North America are strong,” said Mr Salmond.

“Scottish culture is right at the heart of Scotland Week.”

The Scottish Youth Theatre will take their performance, “When A Star Falls”, to New York, following the worldwide acclaim which met the National Theatre’s Black Watch. Ms Fabiani will attend a performance.

Ministers will also take the opportunity to promote the Homecoming 2009 message which aims to encourage people of Scottish descent, as well as those who love the country to come “home” and join a celebration of Scottish culture and heritage as well as the contributions the country has given to the world.

However, Mr Salmond said that the traditional Dressed to Kilt would be moved back to October and take place during New York Fashion Week.

“Scotland Week is not just about one week of events - it’s about the relationships and interest that will grow throughout the year fostering real prosperity for Scotland,” Mr Salmond added.