Latest news with #ScottishCulture
Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Myth of Scottish exceptionalism is why mediocrity reigns supreme
T here are two kinds of belief in Scottish exceptionalism but only one of them ever receives much attention. Nonetheless, the conviction that Scotland is uniquely blessed and persecuted meets its match in the view that Scotland, and Scottish politics, is uniquely hopeless and that, consequently, nothing good can ever happen here. Each view requires us to first believe that Scotland is in some sense special. Myopia of this sort is common and hardly confined to Scotland, even if we suffer it acutely. Sometimes, however, one gains the sense that Scotland remains a land whose spirit animal is Private Frazer. 'We're doomed', for sure but — and this is important — we are more surely doomed than folk elsewhere who may be doomed themselves. What's more, we deserve it.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Royals brave torrential downpours as Holyrood Week continues
King Charles and Queen Camilla have visited a Fife town as part of Holyrood week - the annual royal celebration of Scottish culture, community and achievements. The King and Queen faced torrential downpours as they were greeted by members of the public during a visit to Kirkcaldy to mark the centenary of the town's war monarch traditionally spends a week each July in Tuesday, the King began the official visit with the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in the palace gardens, before holding an investiture ceremony for honours recipients and garden party. King Charles sheltered under an umbrella as he unveiled a commemorative cairn, designed as a time capsule filled with mementos and photos from local Viewforth High School for future generations."It's a bit damp," said Queen Camilla. "We've been used to the heatwave."Hundreds of people watched the service through heavy the memorial, he viewed the centenary art exhibition at Kirkcaldy Art Gallery, where he met former prime minister Gordon visit and community reception celebrated the work of local charities and community organisations, which included Fife Multibank - an initiative founded by Mr Brown that provides essential goods to low-income families. The Queen visited a cancer centre run by charity Maggie's, which she has been president of since met people living with cancer at the town's Victoria Hospital, alongside Maggie's chief executive Dame Laura Lee, Mr Brown's wife Sarah and broadcaster Kirsty was founded by the late writer, gardener and designer Maggie Keswick Jencks and her husband, the late landscape designer Charles idea for the centres came after she was diagnosed with cancer and was then told in 1993 that it had returned while in windowless hospital corridor. The experience motivated the couple to create a more comforting environment for cancer patients. The first Maggie's Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996. King Charles went on to meet first minister John Swinney at the Palace of Camilla will later host a reception for the Queen's Nursing Institute of Scotland at the in 1899 with a donation from Queen Victoria to organise the training of district nurses, the charity now provides professional development opportunities for Scotland's community nurses and midwives.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
King given the keys to City of Edinburgh
The King was greeted with pipes, drums and bows and arrows as he kicked off a busy three days of engagements in Scotland. His Majesty received a Royal Salute and inspected a guard of honour, formed of The Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard for Scotland, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He was then presented with the keys to the City of Edinburgh in an ancient ceremony that traditionally welcomes the monarch to the Scottish capital and marks the beginning of Holyrood Week. The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge presented the King with the keys on a red velvet cushion before they were returned for safekeeping. Around 250 guests were invited to Holyroodhouse to watch the ceremony from the palace garden in recognition of their work in the local community. The King, who wore a grey suit with a Company of Archers tie, was entertained with music from The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The performance included renditions of I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) by the Scottish duo The Proclaimers and Counting Stars by One Republic. Holyrood Week is the sovereign's annual July visit to the country to celebrate Scottish culture, community and achievement. This year, the King and Queen will attend 12 engagements between them over three days. It marks a return to tradition after last year's events were reduced to just two days because of the general election. The King and Queen flew to Edinburgh by helicopter from Birkhall, their Scottish home, on Tuesday morning. Later, the King will preside over an investiture ceremony. Those receiving honours will include artist Barbara Rae, who was awarded a damehood for services to art in the New Year Honours, and Duncan Scott, Scotland's most decorated Olympian, who will become an OBE for services to swimming. Stephen Clegg, the swimmer who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and was made an MBE for services to swimming, will also attend. Meanwhile, the Queen will attend a literary event. Their Majesties, joined by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, will then host a garden party at Holyroodhouse.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Royal Scottish Academy 200th anniversary celebrations planned across Scotland
The director of one of Scotland's oldest cultural institutions has said celebrations planned for its 200th anniversary year will highlight its position as part of the 'lifeblood' of culture in Scotland. The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) will hold events across the country and further afield throughout 2026 to mark its 200th year, involving more than 70 cultural partners. The academy was founded in 1826 as an independent artist-led organisation to support artists and architects and director Colin Greenslade said it remains true to that original vision. He told the PA news agency the planned celebrations will highlight how the RSA has 'been the lifeblood of culture over that period'. He added: 'The academy has had that continuous practice over 200 years with the same aims and with the same set up of a democratic organisation which is led by its artist and architect members. READ MORE: 'Utterly splendid' - I visited Edinburgh's Turner exhibition and was blown away by it Major new exhibit encourages young people to celebrate art Inside the studio of a renowned scion of Scotland's artistic Morrocco dynasty 'The impact of the artists over that period – they've taught in art schools, they've taught in secondary schools, they've shown nationally and internationally, they've inspired generations of artists and architects that came after them.' Mr Greenslade said artists providing opportunities for other artists is at the heart of what the RSA does, adding: 'It's unusual for an institution to be self-sufficient and for us that comes down to the trust and interest that people have given us over the years.' Among the events planned are exhibitions throughout the year at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture on Skye, featuring archive works including those from Peter Howson, Arthur Watson, Alexander Moffat and Frances Walker. Shetland Museum & Archives will present an exhibition in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland examining 20th century poet Hugh MacDiarmid and how his time in Shetland had a profound influence on his work. Aberdeen University will exhibit paintings by RSA artists, including Scottish Colourists, while the RSA's long-standing history with architecture will be spotlighted at the V&A Dundee. Alexander Moffat's work The Rock (The Radical Road), part of the RSA's Diploma Collection (Image: RSA/PA Wire) Among the events in Glasgow is an exhibition involving photographer Craig Easton, currently undertaking an RSA residency, at the city's Street Level Photoworks venue on his work documenting a beekeeper on the Isle of Colonsay. A series of major exhibitions will also take place at the RSA's home at The Mound in Edinburgh and the National Galleries of Scotland will show a new body of work by a prominent RSA member whose identity will be revealed next year. Events to mark the 200th year are taking place elsewhere in the UK including a show on the life and work of academy member Joan Eardley at The Granary Gallery in Berwick-upon-Tweed. 'It's the biggest project of this kind that anyone has ever undertaken across Scotland,' Mr Greenslade said. 'The ethos of this is to reinforce to the public in Scotland and visitors to Scotland is that the academy is throughout Scotland, it's not just this Edinburgh building on The Mound.' He said 'people don't have to come to Edinburgh in the summer to see academy exhibitions' and the events will involve 'makers all over the country and in collections the length and breadth of the country'.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Montreal's Highland Games cancelled this year — but hope to return in 2026
The Montreal Highland Games, an annual tradition that celebrates Scottish sport, music and culture, will not take place this year. Organizers announced this year's cancellation in a brief message on the event's website. The message does not give a specific reason why the event was cancelled. "We are taking this time to review our operations thoughtfully, with the goal of returning in 2026 with a renewed celebration — one that truly honours Scottish culture and creates a vibrant, welcoming experience for all," reads the message signed by Bruno Plourde, the president of the Montreal Highland Games. "We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 for an even more exciting and memorable event." Montreal's first Highland Games were held in 1976, the same year as the Summer Olympic Games, though the event is considered a successor to the Caledonian Games, which began in 1855. The event features athletes competing in the caber toss, sheaf toss, tug-of-war and hammer throw. Chris Johnstone, speaking to CBC News as one of the organizers of the athletic tournament in 2018, jokingly referred to the competition as "a lot of big guys throwing heavy things." In 2019, women took part in the competition for the first time. The games have been cancelled in the past, including 2013 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's edition was originally scheduled for Sunday Aug. 3. WATCH | The 2019 Highland Games: Women compete at 2019 Montreal Highland Games 6 years ago Duration 0:45 This is the first year women can participate in heavyweight events.
