Stunning mountains, rugged landscapes, gothic castles and unspoilt wilderness – it's no wonder the Scottish film industry attracts some of the world's leading filmmakers and television producers. Each site is managed by a group of local partners, which include local authorities and Historic Environment Scotland. Experience authentic Scottish culture and traditions at events throughout the year, including Celtic music festivals, Highland games and whisky events
Many years ago the ruggedness of the land led to the separation of the Highlanders into small groups called clans.
VisitScotland uses cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Each clan had its own colourful pattern for weaving cloth and these patterns are called a tartan. Scotland's rich cultural heritage and creativity of today is inspired by people and place, enlivens every community and is celebrated around the world. Highlights from BBC Radio Scotland and elsewhere. Celebrating Edinburgh’s festivals.
Scotland Arts & Culture Festivals provide a comprehensive and varied programme of events to cater for anyone wishing to capture the nature and diversity of the country. And with Scotland as your inspiration, we'll have you sketching away in no time!
From the ancient clans of the 12th century, each generation has added their own cultural thumbprint, creating a unique and vibrant country. Scotland is host to two interceltic music festivals – the Scottish Arts Council funded Celtic Connections, Glasgow, and the Hebridean Celtic Festival, Stornoway – that were founded in the mid-1990s.
The culture and heritage budget for 2016 to 2017 is £154.1 million. See heavy athletes toss the caber, graceful Highland dancers, and pipe band marches. From medieval crofts and castles to Victorian tenements, industrial conversions and contemporary buildings.
Opera, Theatre and Dance
Published on 07 April 2011; updated on 19 August 2011Features about arts and culture from BBC Scotland, newest at the top.In his centenary year, a slideshow and commentary on cartoonist Bud Neill and his creation, the Lobey Dosser cartoon strip.Meet the men and women who chat and eat cake while knitting in public.Details of our TV, radio and online coverage of this year's Edinburgh Festivals.Fiddler and classical violinist Maggie Adamson returns home to Shetland to perform at The Tall Ships Races.A bus shelter with a difference on Scotland's most Northerly Isle.In the year of a major retrospective of her work at the Scottish National Gallery, we feature Dame Elizabeth Blackadder – one of Scotland's finest artists.At 2011's edinburgh International Film festival we asked fans and filmmakers about their most memorable movie scenes.The story of how Scotland's favourite painting, Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross, arrived in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum.Folksinger-songwriter Lise Sinclair talks about the influence of place in her latest work – a series of songs that sing out of the Scottish Northern Isles culture and landscape.In the 600th anniversary year of St Andrews University and as its best-known alumni tie the knot, Siobhan Redmond, Brian Taylor, Rosemary Goring and Hazel Irvine reminisce about their student days in the 'auld grey toon'.Scotland's All Star Cheerleaders are about to take on the world in Florida.Three art installations in the Red Shed at BBC Scotland's Pacific Quay headquarters.A feature about the stall traders today at the world famous Barras.How a “Friends of Scotland” charity fundraiser became a highlight of the New York social calendar.Young Roma people from Govanhill in Glasgow perform music and celebrate their culture for International Roma day.The precious legacy of funny gaelic songs and why they remain important and attractive in modern times.A feature about the Scots children's book Precious and the Puggies, featuring interviews with the book's author Alexander McCall Smith and the translator James Robertson as well as a reading from the book.An audio slideshow featuring Gerry Wan on the subject of Chinese culture in Scotland.An audio slideshow by Bruce Munro on Lanark, featuring Alasdair Gray talking about the inspiration he drew from Glasgow and archive material, including rarely seen drafts and artwork from the novel.An audio slideshow by Miranda Pang, following Glasgow's Hong Lok Dragon and Lion Dancing Troupe, as they bring in the Chinese New Year with Chinese dragon and lion dancing.An audio slideshow by Steven Jones, inspired by the works of Robert Burns.An investigation into Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh's influence on her more celebrated husband.A look at the enduring appeal of the poetry of Norman MacCaig, featuring video and audio from the BBC Scotland archives.
From Celtic music to pop and rock, Scotland is home to a wealth of internationally-renowned bands and musicians currently gracing stages, stereos and soundtracks around the world.
Scotland's arts and culture offering is so much more than just bagpipes, tartan and thistles. Fear not - arts and culture in Scotland isn't necessarily high-brow, and it is certainly never yawn-inducing. Also in this section Celtic Connections take place early in the year, showcasing folk, roots and world music from international and home-grown artists.