Scottish Parliament supports Scotland Week

12.04.2012

The Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP and Elaine Smith MSP have begun a series of engagements on behalf of the Scottish Parliament in New York to mark Scotland Week.

The visit will culminate with the Presiding Officer and Ms Smith taking part alongside an estimated 2,000 marchers along 6^th Avenue, with actor Brian Cox as Grand Marshal of the famous Tartan Day Parade.

Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP said:

“I am pleased to support Scotland Week 2012, my first international engagement since being elected as Presiding Officer last May.  I know there is great interest across North America in Scotland’s culture and creativity, both past and present, and I look forward to playing my part in showcasing these during this year’s events.

“Scotland’s outward looking nature is also respected worldwide and our record in philanthropy and charity work speaks for itself.  I will be fortunate to meet some great examples of this in action when I visit the volunteers who help Mary’s Meals in New York, those working with Brian Cox in support of ‘Developing World Health’ charity and the large organisation that is the Carnegie Corporation of New York.”

The delegation will undertake engagements with:

• The American-Scottish Foundation
• The Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Developing World Health charity and its patron Brian Cox
• St Andrew’s Society of New York
• Mary’s Meals USA office staff and volunteers
• The New York Caledonian Club

Since 1998, Tartan Day has been recognised by the U.S. House of Representatives as an official celebration of the contribution of American-Scots to U.S. culture and life. Over the past 10 years Scotland-focused activity around Tartan Day has grown into a week-long programme to promote Scotland in North America and is now called Scotland Week.

Scotland Week 2012 is a week long programme of events in America and Canada, aiming to promote all things Scottish. Fifty million people across the world claim Scottish heritage - the majority being in America and Canada.

This year, the programme kicks off on Tartan Day (April 6), celebrated nationally in both America and Canada, and will come to a close on April 14 with the spectacular Tartan Day Parade finale in New York.

Further information about all the events in Scotland Week (external website) can be found online.

The Scottish Parliament’s budget for all aspects of Scotland Week 2012 has been set at £15,000.