Up, up and away – Show Scotland launches

Show Scotland 2009 launches today as its website – www.showscotland.com – goes live with information on events taking place at museums and galleries across Scotland over the May bank holiday (1-4 May).

With around 50 museums and galleries confirmed to date, generating a multitude of events including late night openings, fun family activities and specially created arts performances, there is something for everyone.

Show Scotland, a Museums Galleries Scotland initiative, welcomes back old and introduces new visitors to the nations museums and galleries with a dazzling diversity of original interactive and energising events.

Show Scotland provides museums and galleries with an opportunity to be creative and daring with their collections and venue space. These innovative and original events are specially designed for Show Scotland.

Already Show Scotland has had a huge impact on both audiences and participating venues since its launch in 2006 and is already a highlight on Scotland’s cultural calendar. It has sustained a strong year on year growth rate, resulting in higher visitor numbers and increased events capacity, planning and self promotion reported by participating museums and galleries.

Last year saw 58 museums and galleries taking part and overall visitor figures for the weekend have significantly increased with 65,719 visits made to participating venues – a 36% increase on 2007.

Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland comments: “Show Scotland is a chance to celebrate and have some fun with our extraordinary heritage through creative and exciting events. The sheer exuberance of the programme infects everyone working in the sector and every year we see the energy grow stronger and stronger in anticipation of the big May weekend.”

See www.showscotland.com for details of all events. Although most Show Scotland events are free, some have limited places and can get booked up quickly so visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This year Show Scotland is also on Facebook and Twitter, keeping visitors and members up to date with developments as preparations get underway.

Facebook – http://tinyurl.com/showscotland09
Twitter – http://twitter.com/showscotland

For more information contact: Emma McDonald :: +44 131 225 7880 :: cat@hottinroof.co.uk