TRACS is delighted to be supporting a new initiative by BEMIS Scotland in collaboration with the Scottish Government that aims to practically enable Scotland’s ethnic and cultural minority communities to participate in and enhance the dynamic celebrations taking place across Scotland as part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture & Design & the 2016/17 Winter Festivals.

This new programme, supported by funding totalling £54,000 from the Scottish Government, builds on previous successes of similar initiatives led by BEMIS, Scotland’s national Ethnic Minorities led umbrella body.

In 2015, TRACS demonstrated a commitment to celebrating diverse ‘intangible cultural heritage’ in Scotland, highlighting that the traditional arts are often the means by which voices hidden from the mainstream of society are heard. In 2016, through its work and engagement, TRACS will explicitly engage with the question of participation in the traditional arts, hoping to advance traditional arts as a vehicle for empowerment and inclusion. In this aim we have a shared objective with BEMIS Scotland.

As a result, TRACS will be working with BEMIS over the coming months to encourage engagement with ethnic and cultural groups across our networks of music, storytelling and dance, together exploring the traditional arts and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) as a conduit to an ‘inclusive national identity’, community cohesion and integration.

BEMIS Scotland, the Scottish Government and TRACS share an objective and commitment to facilitate, celebrate and enhance Scotland’s inclusive national identity, acknowledging that the diverse cultural characteristics of Scotland’s minority communities combine to represent a dynamic, progressive, vibrant and engaging national narrative.

“People from across the world have settled in Scotland, they are welcome here and their contribution is valued. I would encourage multi-cultural communities to take part in this initiative by developing their own events celebrating the place they live and Scotland’s national days”.       Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism & External Affairs

In addition to small grants available for community involvement, other planned activity includes a bespoke winter conference to encourage new horizons and interpretations of Scottish, European and Global identity and citizenship. Plus, for St Andrew’s weekend, BEMIS Scotland and Scotland Food and Drink employ the culinary and cultural narrative of south Asian Diasporas in Scotland to celebrate our shared social, economic and cultural links.

“We look forward to working with key agencies and our communities to progress this sharedhuman aspiration and foster our sense of Scotland as home – safe, inclusive, confident and culturally intelligent. This approach places domestic, European and global citizenship at the heart of our cultural and social agenda. Scotland is a nation of diversity in a global community of equals.”                                                                                                                                                        Dr. Rami Ousta, BEMIS CEO

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design
£20,000 to be distributed to local community organisations as part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations, with core costs taking precedence over non-essentials. Constituted charitable and non-profit organisations/community groups can apply for grants of £250 to £1,000.

Scotland’s Winter Festivals
£28,000 to be distributed to local community organisations as part of the Scotland’s Winter Festival period running from 01/11/16 – 28/01/17, with core costs taking precedence over non-essentials. Constituted charitable and non-profit organisations/community groups can apply for grants of £250 to £1,000.

Key Dates:
St. Andrew’s Day (30 Nov) | Hogmanay (31 Dec)
New Year’s Day (1 Jan)| Burns Night (25 Jan)