News.Scotland.Org

BBC Scotland has developed a project that is aimed at telling the history of the world by setting up a digital museum of world history that will have over 60 items sourced from museums across Scotland that have both national and international significance. Some of the items on display list include .BILLY Connolly’s big banana boots, Dolly the Sheep and the oldest football in the world among others. Ranging from the tooth of the sperm whale  to the travel pass from the First World War, the displayed items are interestingly different and diverse.

The  Connolly’s banana boots, originally made by the renowned artist John Byrne for the play The Great Northern Welly Boot Show in 1972,  is being sourced from the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens in Glasgow, where it is stored. Angela Robert, project manager for the BBC’s ‘A History of the World in Scotland’, said that the public would be encouraged to upload pictures of any historical objects or antique pieces that may shed more light on the culture and history of Scotland. Priceless heirlooms and collector’s items with  a legacy of their own would be the specialty of this exhibition.

The historian Michael Fry drew up his own list of 100 items that are tell tales  Scotland’s history and culture while BBC chose 60 items including the early banknotes, the Paisley shawl  and the Bell Rock lighthouse among others. Things used by the Scots withing Scotland were given preference nonetheless  some articles of historical importance collected  from other parts of the world were also included in the  list.

For a small  country as  Scotland, the cultural diversity is simply amazing and this digital museum would showcase the cultural diversity for the future generations.

Pic Source: BBC.Co.UK

The family of Sir Harry Lauder, one of the greatest entertainers and ambassador of Scotland is selling the memorabilia of the former. This rare collection of personal artefacts includes costumes and signed photograps, and cabin trunk.

Being an entertainer Sir Harry has travelled the world as a top entertainer and even became the first British performer to ever sell a million records. Expert in his art he not only was a entertainer but also wrote Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ and I Love a Lassie.

Reports have suggested that the sale will be held in Edinburgh today at the Shapes Auctioneers.

The star attractions in a major international exhibition that was conducted on October 16th were the two 16th-century Italian Renaissance masterpieces, Titian’s “Diana” paintings, a part of an exhibit of 12 paintings and 13 drawings from the National Galleries of Scotland. First ever to be shown in the US, these paintings were brought to Atlanta, GA by the High Museum of art.

On the first anniversary of the nation’s acquisition of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon, the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) and the National Gallery in London announced a tour of the painting to three venues in Scotland in 2010. The painting will be on public display in Aberdeen Art Gallery from 28 May to 27 June, at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow from 1 July to 1 August and at the McManus Galleries, Dundee from 6 August to 5 September.

Considered national treasures of the United Kingdom, where they have been on long-term loan at the National Galleries in Edinburgh since 1945, it was commissioned by King Phillip of Spain as part of a series of six mythological paintings based on the classical poet Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”.

In 2008, the Scottish institution and the National Gallery of London were given the opportunity to acquire the paintings, conceived by Titian as a pair. In less than five months, at a price reported at more than $70 million, the museums had purchased “Diana and Actaeon” which has long been recognized as one among Titian’s very finest creations. They are now raising funds to secure “Diana and Callisto,” (1556-1559), another supreme masterpiece of Venetian Renaissance art, which is slightly the larger of the two paintings at 73 inches by 80 inches.

Since it opened in 1988, Glasgow’s most popular and favourite Museum of transport, Kelvin hall Museum in the city’s west end will close on April 18th, after 18 year’s of operation. One of the most popular attractions in Scotland, it is both an arts and sports venue that houses exhibits of national and international importance. Drawing almost 500,000 visitors per year, the door- closing ceremony will be marked by a series of free events and the museum will later become a part of the £74m Riverside, which was designed by the leading architect Zaha Hadid.

Funding for the project has been collected from many divisions but a campaign of £2 million is still to be launched for its successor the Riverside Museum which will open in the early 2011. Expected to attract 800,000 visitors in its first year of operation, it is noted to be a free-flowing space to accommodate large exhibits, and enable displays to be easily updated.

The construction of the Riverside is scheduled to be completed by August this year which will exhibit cars, trams, trains, bicycles, model ships and its famous recreated “street” including the recreation of three streets from 1900 to 1930, 1930 to 1960 and the 1980s. Other main attractions will include a velodrome of the historic bicycle collection which the museum features the oldest bicycle of the world and motor cars of 1938 will also be on display.

Always a source of great pride and affection for the people in Glasgow, The Museum of Transport has always been the most- visited attractions in the city. The property of the Glasgow City Council, it would not be sold and will be used for the community and other public use.

Promising to be a spectacular building, The Riverside Museum will educate and captivate visitors for generations and will be home to numerous interesting exhibits. Being constructed on the banks of Clyde and River Kelvin, a dramatic introduction of its exhibits will begin on the day of its commencement.

For people throughout Scotland, Perth 800 is one of the most celebrated and important anniversaries. History says that way back in 1210 King William the Lion, an old king, granted the Royal Charter to Perth, and the year 2010 marks its 800th anniversary. A reason to celebrate of course

Throughout the year, Perth will be active with people in and around the area celebrating and the town entertaining people with more than a hundred events. Culture and creativity had a fiery start and got into full swing with the Scottish Culture Minister, Fiona Hyslop, inaugurating the celebrations at the Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

Light shows, a special exhibition and street performers marked the opening and left guests stunned. The inaugration even showcased varying dance styles of the world-famous guest choreographer Mark Morris and Scottish ballet artistic directors. Ms. Fiona Hyslop said “The Perth 800 programme is a superb year-long programme of events, representing a well balanced mix of the old and the new, and showcasing the Fair City’s vibrant artistic and cultural scene. Culture and creativity are vital to a prosperous nation, extending the economic and social fabric of the country – Perth 800 offers a great opportunity to do that here.”

A free exhibition “Skin and Bone” which gives visitors an insight into Perth’s medieval past runs until August. It also includes items like the Perth Psaltr taken as loan from the National Library of Scotland. Perth Provost John Hubert had this to say about the celebration: “This is an important and historic anniversary for people here and throughout Scotland and we want to welcome visitors from home and overseas, especially our twin towns and the other Perths around the world, to come and celebrate it with us.”

Highlights of Perth 800:

• Perth 800 Film Festival: April
• The Perth Festival of Arts: May
• Perth Day – 2nd July
• Geocaching treasure hunt- July
• Auction Sale (antiques, collectibles, fine arts) at L.Burns auction house – July
• Lightnight Perth – November.

And so, if you are planning to make a visit to Scotland, here is place you ought not to miss and if you are not planning a Scotland holiday, here is a reason why you should!

Situated in the very heart of the city, The Merchant’s Hall is one of the discreet treasures of Edinburgh,  Scotland. The best of art and architecture is combined to create a building of grace and distinction which includes a Minstrel’s Gallery. Owned by the Edinburgh Merchant Company and recently used by The Company’s members exclusively, its truly magnificent venue is available for use for corporate or private events by those who wish to enjoy the beauty and prestige of The Merchant’s Hall.

The hall with its magnificent dome building provides an exceptional atmosphere and charm with the best of sound systems. The crush hall provides the ideal breakfast space with a capacity of 40 for reception and 30 for standing buffet. Offering prestigious surroundings, one can meet around the large oak table for entertaining smaller groups with portraits by Raeburn and Ramsay hanging on the crimson walls, glowing with heritage, integrity and graciousness in the court room.

For meetings, seminars and presentations, one can enjoy the accommodations available to suit your taste in The Court Room, The Hall and The Crush Hall which is totally flexible. For food, you can choose a selection of catering professionals, each of whom with a special area of expertise. With the big V-day just around the corner, its a wonderful place for a great getaway with your love!

On a weekend break in Scotland, The Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot is one of the best locations to explore with your family or friends. The Preston Mill is one of the oldest meal mills in Scotland with its machinery still working. It lies close to the River Tyne a few hundred yards downstream of East Linton. Since 1951 it has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland and it remained in use as a commercial mill until 1959. The mill complex comprises three main buildings: the kiln, the mill and the miller’s house. Externally, the mill stands to the east of the mill-pond, the “header-tank” for the supply of water to power the mill. This in turn is fed via a mill-lade bringing water from the River Tyne.

If you are a photographer or an artist by profession, you’ll find the conical roofed kiln and attractive red pantiled buildings of Preston Mill ideal for photography. While the nearby millpond with resident ducks and geese provides the finishing touches to an idyllic countryside spot. You can see and hear the mechanisms in action and find out about the working life of a miller. There is also an exhibition on milling and display on history of Preston Mill and the people who lived and worked here is available.

From the Mill, it’s only a short walk away distance to the Phantassie Doocot (Small detached round or square building containing nesting boxes for the breeding and accommodation of doves or pigeons. Doocots were important economic resources during medieval and later times as they provided sustainable supplies of meat, eggs, feathers, and manure), which is currently inhabited by birds. Phantassie Doocot was probably built in the 1500s. It shares a number of features of the fairly common “beehive” shaped Scottish doocot, but is unusually cut off at the top to form a south facing slope through which the birds could access the nest boxes within.

The Preston Mill is open from 1 June to 30th of September which it functions from Monday to Thursday 1 to 5pm. Small groups as well as school tour are also allowed in the location with prior arrangement. Facilities such as a small gift shop, picnic tables and chairs are available to the visitors.

The stage is set for the Sixth Glasgow Film Festival (GFF), which will run from the February 18-28, 2010 and which is very much popular not just in Scotland, but in the whole of UK.

The GFF, which will open on February 18th with the screening of the  Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed ‘Micmacs’, will screen more than 120 features across 18 locations, which include the Glasgow Film Theatre and of course the Cineworld too.

Started in 2005 as a fitting honour to the passion that the people of Glasgow hold for movies, the GFF is now the fastest growing and third-largest film event in the UK. A major highlight of GFF is the different festivals that are held as part of the festival itself. These include Glasgow Short Film Festival, Glasgow Music and Film Festival, FashionArtFilm and of course the much popular FrightFest, which showcases horror films. The presence of celebrities including  the legendary James Earl Jones, Oscar-winning Scottish director Kevin Macdonald,  Cannes Best Actor winner Peter Mullan (of ‘My Name Is Joe’ (1998) and ‘The Magdalene Sisters’ (2002) fame) will add to the spirit of the festival. The newly instituted  Margaret Tait Award, named after the pioneering Scottish artist filmmaker Margaret Tait (1918-1999) and to be given to  artists working with film and video is also going to be a major highlight in the festival too.

The sixth edition of the highly popular Glasgow Film Festival will come to an end on February 28th with the world premiere of ‘Legacy’, by British/Nigerian director Thomas Ikimi.