BEMIS & TRACS St Andrew’s Day Open Conference

Ahead of 2017’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and BEMIS Scotland jointly host a conference exploring how we might realise the creative potential of our diverse cultural heritage in local communities across Scotland.

Bringing together practitioners, policy-makers and academics, the day will offer presentations, participative workshops, live performances and networking opportunities. We look forward to how we might realise this creative potential, fostering good relationships at a community level and promoting a dynamic, inclusive Scottish national identity for the future.

Dr Alasdair Allan MSP (Minister for International Development & Europe ) will open the day with a reflection on the global influence on our national cultural heritage and BEMIS’ Dr Rami Ousta will highlight the role of intangible cultural heritage as a pathway to active citizenship

Performances include an exciting collaboration between BBC Traditional Musician of the Year 2013 Paddy Callaghan, Sheikh Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini (+ Guest) and Dance Ihayami.

Participative workshops with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), BEMIS Scotland, Voluntary Arts Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland.

What does Scotland’s inclusive national identity mean to you? A Panel Discussion with storyteller and musician Marion Kenny and Edyta Kania of Dance Ihayami, Donald Shaw, Director of Celtic Connections and BEMIS’ Danny Boyle. Chaired by Donald Smith, Director of TRACS.

Scotland has been shaped by millennia of global influence. Part of Scotlandhas always been – and will be – African, Asian, Middle and Far Eastern, European and all the diversity of culture, language, religion and beliefs inherent around the globe. In order to foster social and cultural equality, every citizen of Scotland should know the broader story of Scotland’s story and role in the world. This includes recognition of Scotland’s part in the transatlantic slave trade, how Scotland was shaped by colonialism both globally and domestically, and how the impact of these global events can still be seen in the inequalities faced by minority ethnic communities today.

It is also important to encourage a sense of equal ownership in our national heritage and historic environment, including greater recognition of the diverse intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of local communities. From language, custom and belief to music and song, our discussions explore the unique local expressions of cultural heritage and their global connections, simultaneously universal and particular in character