The Czech Republic celebrated joining the European Union throughout 2004 with performances by the Scottish band Shooglenifty, which began a ten month programme of Scottish traditional and contemporary cultural events titled Showcasing Scotland.

The programme set out to challenge stereotypes, present Scotland as modern, diverse nation and foster a long term partnership with the Czech Republic.

Music

Music is an important feature of the programme with:

• three concerts by Shooglenifty
• a tour by energetic dance funk band Croft No. Five
• performance by award winning Grampian Police Pipe Band
• concert by leading clarsach player Mary MacMaster and percussionist Donald Hey.  

Drama

The Arches presented Tam O’Shanter in English with Croft No. Five accordionist John Sommerville providing the backdrop of sounds. The plays Perfect Days by Liz Lochhead and The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union by David Greig were performed in Czech.

Creative Industries

Scottish design and creative industries were represented in The Lion’s Roar, an exhibition of works of art by 15 of Scotland’s top silversmiths including pieces considered some of Scotland’s most significant historical silver. The programme also included lectures on hallmarking and workshops for students of metal design.

Film

Scottish design agency ISO presented their multi-platform moving image projects whilst an online festival of digital art and film (accessible through on site computer terminals) included work from Blackwatch in Glasgow, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh International Film Festival and their music video section, Mirrorball.

Literature

Scottish publishers and writers, including Louise Welsh, Kirsty Gunn and journalist Neal Ascherson featured in Book World Prague, an international book fair. Leading Scottish poets Ian Stephen and Alec Finlay are represented in the Poetry without Borders festival. A complimentary programme of Scottish literature seminars is also planned around a selection of contemporary Scottish writing.

Highland Games

The Scottish Highland Games is to be duplicated in a Czech Castle. This unusual event represents the fourth annual Highland games held in East and Central Europe where visitors will enjoy field sports and events of traditional skill to measure their strength against the winner of more than a hundred national titles.

The Scottish season in the Czech Republic is organised by our offices in Prague, London and Edinburgh.

A Welsh season in 2005 - 2006 and a Northern Irish focus in 2006 – 2007 will follow.

Visit the main British Council Arts site to find out how you can be involved in our arts work.