SCOTTISHPOWER has announced that it has renewed its sponsorship of Celtic Connections by committing to a further year as principal sponsor.
The energy company confirmed its support for the festival which celebrated an extremely successful 17th year in 2010, as attendances topped 100,000 for the third year running and gross ticket sales reached over £1 million.
Says a spokesperson: “The economic impact of the festival increased to an impressive £11.9 million in 2010.”
The festival saw an increase in international visitors, with music fans flocking to Glasgow from as far afield as Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Colombia, Canada, the USA and from across Europe, with Glasgow experiencing an increase in the number of first time visitors to the City.
ScottishPower group sponsorships manager, Heather McDonald, was delighted to be able to announce the renewal of the sponsorship.
She said: “We are very keen to continue our relationship with Celtic Connections as part of the already substantial commitment ScottishPower has made to the arts in Scotland. Our association with the festival goes back to 2007 and we are happy to continue as principal sponsor in 2011. This grassroots festival has a large role in Scotland’s cultural calendar and ScottishPower is proud to be able to play a part in that.
“In particular we were delighted with the success of the ScottishPower Powerful Performance competition, which is aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in celebrating traditional music. The 2010 winners, St Ninian’s High School from Giffnock, put on a fantastic performance on the prestigious main stage of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.”
Around 1,500 artists performed at more than 300 events across 18 venues in the city in January of this year including many sell-out gigs.
The funding from ScottishPower will enable festival organisers to continue to bring the highest calibre of leading names in the music world to Glasgow.
Donald Shaw, Celtic Connections artistic director, added: “We are delighted that ScottishPower is continuing to support Celtic Connections. Over the past four years, ScottishPower’s commitment to the festival has enabled us to bring an array of fantastic international and home-grown artists to Glasgow, as well as support fresh musical talent.
“The company’s investment is particularly key in funding the festival’s education programme, which provides children across the country with the valuable opportunity to learn about Scotland’s cultural heritage and enjoy Scottish traditional music. We are very much looking forward to working with ScottishPower again on the 2011 festival.”
Celtic Connections 2011 runs from 13th – 30th January. The programme for the 2011 festival will be announced on Tuesday 19th October 2010.
ENDS
Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of ScottishPower.
For more information please contact:
Kate McCheyne on 0141 333 9585 / 07766 076 469 or email kate.mccheyne@bigpartnership.co.uk
OR
Eva Swanson on 0141 333 9585 / 07876 021 367or email eva.swanson@bigpartnership.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
- ScottishPower became Principal Sponsor of Celtic Connections in 2007. Through the sponsorship, the company encourages its staff and the communities it operates within to experience and enjoy the arts. ScottishPower’s partnerships reflect the company’s belief in the importance of enabling culture to be accessible for all.
- Every January, fans and musicians from around the world flock to Glasgow for the city’s 18 day folk, roots, world and traditional music festival – Celtic Connections. The largest winter music festival of its kind and ranking amongst the finest folk festivals in the world, Celtic Connections comprises 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, workshops, free events and late night sessions taking place over 18 days in 18 venues across Glasgow.
- Renowned for its diverse and ambitious programme, Celtic Connections’ fundamental aim is to make links through traditional music and culture. Every year the festival brings together a top line-up of 1,500 artists from around the globe to celebrate the influence of Celtic music on cultures around the world.
- For background on ScottishPower log onto www.scottishpower.com and more details about Celtic Connections, log on to www.celticconnections.com.
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Contact: Kate McCheyne
Phone: 0141 333 9585
Email: kate.mccheyne@bigpartnership.co.uk
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