Edinburghs Hogmanay

USPA NEWS - Scotland´s Heart is Captured in Art by Young People Who Call Scotland Home.

14 incredible #ScotArt wicker sculptures revealed as chosen by young people across Scotland following months of creative debate and discussion for Year of Young People 2018
“¢ From Tam O´Shanter to a Viking Puffin, the symbols represent the hugely diverse and imaginative pride expressed by Scotland´s young people covering everything from ancient history to innovation
“¢ The #ScotArt sculptures displayed on Edinburgh´s Royal Mile from 19 ““ 29 December following an extensive youth engagement project which reached 100s of young people who call Scotland home
“¢ They will then come together on Holyrood Park at the finale of Edinburgh´s Hogmanay Torchlight Procession on 30 December, creating a spectacular finale to the Year of Young People 2018

For months young people across Scotland have been talking, debating and engaging with each other about what
makes them proud of the region they call home and what one symbol best captures that pride through #ScotArt,
the national youth engagement programme as part of Year of Young People 2018 finale during Edinburgh´s
Hogmanay.

Over 300 young people have taken part in creative workshops led by #ScotArt Young Champions and emerging
Young Artists from Shetland to the Borders to decide on the final 14 #ScotArt symbols which have been realised
with assistance into incredible wicker sculptures by lead artist Ariel Killick. The project has reached a hugely
diverse range of young people across Scotland, including school groups, young carers, young refugees and LGBT
groups. The chosen 14 sculptures represent the brilliant diversity, passion, pride and creativity of young people
living in Scotland today.

The final sculptures unveiled today by the #ScotArt Young Champions and Young Artists alongside Fiona Hyslop,
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs on Edinburgh´s Royal Mile. The sculptures now go on
display on the Royal Mile until the 29th December, after which they will come together to form the fiery heart of
Scotland as outlined by thousands of torchbearers at the epic conclusion of Edinburgh´s Hogmanay Torchlight
Procession on the 30th December, providing a suitably brilliant conclusion to Scotland´s Year of Young People
2018. #ScotArt Young Champions will also lead the Torchlight Procession, each carrying a banner emblazoned
with their regional symbol, with an additional banner representing a 15th European symbol of pride being carried
as chosen by young people from across Europe during a recent trip to Edinburgh.

On the symbol selected from young people in the Scottish Borders #ScotArt Champion Rebecca Tait said: “The symbol for the Scottish Borders was designed by fifteen young people from the region. We had so many fantastic ideas ““ from unicorns, to the Eildon Hills, to the Borders railway. We thought about lots of different categories as well, from food and drink, to iconic people to sport.“ “In the end the group voted the symbol they want to represent the Scottish Borders to be a Highland cow with a rugby 7s ball on his head. The Highland cow represents the farming industry in the Borders and the rugby 7s ball symbolises the famous rugby 7s tournaments that take place in each of the Borders towns every summer. The idea of rugby also fits in well with the well-known Borders Scotland rugby player, Stuart Hogg, who is from Hawick.“

On the symbol selected from young people in Edinburgh & the Lothians, #ScotArt Champions
Tony Anderson & Chris Marshall said: “The symbol chosen to represent Edinburgh and the Lothians is
Greyfriars Bobby guarding Arthur´s seat. The young people had a few options on what symbol best represents
their region including the three bridges (Forth, Rail and The Queensferry Crossing), but they decided that the
story of Greyfriars Bobby and the beautiful landscape of Arthur´s Seat showed off the best of what we have here in
Edinburgh and the Lothians.“
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, said: “Year of Young
People 2018 has been an incredible celebration of our nation´s young people. Projects such as #ScotArt have
created new and exciting opportunities for them to express their creativity, talents and views on a world-wide
stage.
"From the very start young people have been at the heart of everything we are doing with the Year of Young
People. It is only right that they continue to be the beating heart of Scotland as we move into 2019.“

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Edinburgh´s Hogmanay, said: “A big part of our vision for
Edinburgh´s Hogmanay is to actively engage young people across Scotland and to do so throughout the year. So,
it´s been great to work as part of the Year of Young People 2018 which last year launched Edinburgh´s Hogmanay
by revealing the young people of Scotland´s choice of #ScotWord - #BRAW; and this year ““ with #ScotArt - we
close the Year by asking young people to conceive of a symbol that best sums up their region. The enthusiasm
coming back has been brilliant - we´ve engaged 100s of young people from across Scotland and from a diverse
range of backgrounds which is reflected in our incredible 14 sculptures, we´re going to showcase the best of young
Scottish creative talent, putting young people front and centre of our celebration of the new year.“
“We´d encourage as many people to pop along to see the 14 amazing #ScotArt sculptures on Edinburgh´s Royal
Mile until 29th December before they form the heart-shaped fiery finale of our much-loved Torchlight Procession
on the 30th December.“

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council,
said: “Where better to capture Scotland´s soul than right here in the heart of the Capital? This remarkable display
will line the Royal Mile this Christmas in celebration of our young people, our shared culture and Edinburgh´s
Hogmanay. The culmination of many months of workshops up and down the country, the wicker sculptures will
be on show before they form the fiery conclusion of the Torchlight Procession on the night of 30 December.“

#ScotArt is supported by the Year of Young People event fund, which is run by EventScotland as part of
VisitScotland´s directorate. The project is a partnership with Underbelly and Edinburgh Art Festival.
Year of Young People 2018 is a celebration of Scotland´s incredible young people, while giving them a lounder
platform for their voices to be heard.
Edinburgh´s Hogmanay is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government through the Edinburgh
Festival´s Expo Fund, EventScotland International Events Programme and Scotland´s Winter Festivals Fund and
the Year of Young People 2018 Events fund, all working together to create a bold new Hogmanay for Scotland.