The timeline of Scottish history began to unravel today (Tuesday 19th August) with the launch of a new tourism campaign called Forth’s Timeline.
Under the headline “Unravel Scotland’s History”, the campaign encourages interest in Scottish history and culture by connecting 16 of the Forth Valley’s museums, galleries and buildings through common themes.
The new website for the campaign - www.forthstimeline.net – went live today (19th August 2008) and a brochure will be available throughout the area.
The team behind the campaign believes it will attract local visitors unaware of the rich variety of significant and fascinating places found all over the Forth Valley. It will also target overseas and short break holidaymakers interested in exploring over 2000 years of Scottish history.
Forth’s Timeline connects the 16 attractions using three themes. The first, ‘Crucible of Industry’, links museums examining the industrial revolution. The ‘Power Struggles’ theme considers 2000 years of conflict, at home and abroad. The final theme ‘Landscape of Inspiration’ delves into architecture and art inspired by the Forth Valley. Each theme provides a different way to explore the area through real lives, real stories and real museums.
The new website and brochure use these themes to connect objects within the galleries, museums and places of historical interest. During August and September, the Forth’s Timeline Exhibition Bus takes the campaign on the road, using real objects from the museums and galleries to help history come alive.
To mark today’s launch; Antoninus Pius and Mary Queen of Scots travelled forward in time to 2008 by the unravelling timelines. Starting at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum they were able to use the Forth’s Timeline website and brochure to reconnect with their own history.
Around 142 AD, Antoninus Pius ordered his legions to build a wall marking the northern territory of the Roman Empire. The Antonine Wall features at Kinneil Museum and Callendar House, two of the Forth’s Timeline attractions, and has recently received World Heritage Status.
1300 years later, in 1542, Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow Palace in the Forth Valley. Aged nine months, she was crowned Queen of Scotland in Stirling Castle, now site of The Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Stirling’s town wall was to protect Mary from her "Rough Wooing" instigated by Henry VIII. One of her principal nobles, the Earl of Mar, resided at Alloa Tower, now part of the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail.
Falkirk Council is leading the Forth’s Timeline campaign in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council and the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. Museums Galleries Scotland is supporting the project through the Regional Development Challenge Fund, funded by the Scottish Government. VisitScotland is also backing the campaign.
Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Convener of the Environment and Heritage Committee, said “The Forth’s Timeline campaign creates strong links between attractions in the Forth Valley. By bringing the partners and attractions together we can build on their individual strengths and the Forth Valley’s heritage to bring new visitors to this fascinating area.”
Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “Attractions throughout the Forth Valley have links to some of the most important events and periods in Scottish history. By supporting this project through the Regional Development Challenge Fund we are able to raise the profile of smaller exhibitions as well as promote a richer experience for visitors.”
Sinead Guerin, VisitScotland’s Regional Director, said: “The Forth Valley is an area of historical significance for Scotland with a variety of attractions. It also hosts a wealth of accommodation to suit all budgets and strong transport links to both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Forth’s Timeline will provide another great reason for visitors to explore the Forth Valley and beyond. It is great to see the area’s museums, galleries and ancient monuments working together in this way. This kind of collaboration is crucial as we work towards our shared tourism industry ambition of increasing revenues from tourism by 50 per cent by 2015.”
[ENDS]
Photography of exhibits, museum, galleries, places of historical interest and Forth’s Timeline project shots and logos are available.
For more information on Forth’s Timeline please contact Joe Walton at Matthews Marketing, P: 0141 419 9000, E: joe@mmarketing.org.uk
For more information on Museums Galleries Scotland and the Regional Development Challenge Fund please contact Sarah Burry-Hayes or Eithne Ní Chonghaile P:0131 550 4100 E: eithnenc@museumsgalleriesscotland.com
For more information on tourism in the Forth Valley please contact James Lakie, Regional Corporate Press Officer, VisitScotland. P: 0131 472 2410
E: James.lakie@visitscotland.com
Notes to editors
The Regional Development Challenge Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Museums Galleries Scotland. The Fund aims to encourage the development of partnerships at regional level across local authorities and between museums of all types and other related agencies.
The full list of visitor attractions are The Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Kilmadock Information & Heritage Centre, Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, Clackmannan Tower, Menstrie Castle, Sauchie Tower, Alloa Tower, Castle Campbell and Gardens, Dollar Museum, Tullibody Heritage Centre, Callendar House, Kinneil Museum, Grangemouth Museum, The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, Birkhill Fireclay Mine and the University of Stirling Art Collection.
