Tag: Royal Highland Show

200 years in the making – Royal Highland Show to livestream across the globe

The Royal Highland Show will take to the small screen to livestream this year’s 200th anniversary event across the globe.  

In what has been described as a ‘game changer’ for the Royal Highland Show, organisers have successfully secured £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government to drive this ground-breaking initiative. 

The funding will be administered by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, on behalf of the Scottish Government. 

The free-to-view RHS TV will see a dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content broadcast throughout the four days, featuring the perfect balance of livestock judging, equestrian classes, culture, interviews, food & drink and of course, the grand parade. Presenting RHS TV in the mornings will be Dougie Vipond, with Sarah Mack taking the reins in the afternoons. 

Not only beamed across the globe, RHS TV will also be transmitted across the showground on giant screens throughout the four days. The content captured will be available to watch back on the Royal Highland Show YouTube channel. 

The exciting announcement follows on from the success of the Royal Highland Showcase in 2021, which saw a total audience of 345,701 viewers watch the action online from across 97 countries. 

Bill Gray, Chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), organisers of the Royal Highland Show, said: “This is a hugely exciting announcement which will allow us to bring the best of food, farming, and rural Scotland to audiences across the globe.

“The value the Show brings to the economy and also to Scotland the brand is reflected in the level of support we have received from the Scottish Government, for which we are very grateful.” 

The announcement is just one of many exciting new initiatives planned to make the 2022 Show, which marks 200 years since the first Show took place, a spectacular event. 

Bill added: “RHS TV also presents great opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors to extend their reach beyond the 200,000 people expected to attend the event.

“This is yet another way in which we can add value and also generate revenue which allows RHASS to fulfil its charitable activities.” 

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: “The support of the Scottish Government has ensured the organisers of the Royal Highland Show are able to continue to embrace innovation and build on the success of last year’s Showcase with RHS TV. 

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and the dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content to be broadcast via RHS TV will enable audiences both around the world and at home to connect, enjoy and share in the memorable experience that is the Royal Highland Show, one of the country’s much loved major events.” 

Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “I know how important events like this are to farmers, crofters and rural communities more generally. As the Royal Highland Show celebrates its 200th anniversary this year I’m delighted that this important and high profile event will be welcoming people in person again.

“The Show, which brings together Scotland’s world famous food and drink, traditions and culture to be enjoyed by attendees from around the world, will once again support Scotland’s events supply chain which has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. 

“I am delighted that Scottish Government funding will enable the Royal Highland Show to showcase online all that rural Scotland has to offer and celebrate, significantly increasing the reach of this event and enabling people across Scotland and all around the world to experience the rich variety of activities the Show has to offer.”   

Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 23-26 June 2022.  

Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number this year with sell out days anticipated, so it is advised to purchase early. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by an adult (free ticket must also be reserved in advance).  

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:

www.royalhighlandshow.org.  

Royal Highland Show celebrates Illuminated events success

Nearly 2,000 visitors witness 200-year history of Scotland’s most prestigious agricultural show

The Royal Highland Show Illuminated is celebrating success after making a month-long tour across Scotland. 

The immersive installations, which saw the Royal Highland Show’s rich history projected onto buildings and historical landmarks, attracted 1,780 visitors across the eight dates. 

The events, which were free to attend and produced in association with Turcan Connell, projected expressive imagery, woven together with never-before-seen treasures and untold stories from the Show archives, creating a magical experience which truly brought the Show’s illustrious history to life. 

Overall, there were 170 pieces of archive footage and images, put together by Edinburgh-based digital artists Bright Side Studios, that formed the 5-minute-long visual history of the Royal Highland Show. 

Royal Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), created the event to raise awareness of the Show and highlight its positive impact on Scotland throughout the years.  

RHASS Chairman Bill Gray commented: ““The Royal Highland Show is a key moment in both Scotland’s events and agricultural calendar – these installations were the perfect showcase of its wide-ranging impact and influence over the last two centuries. 

They took place in eight locations around Scotland, referencing how the Show would tour each of the RHASS regions annually before it settled permanently at Ingliston in 1960. These were Edinburgh City Chambers, Jedburgh Town Hall, Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries House, Alloa Tower, Glamis Castle, Haddo House and Eastgate Shopping Centre.  

“However, the Royal Highland Show Illuminated also looked to the exciting future of both the Show and the Society. We hope that you’ll join us this June as we mark 200 years since that very first Show and celebrate the full return of Scotland’s biggest outdoor event.” 

Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 23-26 June 2022. 

Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number this year with sell out days anticipated, so it is advised to purchase early.

For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:

www.royalhighlandshow.org.  

Royal Highland Show invites produce and crafts entries for Scottish Championships

The Royal Highland Show is calling upon producers from across Scotland to apply for the 2022 Scottish Handcrafts, Bread, Honey, and Dairy Championships. 

Entries open tomorrow – Thursday 24th March. The Championships are judged across an extensive range of categories and recognise excellence in Scottish produce. They are judged in advance by a panel of experienced industry experts and displayed at the Royal Highland Show, taking place from the 23rd – 26th June 2022. 

The Scottish Championships attract producers and crafters of the highest-quality and are recognised as respected industry accolades, and are of great value to successful entrants. 

The Dairy Championships comprise competitions for cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and butter, with classes including those for specialty cheese, frozen yoghurt and flavoured butter. The Dairy Championships will be showcased in a new and improved area on the Showground this year. 

A showcase of creativity, the Handcrafts Championships include a variety of art forms, from porcelain and beadwork to baskets and walking sticks, with the theme for entries being ‘Celebration of the Countryside’. This year, Handcrafts will be moving to a brand-new marquee in the Craft Zone.  

Each year the Bread Championships, held in association with Scotland the Bread, attract a high calibre of entries. Celebrating ‘real’ bread made without additives or preservatives, there are classes for everything from sourdough to loaves made especially by small producers. 

The Honey Championships, feature several classes for all things honey related – including raw honey, honey cocktails, artwork related to beekeeping and photography featuring bees. 

Chief Steward of the Scottish Championships, Jackie McCreery, said: “The Scottish Championships are an unrivalled stage for the high-quality products that are coming out of Scotland. The Royal Highland Show is the best shop window you could ask for, and a gold, silver or bronze award catches the eye of potential customers. 

“There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain – for larger companies it’s a chance to solidify the claims of their best-selling products, while for smaller producers it’s an opportunity to prove their worth against the top products in their field, whether that’s sourdough bread or artisan gelato.” 

Entries close for the Scottish Handcrafts Championships on 15th April, with the rest of entries closing 22nd May.

Full details of entry criteria and classes can be found on the Royal Highland Show website. 

For further information please visit www.royalhighlandshow.org. 

First Minister announces food education programme

A food education programme designed to teach children and young people about Scotland’s food industry has been launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Good Food Futures programme, backed by £1 million of investment, aims to give children a greater understanding of where food comes from and the many career opportunities available in the industry.

The programme will also include support for more farm visits, healthy cooking lessons and put more locally produced healthy food on school menus.

Speaking at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, the First Minister said: “Scottish produce is enjoyed across the globe and Scots work in many of the world’s finest kitchens. I want people to enjoy our quality food, but I also want children and young people growing up here to benefit from it too.

“The Good Food Futures programme will help more children understand where their food comes from as well as benefit from it in their school meals. It will also encourage more young people to consider a career in the industry.

“In introducing more of our produce to children and young people, we will help farmers, food producers, manufacturers and businesses benefit in the longer term too.

“This is central to our work to become a Good Food Nation and the Royal Highland Show – with its focus on the best of Scottish produce – provides the perfect place to launch this programme.”

 The Good Food Futures food education programme is being delivered in partnership with:

  • Education Scotland and Food for Thought. The Food For Thought programme has been running for several years and provides funding to support schools in teaching teach children about growing and cooking healthy food.
  • Soil Association though the Food for Life Programme aims to stimulate more local sourcing through a holistic approach encompassing catering and supply chain work and education.

 

UK Government to support Scottish rural businesses at this year’s Royal Highland Show

The UK Government will show its support for Scotland’s agriculture, food and farming sectors when it takes part in the 2019 Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh later this week. Continue reading UK Government to support Scottish rural businesses at this year’s Royal Highland Show