The story unfolds...

Book festivals, musical journeys, favourite cartoon characters and fresh takes on our culture and heritage, will form part of a dazzling programme of events to celebrate Scotland's Year of Stories!

Article Source: VisitScotland
Last Updated: 15 December 2021 11:45

A nationwide programme of more than 60 events presented by a range of partners from national organisations to community groups has been unveiled in recognition of the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. Additional events will continue to be added throughout 2022.

The programme was launched along with a new promotional video featuring the voice of Game of Thrones star James Cosmo. The Clydebank-born actor, known for his role in the fantasy epic as well as numerous Scottish film and TV shows, lends his distinctive timbre to inspire visitors and locals to explore Scotland and celebrate the Year of Stories.

The story begins across January-March with:
• Glasgow’s Celtic Connections presenting ‘Whisper the Song’, a series of five newly commissioned events celebrating Scotland's rich tradition of stories, interwoven with music, song and film.
• Once Upon a Time in South Ayrshire, beginning with a celebration of Burns then featuring a varied programme of events, exhibitions and experiences that will run across the year.
• Spectra – Scotland’s Festival of Light - returns to Aberdeen in February, celebrating the humour, seriousness and sheer gallus of Scotland’s storytellers, including ‘Writ Large’, which will beam the country’s finest contemporary storytellers’ prose and poetry in large scale projections and neon.

Turning the page into Spring 2022 (March-April) events:
• StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival presents Stories like starting points, exploring the role of stories in poetry and introducing a brand-new Young Makars poetry initiative.
• Stornoway’s An Lanntair presents Seanchas, a series of events, films and special commissions celebrating tales from the Hebrides both real and imagined, modern and ancient.

Summer (May-September) provides plenty to write home about:
• Borders Book Festival returns to Melrose with a special programme celebrating and exploring tales with themes from Walter Scott, to the Great Tapestry of Scotland
• The Wire Women project taking place as part of Perth and Kinross’ Year of Stories with community groups, creatives and cultural organisations sharing the stories of women, all connected through objects in the collections of the new City Hall Museum
• Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Edinburgh International Film Festival will bring Scotland’s Stories On Screen to iconic and exciting places and spaces
• The Dundee Summer (Bash) Street Festival will hail Dundee as the home of comics, celebrating its characters, stories, history and upcoming talent. The city will be declared as BEANOTOWN, with a pop-up comic museum, workshops, talks, film screenings, street fun and world record attempts
• The world-renowned Edinburgh International Book Festival presents Scotland’s Stories Now – proving everyone has a story to tell with tales gathered from across the country and then shared at the flagship event.
• In Skye, SEALL and Gaelic singer Anne Martin lead An Tinne, a collection of songs, stories and objects from across the centuries exploring the deep and fascinating connection between Scotland and Australia
• Moray’s Findhorn Bay Festival will offer a journey of exploration and discovery, celebrating the area’s heritage, landscape and people
• The Wigtown Book Festival in Scotland’s National Book Town will present two new commissions, Into the Nicht, an immersive Dark Skies tour, and Walter in Wonderland, a whirlwind theatrical tour through the history of the nation’s literature
• The Northern Stories Festival led by Lyth Arts Centre in Caithness promises a spectacular celebration of the stories of the Far North.

Continuing the story into Autumn and Winter:
• Transgressive North bringing us Map of Stories – in partnership with the International Storytelling Festival - ‘film ceilidh’ events celebrating the most iconic voices from Scotland’s oral storytelling traditions will invoke the places and landscapes from which they emerge
• Stirling Castle plays host to Tales from the Castle, an after-hours event that opens the gates to extraordinary stories and takes you on a journey through language and time.
• Scotland's Stories – Community Campfires, led by Scottish Book Trust will take place across the country, engaging with communities and showcasing people's tales from their own lives - featuring Luke Winter’s Story Wagon and culminating at Book Week Scotland in November.

There are also a number of events that will take place across the year, with some touring the country:
• Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck Botanic Gardens will host Of Scotland’s Soils and Soul - a multi-sensory journey celebrating stories inspired by Scotland’s rich and diverse plant life.
• The Scottish Storytelling Centre & Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust present Figures of Speech with prominent and emerging figures responding to our iconic stories and imagining them afresh, sparking new dialogues and directions.
• The RSNO bring us Yoyo and the Little Auk, a new story celebrating our diverse cultures for Early Years Audiences with an animated film and live performances at events and festivals across Scotland.
• Songs from the Last Page from Chamber Music Scotland will take place at book festivals, libraries, and community spaces and will create new songs from the last lines of our great and favourite fiction: turning endings into beginnings.

The events programme will bring Scotland’s places and spaces to life, sharing stories old and new covering everything from local tales to oral traditions, iconic books, to tales told on the big screen. They will be told by diverse voices and discovered in many different places, showcasing the many sides of Scotland’s distinct culture.

Across the country, from national to community organisations and businesses, people are preparing to tell their tales of Scotland, shining a spotlight on iconic stories and storytellers, tales of our people, places and legends and stories inspired by nature.

For 2022 the Themed Year will include a brand new events programme strand. The Community Stories Fund has been designed to support organisations and community groups to take part in and celebrate the year, spotlighting the unique stories that matter to them. The fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Around 100 events will be supported through the Community Stories Fund including:
• Weaving with words: the magic of Highland Storytelling at Hugh Miller's Birthplace Museum will feature a series of guided storytelling walks around Cromarty from April to October, inspired by the life and works of the 19th century geologist, folklorist and social justice campaigner.
• In March the distinctive story of Easterhouse will be shared in Mining seams and drawing wells: a living archive for Easterhouse, led by Glasgow East Arts Company with local residents.
• A Yarn Worth Spinning led by The Great Tapestry of Scotland will tell the story of the history and culture of textiles in the Scottish Borders from April to June, including an exhibition and fashion show.
• A cross generational project led by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, The Phone Box – East Linton voices shared down the line, will take place in August with a rich soundscape of stories, memories and music.

In addition to the directly funded programme of events, VisitScotland will work with the widest range of partners to showcase and promote the full gamut of events and activities that celebrate Scotland’s many and diverse Stories across 2022. From the wider programme of Burns events in January, including National Trust for Scotland’s Burns Big Night In on 22 January, to the 75th Anniversary of our World Festival City to wonderful stories from our National Theatre of Scotland, including Enough of Him a remarkable story based on the life of one man who changed the course of history, and the ambitious programme coming to Scotland as part of UNBOXED, a UK wide celebration of creativity and innovation, 2022 is going to be a year in which stories are shared, and created on a huge scale.

Many more partner events celebrating the theme will be joining the programme over the forthcoming months.

Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 will begin on 1 January 2022 and run until 31 December 2022.

For more information www.visitscotland.com/year-of-stories

Join the conversation #YS2022 and #TalesOfScotland

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Renfrewshire News

The Bungalow is a musical home from home for rocker Davey

Rock star vocalist Davey Pattison spent 40 years performing in arenas and stadiums all over America.

Annual recruitment event returns to Braehead Shopping Centre

On Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th September, Braehead Shopping Centre will host its 3rd annual recruitment event.

Online radio chat show going from strength to strength

When Rachael Smith started hosting her weekly chat show 'Buddie Talk' on Paisley Radio back in March this year, she never envisioned that it would take off quite as much as it has.

Award winning show Stuntman comes to Paisley Arts Centre

Award-winning Scottish company SUPERFAN will bring their high-octane smash hit Edinburgh Fringe show Stuntman to Paisley Arts Centre on Wednesday 17th September!

Spooky season returns to town with the announcement of Paisley Halloween Festival 2025

Paisley Halloween Festival will return to town next month to celebrate the spooky season with a packed programme of frightful fun for all the family!

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

M&Ds teams up with Zombie Infection for a heart pounding, live action horror attraction

M&D's is set to transform into Scotland's Scream Park with the launch of Zombie Checkpoint, a live action immersive horror experience creating a heart racing adventure not for the faint hearted.

Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland

Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.

20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.

A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival

Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.

Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party

It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!

Winners of the 2025 Love Paisley Star Awards unveiled

The winners of this year's Love Paisley Star Awards have been announced.

Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month

Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.

Young people bring colour to Paisley through new murals

Young people have created three vibrant new murals to transform an area of Seedhill, Paisley.

Iconic buildings across Renfrewshire set to welcome visitors for Doors Open Days 2025

Spectacular venues from across Renfrewshire will welcome visitors as part of this year's Doors Open Days.

Fresh new line up for one of the biggest FREE food and drink festivals in Scotland

Vikings, a pie eating competition, new celebrated chef and dog & duck shows set to bring new energy to Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival this September.

From pouring pints to the red carpet: The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 crowns its hospitality stars!

The winners of the 2025 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards were unveiled on the 26th of August at a glittering, Oscars-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow.

Best Croissant Competition returns for 2025

The Edinburgh Butter Company has announced the return of its ‘Scotland’s Best Croissant’ competition on Monday 13th October.

GlasGLOW announces all new show for 2025, inspired by the legendary 80s campaign that made Glasgow smile

itison has confirmed that GlasGLOW will return to the Botanic Gardens from 24th October – 2nd November for its eighth year and with its biggest show yet... GlasGLOW's Miles Better!

Historic Environment Scotland launches Talking About Heritage

People across Scotland invited to take part in national conversation about heritage.

Tickets now on sale for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo closes the drawbridge on its 75th anniversary Show, as tickets for next year go on sale.

Beat the Street is returning to Renfrewshire

An interactive game encouraging people of all ages to get active and explore their local surroundings is set to return to towns and villages across Renfrewshire this autumn.

Momentum builds at Braehead with surge in sales, footfall and leasing

SGS UK Retail has announced that Braehead Shopping Centre is going from strength to strength, headlining outstanding sales and footfall growth for the year to date.

Primark celebrates 50 years in Scotland with a wee nod to loyal Scots in all stores today

Scottish shoppers will hardly believe it when they see it today as Primark finally relents on one of its biggest brand debates after 50 years.

Christmas at Crieff Hydro returns with magical line up of festive activities

Scotland's best loved family resort, Crieff Hydro, has unveiled details of a specially curated programme of events as it prepares to welcome guests over the festive period.

Scots Language Awards 2025 shortlist unveiled

The shortlist for the Scots Language Awards 2025 has been unveiled, with figures from Scottish literature, theatre, education and business all in the running for awards at the annual ceremony.

Popular Listings

Beacon Arts Centre Braehead Arena Johnstone Town Hall Old Swan Inn Paisley Paisley Abbey Paisley Arts Centre Paisley Town Hall Robertson Park Renfrew The Bungalow Paisley Venue Paisley

The story unfolds...

Book festivals, musical journeys, favourite cartoon characters and fresh takes on our culture and heritage, will form part of a dazzling programme of events to celebrate Scotland's Year of Stories!

Sponsored Links

Latest Renfrewshire News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings