Themed Year Real Success Story

A newly released report has revealed the Year of Stories 2022 delivered significant benefits to Scotland and its communities.

The funded events programmes, with support from Museums Galleries Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund, invested a total of £1.33 million in the sector, shining a spotlight on well-loved and brand new stories alike with the widest range of organisations from national companies to community groups participating.

Over 1.4 million people attended 201 funded events designed to share and celebrate Scotland’s stories. Every part of Scotland was engaged with 354 funded and partner events delivered across all 32 local authorities.

At a time of recovery, 6,620 new artist opportunities were created, with 91% of open fund events commissioning new original work from artists or storytellers. Our indigenous languages were also celebrated with Scots and Gaelic showcased at 42% of funded events.

Local communities took to the spotlight with the support of the innovative Community Stories Programme, a partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund and Scottish Government. This programme supported 180 community facing organisations with £732K of grant funding plus additional skills development.

Greater collaboration across the tourism, events and related sectors was evidenced with hundreds of industry partners participating and a wide range of innovative partnership projects and campaigns inspired by the year.

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “I am delighted that Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 has had such a positive and lasting impact in so many communities across Scotland.

“As a result of partnership working, the fantastic range of events on offer inspired people to create and share their own incredible stories, traditions and journeys.

“The high level of engagement with this themed year will leave a lasting legacy as we continue to tell each other stories about who we are and where we live.”