The List’s Guide to Scotland’s Festivals 2012 is back! Containing an incredible 380 festivals and with more than 200,000 copies being produced and distributed around the UK, you will be left with no doubt that Scotland truly is a Festival Nation.

Festivals are a celebration and Scotland has much to celebrate throughout 2012 with the Year of Creative Scotland and many spectacular events in the Cultural Olympiad.

The Guide is in its second edition, and is produced by arts and entertainment publishers The List, in collaboration with Creative Scotland, EventScotland and VisitScotland.

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, said:

“Our appetite for festivals continues to grow and this year’s guide now offers something for everybody throughout the year with festivals that range across art, music, books, comedy, film, food and theatre.

We hope that you will make a note in your diary, search the online map and visit a new event in Scotland in 2012. If you’re seeking the festival spirit, Scotland will leave you spoilt for choice as we celebrate our creative strengths and welcome the world through culture.

It’s good to see new festivals emerging, such as the Festival of Arts and Ageing in October and Bloody Scotland in September, which brings together the best minds in international crime fiction to Stirling.

A key highlight of the year in May will be the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts – the biennial focus on local, national and international visual arts. For a country which is becoming synonymous with producing Turner Prize winning artists, GI is a chance to see why Scotland’s talent for visual arts is so great.”

Jonny Ensall, Project Editor of the Guide, and editor of The List magazine, said:

“The Guide to Scotland’s Festivals is one of our favourite, and most popular guides. It’s a fantastic resource that really shows off the wealth of great events in this country, from gigantic musical blow-outs to intimate celebrations of local food, to high-octane adventure sports jamborees.

The List highlights and supports great culture year-round in a variety of different publications. We’re proud to be able to put together a Guide like this that is packed full of useful information, in an appealing package that people are going to want to keep with them through a year of festival hopping.

It’s testament to the benefits of collaboration between creative organisations that something like this can exist to promote worthwhile projects and make many festival goers happy.”

This year’s Guide includes a number of festivals that have developed additional features to reach out to new audiences through The Year of Creative Scotland. StAnza will mix poetry with photography and a musician in residence, whilst Piping Live! will bring piping to new audiences and new locations.  Even the 2012 Mountain Bike World Cup will be supported by a showcase of Scottish music, art and design. The year also sees the RockNess Express begin at Kings Cross featuring live Scottish music en route to the Highlands.

The Guides are available in this month;s The List magazine and can be picked up from VisitScotland’s Visitor Information Centres, free with The Guardian newspaper within the Greater London area, and at arts & cultural venues across Scotland, including Creative Scotland.

VisitScotland CEO, Malcolm Roughead said:

“Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and the List’s Guide to Scotland’s Festivals will help visitors make the most of what is another fantastic year of activity. 2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland, with events throughout the country showcasing Scotland’s cultural strengths from across the creative industries. From music and art, to literature, film and comedy, there’s something for everyone no matter where you are in Scotland.

The guide also highlights key sporting events supported by EventScotland including the Glasgow Sevens in May and the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay in June. It will be readily available in VisitScotland’s Visitor Information Centres, making it easier than ever for visitors to plan festival trips.”

Source: Creative Scotland